Dubai: Have you ever thought of travelling by a bus in Dubai but don’t know where to begin?
You don’t need to overthink your trip any longer, as we break down Dubai’s vast bus route network, the fare, stations and everything in-between:
The Public Transport Agency (PTA) under Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) manages 1,518 buses operating a web of 119 internal lines – in which 35 link with Metro stations (called feeder buses), 12 run between emirates (intercity), 62 run within Dubai and eight are ‘Express lines’.
Dubai Bus operates every day from 4am to 1am (the next day). You can normally catch a bus at a station every five to 30 minutes, depending on the traffic.
The bus number or route ID is essentially the number of the bus assigned to a particular route. An electronic sign on the front and back of the bus displays this number and the location where it is headed.
You can also tell a lot about the route a bus will take by its colour. For example, regular RTA buses operating within the city are red whereas Feeder buses are blue.
There are four categories of Nol cards, which is a smart ticket applicable to all means of public transport throughout Dubai (this includes the Dubai Metro and tram):
1. Red Ticket: Paper-based ticket that can be bought from RTA ticket vending machines for Dh2. It can be used for 10 single trips.
2. Blue (Personal) Card: Can be loaded with up to Dh5,000 in its e-purse. You can purchase this card for Dh70, out of which Dh50 is the cost of the card and Dh20 is the top-up balance.
3. Gold Card: Can be loaded with up to Dh1,000 in its e-purse. You can purchase this card for Dh25, out of which Dh19 is the top-up balance. With the gold card, you have access to the Metro’s gold class seats for a premium fare. It is valid for five years.
4. Silver Card: Can be loaded with up to Dh1,000 in its e-purse. You can purchase this card for Dh25, out of which Dh19 is the top-up balance. It is valid for five years.
You can apply for a Nol card online (here: https://www.rta.ae/wps/portal/rta/ae/public-transport/nol/apply-pcard?lang=en) or at a Metro station.
Breakdown of Nol fares and planning your route
It is important to plan your journey because it might be faster to reach a bus station through the Metro, rather than walking or hailing a taxi. Dubai’s public transport system is divided into seven zones and each zone contains a Metro station, bus station, tram station and water bus station.
At the end of your trip, you will be charged according to the total number of zones you crossed. However, travelling between two different modes of transport (such as from a Metro on to a bus) must be done within 30 minutes, for it to be counted as part of a single journey.
Transport fares based on cards
Nol cards must have a minimum e-purse value of Dh7.50 to board the bus.
Children under five years of age ride for free, across all modes of transport.
You can plan your journey accordingly through the RTA Planner here: https://www.rta.ae/wps/portal/rta/ae/public-transport/journeyplanner?lang=en
There are two main bus stations in Dubai – one in the Deira area and the other in Bur Dubai. These stations are often the terminal points for intercity bus routes as well as several intra-city lines.
1. Al Ghubaiba Bus Station (Bur Dubai) - Location
2. Gold Souq Bus Station (Deira) - Location
These are smaller bus stops, located in their residential districts.
• Deira City Centre Bus Station
• Union Square Bus Station
These bus stations are located in the vicinity of their respective Dubai Metro stations. Buses from these stations take commuters to nearby localities.
• Mall of the Emirates Bus Station
• Al Rashidiya Bus Station
• Ibn Battuta Bus Station
The Hatta bus station is categorised as an outside bus station, as it is located on the outskirts of Dubai city.
Here is a complete list of the bus routes in Dubai, in order of the bus number.
