No car, no taxi? How to commute between Dubai and Sharjah by bus or ferry
Buses, Metro options to ferry trips to skip traffic – details on routes, timings and fares
Dubai: The Dubai to Sharjah commute is one of the busiest routes in the UAE. But if you can’t drive, don’t yet own a car, or want to avoid paying for a taxi ride (especially with the added Dh20 surcharge when crossing into Sharjah), there are still affordable public transport options available.
These take commuters from some of Dubai’s busiest public transport hubs to the city centre of Sharjah. Here are a few budget-friendly options provided by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA):
Bus routes from Dubai to Sharjah
In May, RTA introduced a new bus service between Dubai and Sharjah. The intercity route E308 connects Stadium Bus Station in Dubai to Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah. As of 2025, here are the current intercity bus routes between the two emirates:
E303 Union Square Metro Station – Al Jubail Bus Station
E306 Ghubaiba Bus Station – Al Jubail Bus Station
E307 Deira City Centre Bus Station – Al Jubail Bus Station
E315 Etisalat by e& Metro Station – Muwailah Bus Station
E308 Dubai Stadium Bus Station – Al Jubail Bus Station
E307A Abu Hail Metro Station – Al Jubail Bus Station
Fare: Dh12 per person for a single trip
Timings: Public buses in Dubai operate from 4am to 1am (the following day). For real-time schedules, download the S’hail app (operated by RTA) or use Google Maps to plan your journey.
Routes from Sharjah
Sharjah’s Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) operates intercity bus trips from the emirate’s major bus stations in Al Jubail, Al Rolla Terminal and Al Muwailah.
113G Al Rolla Terminal Station to Dubai, Centrepoint Metro Station (Al Rashidiya Bus Station) - Dh12
308G Al Rolla Terminal Station Rolla to Dubai, Jebel Ali Parco Hypermarket - Dh17
113MG Sharjah, Al Muwailah Bus Station to Centrepoint Metro Station (Al Rashidiya Bus Station) – Dh12
Dubai to Sharjah Ferry
Did you know you can travel from Dubai to Sharjah by ferry and skip the traffic altogether? Operated by the RTA, this ferry service has been running since 2023 and offers a 35-minute journey between the two emirates.
Location
Dubai station: Al Ghubaiba Marine Station – located in the Al Fahidi district of Bur Dubai, and just a short walk from Al Ghubaiba Metro Station on the Green Line.
Sharjah station: Aquarium Marine Station – located next to Sharjah Aquarium in the Al Majaz 3 area. You can reach the station via Mowasalat Bus Route 7 or Route 3.
Fare
Regular ticket: Dh15 per person
Gold Class Cabin: Dh25 per person
Children under five: Free
Timings
Weekdays (Monday – Thursday)
From Sharjah Aquarium Station: 7am, 8:30am, 1pm, 4:45pm and 6:15pm
From Al Ghubaiba Station: 7:45am, 12pm, 4pm, 5:30pm and 7pm
Weekends (Friday – Sunday)
From Sharjah Aquarium Station: 2pm, 4pm, 6pm and 9pm
From Al Ghubaiba Station: 3pm, 5pm, 8pm & 10pm
Pro tip: Book your ferry tickets online
To save time, book your ticket through RTA’s official marine transport website – rta.marine.ae. After purchasing, you will receive a confirmation email with a QR code. Just show the QR code at the gate to board, no need to queue at the counter.
Nearest Dubai Metro Stations for Sharjah commuters
Many Sharjah residents use the Dubai Metro stations closest to them for their daily commute. The most commonly used station is Stadium Metro Station on the Green Line, as it has a bus station with the intercity bus route E308.
Etisalat by e& Metro Station, also on the Green Line, offers an intercity bus route and features a parking facility that can accommodate over 2,300 vehicles, making it a popular park-and-ride option for commuters.
Similarly, Centrepoint Metro Station in Rashidiya, on the Red Line, has a multi-storey parking facility and is frequently used by Sharjah residents who prefer to park their cars there and take the Red Line directly into Dubai, avoiding the need to interchange between the Green and Red Lines.
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