Guide to Public Buses in Dubai

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai leads Dubai’s efficient public transport system. This system comprises buses, metro, trams, abras, ferries and taxis. For those looking to explore the vast cityscape, travelling by Dubai buses can be convenient and economical. 

Let’s go through a comprehensive guide to Dubai bus service, from types of buses and routes to payment methods.

Overview of Dubai Buses

Dubai’s bus network is extensive and well-integrated, serving the city’s 2,000+ bus stops across urban and suburban areas. The RTA operates a fleet of over 1,500 buses which transport more than 3 million passengers daily.

The key stations include Al Ghubaiba and Gold Souq central hubs where many routes converge. The buses cater to all, including People of Determination, with accessible facilities and clear, audible alerts for ease of travel. All Dubai buses are air-conditioned and equipped with digital screens displaying travel information and updates.

Types of Dubai Buses

The Dubai bus system comprises several types:

  • Standard Buses: These are the most common public buses in Dubai and are painted red and white.
  • Double-decker Buses: Ideal for sightseeing, these buses offer an elevated view of the city.
  • Articulated Buses: These longer buses are designed for higher passenger capacity and are particularly useful on busy routes.
  • Metro Link Buses: Identified by their blue and white colours, these buses connect metro stations with other parts of the city.
  • Express Buses: These routes have fewer stops, providing a quicker journey across major urban areas.
  • Intercity Buses: For travel between Dubai and other Emirates like Abu Dhabi or Sharjah, these buses are ideal.

Dubai Bus Timings

The RTA public buses operate all week from 04:00 AM to 01:00 AM (the next day). The only bus that operates 24/7 is the C01 bus.

For an accurate and up-to-date schedule, use the RTA’s S’hail app, which provides real-time information on bus timings and routes.

Dubai Bus Stations and Routes

There are multiple bus routes categorised under each bus type, connecting the main stations throughout the city and other Emirates. Here are all the Dubai bus routes operating throughout the city. 

Express Bus Routes

These routes are designed for faster travel across central areas with limited stops.

Route ID Starts From  Ends At
13B Gold Souq Bus Station Al Qusais Bus Station
91A Gold Souq Bus Station Jebel Ali Bus Station
X02 Union Metro Station Al Satwa
X13 LuLu Village Al Satwa Bus Station
X22 Al Qusais Industrial Area 2 Business Bay Metro Station
X23 Al Ghubaiba Bus Station International City
X25 Al Karama Bus Station Silicon Oasis Headquarters
X28 LuLu Village Dubai Internet City Metro Station
X64 Al Baraha Bus Station Ras Al Khor
X92 Al Ghubaiba Bus Station Dubai Investment Park 
X94 Gold Souq Bus Station Dubai Investment Park 

Feeder Bus Routes

The Feeder bus routes connect metro stations with various city locations.