Bus codes for local bus routes
“D” before every local bus number signifies Dubai Design District bus routes
“DPR” stands for Dubai Parks and Resorts
“J” is Jumeirah Village
“JLT” is Jumeirah Lake Towers
“H” is Hatta
These bus routes are signified by a number and the buses are colour-coded grey. They run throughout the city and make more frequent stops between stations:
5 – Union Metro Station to Abu Hail Metro Station 6 – Oud Metha to Al Ghubaiba Bus Station 7 – Al Satwa Bus Station to Al Quoz, J Mart 8 – Al Baraha Bus Station to Ibn Battuta Metro Station 9 – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Business Bay Metro Station 10 – Gold Souq Bus Station to Al Quoz Bus Station 11A – Gold Souq Bus Station to Al Awir 11B – Rashidiya Metro Station to Al Awir Terminus 12 – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Al Quoz Bus Station 13 – Gold Souq Bus Station to Al Qusais Dubai Municipality Housing 13A – Gold Souq Bus Station to Al Qusais Bus Station 13D – Gold Souq Bus Station to Al Qusais Bus Station 15 – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Al Khail Gate 17 – Al Sabkha Bus Station to Muhaisnah 4, Wasl Oasis II 20 – Al Nahda Terminus to Al Warsan 3 21 – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Al Quoz Industrial Area 22 – Dubai Courts to Al Nahda 1 24 – Al Nahda 2 to International City 27 – Gold Souq Bus Station to the Dubai Mall 28 – The Dubai Mall to Oud Metha 29 – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to the Dubai Mall 30 – Dubai Mall Metro Station to Dubai Sky Courts 31 – Airport Terminal 2 to Oud Al Mateena 32C – Al Qusais Bus Station to Al Satwa Bus Station 33 – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Al Qusais Bus Station 34 – Etisalat Metro Station to Al Khawaneej 2 43 – Gold Souq Bus Station to Airport Terminal 2 44 – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Al Rashidiya Metro Station 50 – International City Dragon Mart to Al Khail Gate 53 – Gold Souq Bus Station to International City 55 – Al Satwa Bus Station to International City 56 – Danube Metro Station to Dubai World Central (DWC), Staff Village 61 – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Ras Al Khor Samari Residency 62 – Ras Al Khor Vegetable Market to Al Qusais Industrial Area 5 61D – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Nad Al Shiba Clinic 63E – Al Qusais Bus Station to Al Quoz Bus Station 64 – Gold Souq Bus Station to Ras Al Khor 64A – Gold Souq Bus Station to Ras Al Khor Samari Residency 66 – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Al Faqa 67 – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Dubai Endurance city 77 – Baniyas Square Metro Station to Road and Transport Authority (RTA) Headquarters 81 – The Dubai Mall to Mall of the Emirates Metro Station 83 – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Al Khail Metro Station 84 – Al Khail Gate to Jumeirah Beach Residence Station 88 – Deira City Centre Bus Station to Dubai Internet City Metro Station 91 – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Jebel Ali Bus Station 93 – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Mall of the Emirates Metro Station 95 – Al Baraha Bus Station to Jebel Ali Waterfront Camp 95A – Ibn Battuta Metro Station to Jebel Ali Waterfront 96 – Al Quoz Bus Station to Dubai Investment Park 1 97 – Al Qusais Bus Station to Jebel Ali Industrial Area 7 98E – Al Satwa Bus Station to Al Quoz Bus Station 99 – Jebel Ali Bus Station to UAE Exchange Metro Station 310 – Rashidiya Metro Station to International City 320 – Rashidiya Metro Station to Academic City 367 – Etisalat Metro Station to Silicon Oasis D03 – Dubai Mall Metro Station to Dubai Design District D03A – Dubai Mall Metro Station to Dubai Design District DPR1 – Ibn Battuta Metro Station to Dubai Parks and Resorts J01 – Mall of the Emirates Metro Station to Jumeirah Village Circle J02 – International Media Production Zone (IMPZ), Centrium Tower to Arabian Ranches J03 – Dubai Studio City to Damac Hills J04 – Remraam to Dubai Studio City JLT1 – Dubai Marina Metro Station to Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT), Damas JLT2 – JLT Metro Station to JLT, Silver Tower H03 – Hatta Bus Station to Masfoot, Residential Building SM1 - Gold Souk Bus Station to Souk Al Marfa at Deira Islands Central Business District (CBD) – Brown
