Riyadh to Dubai by train
Dubai lies 867 km (539 mi) east of Riyadh, +1 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there.
By rail the journey is about 12 h 28 min at the speeds typical of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates rail, over roughly 1,058 km (657 mi) of track; the operator’s timetable is the number that counts.
| Riyadh | Dubai | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Saudi Arabia | United Arab Emirates |
| Population | 4.2 million | 3.8 million |
| Elevation | 612 m (2,008 ft) | 24 m (79 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+3 (Asia/Riyadh) | UTC+4 (Asia/Dubai) |
| Stations on record | Riyadh North railway station | none listed |
Clocks in Dubai are 1 h ahead of Riyadh right now, so a 12 h 28 min journey lands 13 h 28 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Dubai
Crossing from Saudi Arabia into United Arab Emirates: money changes from the Rial to the Dirham (AED); sockets are AC power s and sockets: British and related types, BS 1363, Euro; the dialling code becomes +971; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1061257 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648827.
Where to book trains from Riyadh to Dubai
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Dubai
Our booking partner lists 8,298+ places to stay in Dubai (statistics below are from the first 1,000). Of the 576 with a star rating, the largest group is 4-star (226), and 206 are five-star. Across 437 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.4 out of 10. Guests have left 644,925 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Dubai
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Dubai from Riyadh?
867 km (539 mi) in a straight line, east of Riyadh; by road roughly 1,058 km (657 mi).
How long does it take to get from Riyadh to Dubai by train?
About 12 h 28 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Riyadh and Dubai?
Dubai is 1 h ahead at the moment (Asia/Dubai against Asia/Riyadh).
What currency do I need in Dubai?
The Dirham (AED).
Where can I stay in Dubai?
Our booking partner lists 8,298+ places to stay in Dubai, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.