Route ID Starts From  Ends At
F01 Union Metro Station Al Baraha
F02 Etisalat Metro Station Al Muhaisnah 4
F03 Al Rashidiya Bus Station Mirdiff West
F04 GGICO Metro Station Sabkha, Turnoff
F05 Al Rashidiya Bus Station Mizhar 1
F06 Al Rashidiya Bus Station Al Rashidiya
F07 Etisalat Metro Station Al Qusais DM Housing
F08 Dubai Festival City Al Nahda 2
F09 Al Jafiliya Bus Station (Dubai Frame) Al Wasl Park
F10 Al Rashidiya Bus Station Dubai Safari Park
F11 Financial Centre Metro Station Al Satwa
F12 Max Metro Station Al Wasl Park
F13 Dubai Mall Metro Station The Dubai Mall
F14 Business Bay 2 Bus Station Business Bay Metro Station
F15 Onpassive Bus Terminus Al Qouz Industrial Area 2
F16 Onpassive Bus Terminus Al Qouz, New Housing
F17 Onpassive Bus Terminus Al Khail Gate
F18 Oud Metha Metro Station Lamcy Plaza
F19A Bay Square Business Bay 2 Bus Station
F19B Business Bay 2 Bus Station Bay Square
F20 Business Bay Metro Station Al Safa 1
F21 Al Nahda Metro Station Al Nahda 2
F22 Stadium Metro Station Qusais Industrial Area 2
F23 Stadium Metro Station Al Nahda Terminus
F23A Stadium Metro Station Al Nahda 1, Terminus 2
F24 Stadium Metro Station Qusais Industrial Area 3
F25 Umm Al Sheif Metro Station Al Qouz Industrial Area 3 & 4
F26 Onpassive Bus Terminus Umm Al Sheif Metro Station
F27 Al Jafiliya Bus Station Al Satwa
F28 Emirates Tower Metro Station Satwa
F29 Equiti Metro Station Al Wasl
F30 Mall of Emirates Metro Station Dubai Studio City
F31 Dubai Internet City Metro Station The Meadows East
F32 Mall of Emirates Metro Station The Sustainable City
F33 Mall of Emirates Metro Station Al Barsha-3
F34 Dubai Internet City Metro Station Dubai Production City
F35 Mall of Emirates Metro Station The Greens
F36 Mall of Emirates Metro Station Arjan
F37 Mall of Emirates Metro Station Sports City
F38 Jumeirah Golf Estate Metro Station Dubai Sports City
F41 Business Bay Metro Station Coral Tower
F43 Ibn Battuta Metro Station Discovery Gardens
F44 Energy Metro Station Jebel Ali Gardens
F45 Al Furjan Discovery Gardens
F46 Ibn Battuta Metro Station Dubai Investment Park 2
F47 Danube Metro Station Dubai Investment Park Metro Station
F48 Danube Metro Station Dubai Investment Park 2
F49 Danube Metro Station Jebel Ali Industrial Area
F50 DIP Metro Station Dubai Investment Park 2
F51 DIP Metro Station Dubai Investment Park 1
F53 Danube Metro Station Dubai Industrial City
F54 Danube Metro Station JAFZA South
F55 Expo 2020 Metro Station AMI Airport (PTB)
F56 DIC Metro Station Al Khail Metro Station
F60 Al Rashidiya Bus Station Downtown Mirdiff Gate
F61 Al Rashidiya Bus Station Al Warqa’a
F62 Nadd Al Hamar Umm Ramool
F70 Oud Metha Bus Station Dubai Museum
F81 Al Qusais Industrial Area Terminus 1 Al Nahda Metro Station

Intercity Bus Routes

These buses travel between Dubai and other Emirates. The table below also includes the bus service you can use to travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi.

Route ID Starts From  Ends At
E16 Al Sabkha Bus Station Hatta Bus Station
E100 Al Ghubaiba Bus Station Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station
E101 Ibn Battuta Metro Station Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station
E102 Al Jafiliya Bus Station Mussafah Shabia Bus Station
E201 Al Ghubaiba Bus Station Al Ain Bus Station
E303 Union Square Metro Station Al Jubail Bus Station
E306 Ghubaiba Bus Station Al Jubail Bus Station
E307 Deira City Center Bus Station Al Jubail Bus Station
E307A Abu Hail Metro Station  Al Jubail Bus Station
E315 Etisalat Metro Station Muwailah Bus Staton
E400 Union Square Metro Station Ajman Bus Station
E411 Etisalat Metro Station Ajman Bus Station
E700 Union Square Metro Station Fujairah Bus Station

Seasonal Bus Routes

The seasonal Dubai buses operate in the city for a particular time of the year or special events. These bus routes are suitable for accessing adventurous destinations in Dubai like Hatta, Dubai Miracle Garden and Global Village. 

Route ID Starts From  Ends At
H02 Dubai Mall Hatta Bus Station
H04 Hatta Hop on Hop off
102  Al Rashidiya Bus Station Global Village
103 Union Metro Station  Global Village
104 Al Ghubaiba Bus Station Global Village
105 Mall Of Emirates Bus Station Miracle Garden
106 Mall Of Emirates Bus Station Global Village
107 Al Nahda 1, Terminus 2 Global Village

Urban Bus Routes

Urban buses mostly cover the commercial and business hubs in Dubai. These buses are ideal for the working class as these buses are readily available during peak working hours.

