Figures as published by the RTA.

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Popular Routes

UAE Bus Route Database 2026

Every route below comes from RTA route listings. Search by route number, station or place. Tap a route number with a link to open its full timings guide.

Dubai bus timings follow one simple pattern once you learn it. Most city buses start at about 4:00 AM or 5:00 AM and run until about 1:00 AM the next day. The network covers nearly 1,500 buses across Deira, Bur Dubai, Jumeirah, Al Quoz, Al Qusais and the newer districts along Sheikh Zayed Road. You can reach the metro, the malls, the airport and the beaches by bus without a car. You only need two things before you board: a topped-up Nol card and the live time from the S’hail app.

This guide gives you the route finder first. After that, you learn the fares, the cards, the night buses and the intercity routes to Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. Every time on this page is a typical range. The live time always wins.

Dubai Bus Timings at a Glance

How to Check Live Bus Timing in Dubai

A printed timetable goes out of date fast. The RTA changes times for road works, events and seasons. Use a live source every time you travel.

1. RTA S’hail app: Type your destination and pick the bus option. The app shows the nearest stop, the route number, the live arrival time and the fare. Download it before your first trip.
2. rta.ae: The RTA website carries the same journey planner in a browser. Use it when your phone battery is low or you plan from a laptop.
3. Station display boards: The main stations show live departures on boards above the platforms. Platform numbers change. Read the board when you arrive.
4. Google Maps: Google Maps shows Dubai bus routes and live times in most cases. Treat it as a second opinion and cross-check with S’hail when the trip matters.

Top up your Nol card before you reach the stop. Dubai buses take no cash. An empty card strands you at the kerb. Metro stations, bus stations and many supermarkets sell and recharge Nol cards. Keep at least AED 12 on the card for a long cross-city trip.

Dubai Bus Fares by Emirate

Each emirate runs its own card. A Dubai Nol card does not work on a Sharjah city bus. A Sharjah Sayer card does not work on a Dubai bus. Learn the card for the emirate you ride in.

Intercity fares move more often than city fares. Sources list different figures for the same route. The Abu Dhabi fare from Sharjah appears as AED 25, AED 30 and AED 35 in different guides. Buy your ticket at the counter and check the price before you board. The fare table above shows the safest published range, not a promise.

Popular Dubai Bus Routes

Airport buses

Route C01 runs all night between Airport Terminal 3 and Al Satwa Bus Station through Deira and Bur Dubai. It is the only bus you can count on at 3:00 AM. Other airport links run from Deira City Centre and Al Qusais during the day. Check your terminal first. Terminal 3 and Terminal 1 sit together, while Terminal 2 sits apart and needs its own stop.

Mall buses

Routes 27 and 29 both end at Dubai Mall. Route 27 starts at Gold Souq in Deira. Route 29 starts at Al Ghubaiba in Bur Dubai. Feeder route F13 covers the short hop from Dubai Mall Metro Station to the mall doors. Route 44 links Al Ghubaiba with Al Rashidiya. Route 105 runs from Mall of the Emirates Metro to Miracle Garden in season.

Deira to Bur Dubai

The creek splits old Dubai into Deira on one side and Bur Dubai on the other. Routes 8, 21, 27, 29 and 33 cross between the two sides all day. Gold Souq and Al Ghubaiba are the two main terminals for this crossing. If you ride from Deira to Bur Dubai in the evening rush, leave extra time. The bridges and the tunnel slow every bus between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

Metro link and feeder buses

Feeder routes marked F start at a metro station and serve the streets around it. Route F13 serves Dubai Mall from its metro station. Route F10 serves Al Warqa from Al Rashidiya Bus Station. Route F11 serves Al Satwa from Financial Center Metro. Our Internet City Metro Station guide explains the Red Line stops around Dubai Internet City and the bus links from each one.

Global Village and Miracle Garden buses

Routes 102 and 104 run to Global Village Dubai in season, usually from the late afternoon until about 11:30 PM. Route 105 runs to Miracle Garden in season. These routes only run while the attractions are open. Check the season dates before you plan around them, since a closed season means no bus at all.

Intercity Buses: Dubai to Sharjah and Abu Dhabi

Three RTA routes link Dubai with Sharjah. The E303 leaves from Union Bus Station in Deira. The E306 leaves from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Bur Dubai. The E307 leaves from Deira City Centre Bus Station. All three end at Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah. The fare is about AED 10 to 12 on a Nol card. The first buses leave at about 5:00 AM and the last leave at about 10:50 PM to 11:30 PM. Extra services include the E307A to Abu Hail Metro Station and the E315 to Etisalat Metro Station.

Abu Dhabi runs on two routes from Dubai. The E100 leaves from Al Ghubaiba and the E101 leaves from Ibn Battuta Metro. Both end at Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station. The fare is about AED 25 on a Nol card and the trip takes about two hours. The E102 is the only Dubai bus from Mussafah in Abu Dhabi. It runs between Ibn Battuta Metro and Mussafah Shabiya Bus Station for AED 25, Nol only. If you travel from Sharjah to Abu Dhabi, bus 117 leaves from Jubail Bus Station and takes about 2.5 to 3 hours for about AED 30 to 35.

Two more intercity links run from Union Bus Station in Deira. The E400 goes to Ajman and the E700 goes to Fujairah. Both take a Nol card. Ask at the counter for the current fare before you board.

Remember the card switch. You pay with Nol on the Dubai side and with a different card on the other side. Sharjah city buses take a Sayer card or cash. Abu Dhabi city buses take a Hafilat card. Keep the cards apart so you tap the right one.

Night Buses in Dubai

Most city buses stop by about 1:00 AM. After that, your choices shrink fast. Route C01 runs all night between the airport and Al Satwa. Night route N30 links International City Bus Station with Airport Terminal 2. Night route N55 links Al Ghubaiba Bus Station with Al Maktoum International Airport. Both night routes run from about 9:00 PM into the early morning. The metro stops around midnight. A late flight or a late shift leaves you with the night bus or a taxi. Plan the return trip before you go out. A night bus every 30 to 45 minutes feels long when you stand alone at a dark stop.

Key Features of the UAE Bus System

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Getting dubai bus timings right comes down to two habits. You check the live time on the S’hail app. You keep your Nol card topped up. The route finder on this page points you to the right bus. The app tells you when it actually comes. That pair works for a mall trip, an airport run, a night shift and a weekend in Sharjah or Abu Dhabi. If you travel at prayer times, our Prayer Time UAE page helps you plan the day around them.