The 53 is a long Deira bus that links the old souq with International City. It runs from Gold Souq Bus Station to International City Bus Station. This guide gives you the 53 bus timings Dubai travellers ask for most. It covers the first bus, the last bus, the gaps between buses and the fare. The route passes Dubai Festival City and Dragon Mart. It suits workers, shoppers and anyone heading to International City. Check the S’hail app or rta.ae on the day because RTA changes times by day and season.
Route overview
Route 53 is a standard urban route run by the RTA. It starts at Gold Souq Bus Station in Deira, close to the gold souq and the creek. From there it runs through Naif Park and Baniyas Square. Then it passes Union Metro and the Clock Tower. The bus runs past Deira City Centre Metro and Dubai Festival City. Then it passes Ras Al Khor and the vegetable market. The bus turns into International City and passes the Greece and Persia clusters. Then it stops at Dragon Mart 1 and Dragon Mart 2. The bus ends at International City Bus Station. Moovit lists 33 to 36 stops in each direction. The full trip takes about 82 to 96 minutes in normal traffic. The 53 bus timings Dubai route runs every day of the week. Many riders use the 53 for work in International City and for shopping at Dragon Mart and Festival City. For other city routes, see our Dubai bus timings hub.
First bus and last bus
The first bus leaves Gold Souq at about 6:00 AM on most days. The last bus from Gold Souq leaves at about 12:30 AM. In the other direction the first bus leaves International City at about 6:00 AM and the last bus leaves at about 12:30 AM. These 53 bus timings Dubai figures come from Moovit at 06:05 to 00:30. They are not the official RTA timetable. The hub table lists about 5:00 AM to about 11:30 PM. The two sources do not agree. Treat the times as a guide and check S’hail on the day. Do not plan a very early trip without a live check. If you travel late at night, aim for the bus before the last one. A delay can leave you with no ride.
How often does it run
The 53 runs about every 15 to 20 minutes on most days. That figure comes from the Transit app listing for this route. The gap stays close to the same through most of the day. Morning and evening rush can stretch the gap because Baniyas Road and the Festival City stretch slow down. The bus fills up around Gold Souq in the morning. If the first bus that comes is full, the next one follows in about 15 minutes. Check live times in S’hail first.
Main stops
Gold Souq Bus Station is the Deira terminus. It sits beside the gold souq and the old town. The bus passes Naif Park and Baniyas Square. Then it stops at Memorial Plaza and the Etisalat Head Office. The Union Metro Bus Stop follows. Then the bus passes the Clock Tower Roundabout and Dnata. Deira City Centre Metro Bus Stop follows on the Red Line. Then the bus reaches Dubai Festival City. The Marks & Spencer stop and the IKEA stop serve the mall. The bus runs past Al Badia and the Ras Al Khor vegetable market. Then it turns into International City. The Manama Road stop and the Greece cluster stop follow. The bus stops at Dragon Mart 1 External and Dragon Mart 2 External. Then it ends at International City Bus Station. Use the S’hail app to find the stop nearest your hotel or workplace.
Fare and Nol card
You pay with a Nol card on every Dubai RTA bus. You cannot pay with cash on board. Tap your card on the reader when you board. Tap again when you get off so the system charges the right zone fare. The standard Nol bus fare is about AED 3 for one zone, AED 5 for two zones and AED 7.50 for three zones. The Gold Souq to International City trip is long and covers three zones. Expect to pay about AED 7.50 for the full trip. Shorter trips cost less. Top up at a metro station, a bus station kiosk or through the RTA app.
How to reach / connections
The 53 connects with the metro at two points along the way. Union Metro Station serves the Red Line and the Green Line in Deira. Deira City Centre Metro Station on the Red Line sits at the City Centre stop. From Deira City Centre you can ride the Red Line to Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and the Marina. From Union you can ride the Green Line to Al Ghubaiba, Al Fahidi and the Creek. At the International City end there is no metro station. The bus is the only public transport into the Dragon Mart area. From International City Bus Station you can change to other buses for Al Qusais and Al Nahda. If you travel at prayer times, our Prayer Time UAE page helps you plan the day around them.
FAQs
What are the 53 bus timings Dubai visitors need first?
The first bus leaves Gold Souq at about 6:00 AM on most days and the last bus leaves at about 12:30 AM. The same range applies from International City. Check S’hail or rta.ae on the day because RTA changes times by day and season.
How often does the 53 bus run?
The 53 runs about every 15 to 20 minutes on most days. The gap can stretch in the morning and evening rush when Baniyas Road slows down.
How long does the 53 bus take from Gold Souq to International City?
Allow about 82 to 96 minutes for the full trip in normal traffic. Evening rush near Festival City can add 20 minutes or more.
How much is the fare on the 53 bus?
A full three-zone trip costs about AED 7.50 with a Nol card. Shorter trips cost about AED 3 or AED 5. You cannot pay cash on board.
Does the 53 bus run on Friday?
Yes, the 53 bus timings Dubai listings show service every day including Friday. The first buses run a little later on Friday. Check the live time in S’hail before you travel.