Route ID Starts From  Ends At
5 Abu Hail Metro Station Union Square Bus Station
6 Al Ghubaiba Bus Station Dubai Healthcare City
7 Al Quoz, Bus Station Al Satwa
8 Al Baraha Bus Station Ibn Battuta Metro Station
9 Al Ghubaiba Bus Station Business Bay Metro Station
10 Gold Souq Bus Station Al Quoz Bus Station
11 Al Rashadiya Bus Station Al Awir Immigration
12 Al Ghubaiba Bus Station Al Quoz Bus Station
13 Gold Souq Bus Station Al Qusais DM Housing
13A Gold Souq Bus Station Al Qusais Bus Station
13D Gold Souq Bus Station Al Qusais Bus Station
14 Oud Metha Bus Station Safa Terminus
15 Al Ghubaiba Bus Station Al Khail Gate
16 Rashidiya Metro Station Awir CMC
17 Al Sabka Bus Station Muhaisnah 4, Wasl Oasis 2
18 Al Nahda 1 Muhaisnah 4
19 Al Nahda 1 Al Qusais
20A Al Nahda 1, Terminus 2 Al Warsan 3
20B Al Warsan 3 Al Nahda 1, Terminus 2
21 Al Ghubaiba Bus Station Al Quoz Industrial Area-4
22 Deira City Center Bus Station Al Nahda 1
23 Oud Metha Bus Station Al Nahda 1
24 Al Nahda 2 Dubai Festival City
25 Rashadiya Metro Stati9on Gold Souq Bus Station
26 Oud Metha Bus Station Business Bay 2 Bus Station
27 Gold Souq Bus Station Dubai Mall
28 Dubai Mall Oud Metha Bus Station
29 Al Ghubaiba Bus Station Dubai Mall
30 Dubai Mall Metro Station Dubai Sky Courts
31 Airport Terminal 2 Oud Al Mateena
32C Al Qusais Bus Station Al Satwa Bus Station
33 Al Ghubaiba Bus Station Al Qusais Bus Station
34 Etisalat Metro Station Al Khawaneej 2
36A Silicon Oasis Etisalat Metro Station
36B Etisalat Metro Station Silicon Oasis
43 Gold Souq Bus Station Al Qusais Industrial Area 2
44 Al Ghubaiba Bus Station Al Rashadiya Bus Station
50 International City Bus Station Business Bay 2 Bus Station
51 Al Khail Gate Business Bay Metro Station
53 Gold Souq Bus Station International City Bus Station
55 Al Satwa Bus Station International City
56 Danube Metro Station DWC, Staff Village
61 Al Ghubaiba Bus Station Ras Al Khor Samari Residence
61D Al Ghubaiba Bus Station Nad Al Shiba Clinic
62 Al Qusais Industrial Area 5 Ras Al Khor Vegetable Market
63E Al Qusais Bus Station Al Quoz Bus Station
64 Gold Souq Bus Station Ras Al Khor
66 Al Ghubaiba Bus Station Al Faqa
67 Al Ghubaiba Bus Station Dubai Endurance City
68 Lehbab First Park Al Lisaly
77 Baniyas Metro Station Al Garhoud, RTA HQ
81 Dubai Mall Mall of Emirates Metro Station
83 Al Ghubaiba Bus Station Al Khail Metro Station
84 Al Khail Gate Jumeirah Beach Residence Station
88 Deira City Center Bus Station Dubai Internet City Metro Station
91 Al Ghubaiba Bus Station Jebel Ali Bus Station
93 Al Ghubaiba Bus Station Mall of Emirates Metro Station
95 Al Baraha Bus Station Jebel Ali Waterfront Labour Camp
95A Ibn Battuta Metro Station Jebel Ali Waterfront Labour Camp
96 Al Quoz Bus Station Dubai Investment Park
97 Al Qusais Bus Station Jebel Ali Industrial Area 7
98E Al Quoz Bus Station Al Satwa
99 Jebel Ali Bus Station UAE Exchange Metro Station
110 Onpassive Bus Terminus Al Quox Creative
310 Al Rashidiya Bus Station International City
320 Al Rashidiya Bus Station Academic City
C01 Airport Terminal 3 Al Satwa Bus Station
C03 Al Karama Bus Station Abu Hail MS
C04  Gold Souq Bus Station Jaddaf 
C05 Gold Souq Bus Station Al Ghubaiba Bus Station
C09 Al Satwa Bus Station Hor Al Anz East, Qiyadah Metro Station
C10 Hamriya Port, Control Tower  Mercato Shopping Mall
C15 Hamriya Port, Control Tower  Deira City Center Bus Station
C18 Shaikh Rashid Colony Oud Metha Bus Station
C26 Al Wasl Park Qusais Industrial Area
C28 Al Baraha Bus Station Mamzar Beach Park
D03 Dubai Mall Metro Station Dubai Design District
DPR1 Ibn Battuta Metro Station Dubai Parks and Resorts
DS1 Expo 2020 Metro Station Dubai South
H03 Hatta Bus Station Masfut, Sheikh Khalifa Hospital
J01 Mall of Emirates Metro Station Jumierah Village Circle
J02 IMPZ Mira
J03 Dubai Studio City Damac Hills
J04 Dubai Studio City Remraam
JLT1 Sobha Realty Metro Station JLT, Damas
JLT2 DMCC Metro Station JLT, Silver Tower
SH1 Dubai Mall Metro Station Sobha Hartland
SM1 Gold Souq Bus Station Souq Al Marfa Deira
W20 Stadium Metro Station Al Mamzar Beach Park
YM1 UAE Exchange Metro Station Yiwu Market

Night Bus Routes

Operating from 09:00 PM to 05:00 AM, the night buses cater to late-night travel.

Route ID Starts From  Ends At
N30 International City Bus Station Airport Terminal 2
N55 Al Ghubaiba Bus Station AMI Airport (PTB)

Dubai Bus Fare

Dubai bus fares vary depending on the number of zones you travel. Also, the fare depends on your NOL card type.

Fare Type Silver Card Gold Card Personal Card Red Ticket
Within 1 Zone AED 3 AED 6 AED 3 AED 4
2 Adjacent Zones AED 5 AED 10 AED 5 AED 6
More than 2 Zones AED 7.5 AED 15 AED 7.5 AED 8.5
Student, Social Affairs and Senior Emiratis and Citizens  N/A N/A 50% discount N/A
People of determination N/A N/A Free N/A
Children (5 years old and below) Free Free Free Free

How to Pay for Public Buses in Dubai

Bus fares in Dubai are paid via the NOL card system. It is a smart card that works as the only payment method accepted for public transportation in Dubai. An NOL card can be purchased and topped up at any metro station or specific bus stop. 

There are different types of NOL cards:

  • Anonymous NOL card: AED 25, includes AED 19 as card balance
  • Red ticket (NOL red card): AED 2
  • Silver ticket (NOL silver card): AED 25, includes AED 19 as card balance
  • Golden ticket (NOL golden card): AED 25, includes AED 19 as card balance
  • Personal card (NOL silver card): AED 70, includes AED 20 as card balance

How to Plan Your Journey on a Dubai Bus

Planning your journey on a Dubai bus is straightforward once you get the hang of it. Here’s a simple guide to help you understand the process:

Plan Your Journey

Start by using the RTA’s official website or app or the S’hail app to figure out the best route to your destination. These Dubai apps will provide you with bus numbers, routes, and schedules, making your trip hassle-free. 

Keep Your Nol Card Topped Up

Make sure to keep your card topped up with at least AED 7.5 to avoid any hiccups during your travels. Remember, buses don’t sell or top up NOL cards, so handle this before you head to the bus stop.

Find Your Bus Stop and Check Bus Timings

Find the nearest bus stop for your route. Bus stops are well-marked and often have information about routes and schedules. You can also check for air-conditioned bus stops, which are especially pleasant in Dubai’s heat. 

Boarding and Exiting the Bus

When the bus arrives, look for the route number displayed on the front. Tap your NOL card on the card reader at the entrance. Once onboard, you’ll find information screens that show upcoming stops so you’ll know when to get off. 

As you approach your stop, press the stop button to let the driver know you want to get off. When you leave, tap your NOL card again to check out and ensure the correct fare is deducted.

FAQs

1. How do you pay for buses in Dubai?

You can pay Dubai bus fare using a NOL card. 

2. Do Dubai Buses operate 24 hours?

Only the C01 bus in Dubai operates throughout the day.

Dubai buses are a convenient and cost-effective travel solution. Remember to plan your journey using the S’hail app and keep your NOL card topped up to ensure a smooth travel experience.

Explore the Property Finder blog for more insights on transportation in the UAE.

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