These bus routes are prefixed by a ‘C’ and are colour-coded brown. These run between Deira and Bur Dubai – Dubai’s Central Business Districts:
C01 – Airport Terminal 3 to Al Satwa Bus Station C03 – Al Karama Bus Station to Abu Hail Metro Station C04 – Gold Souq Bus Station to Jaddaf C05 – Gold Souq Bus Station to Al Ghubaiba Bus Station C09 – Al Satwa Bus Station to Hor Al Anz East, Qiyadah Metro Station C10 – Hamriya Port, Control Tower to Mercato Shopping Mall C14 – Al Nahda 1, Sama Residence to Safa Terminus 1 C15 – Hamriya Port, Control Tower to Deira City Centre Bus Station C18 – Sheikh Rashid Colony to Oud Metha C26 – Al Wasl Park to Qusais Industrial Area C28 – Al Baraha Bus Station to Mamzar Beach Park These are prefixed by an ‘X’ and are colour-coded red. However, there are two exceptions (13B) and (91A), two buses that start their journey from the main Gold Souq Bus Station. Buses on the Express route stop at fewer stations, and that too in central residential districts, to allow passengers to travel across the city as fast as possible:
13B – Gold Souq Bus Station to Al Qusais Bus Station 91A – Gold Souq Bus Station to Jebel Ali Bus Station X02 – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Al Satwa X13 – LuLu Village to Al Satwa Bus Station X22 – Al Qusais Industrial Area 2 to Business Bay Metro Station X23 – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Oud Metha Bus Station X25 – Al Karama Bus Station to Dubai Outsourcing X28 – LuLu Village to Dubai Internet City Metro Station X64 – Al Baraha Bus Station to Ras Al Khor, Terminus X92 – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Dubai Investment Park 1 X94 – Gold Souq Bus Station to Dubai Investment Park These routes are represented by an ‘F’ and are colour-coded blue. These begin from Dubai Metro stations and provide access to nearby localities:
F01 – Union Metro Station to Al Baraha F02 – Etisalat Metro Station to Muhaisna 4 F03 – Al Rashidiya Metro Station to Mirdiff West F04 – Deira City Centre Bus Station to Sabkha, Turnoff F05 – Al Rashidiya Metro Station to Mizhar 1 F06 – Al Rashidiya Metro Station to Al Rashidiya F07 – Etisalat Metro Station to Al Qusais Dubai Municipality Housing F08 – Dubai Festival City to Al Nahda 2 F09 – Al Jafiliya Metro Station to Al Wasl Park F10 – Al Rashidiya Metro Station to Al Warqa F11 – Financial Centre Metro Station to Al Satwa F12 – Al Jafiliya Metro Station to Al Wasl Park F13 – Dubai Mall Metro Station to the Dubai Mall F14 – Business Bay Metro Station to Bay Square F15 – Noor Bank Metro Station to Al Quoz Industrial Area 2 F16 – Noor Bank Metro Station to Al Quoz, New Housing F17 – Noor Bank Metro Station to Al Khail Gate F18 – Oud Metha Metro Station to Lamcy Plaza F19A – Bay Square to Capital Golden Tower F19B – Capital Golden Tower to Bay Square F20 – Business Bay Metro Station to Al Safa 1 F21 – Al Nahda Metro Station to Al Nahda 2 F22 – Stadium Metro Station to Qusais Industrial Area 4 F23 – Stadium Metro Station to Al Nahda Terminus F23A – Stadium Metro Station to Al Nahda 1 Terminus F24 – Stadium Metro Station to Qusais Industrial Area 3 F25 – First Abu Dhabi Bank Metro Station to Al Quoz Industrial Area 3 & 4 F26 – Noor Bank Metro Station to First Abu Dhabi Bank Metro Station F27 – Al Jafiliya Bus Station to Satwa F28 – Emirates Tower Metro Station to Satwa F30 – Mall of the Emirates Metro Station to Dubai Studio City F31 – Dubai Internet City Metro Station to the Meadows East F32 – Mall of the Emirates Metro Station the Sustainable City F33 – Mall of the Emirates Metro Station to Al Barsha 3 F34 – Dubai Internet City Metro Station to Dubai Production City F35 – Mall of the Emirates Metro Station to the Greens F36 – Mall of the Emirates Metro Station to Arjan F37 – Mall of the Emirates Metro Station to Dubai Sports City F41 – Business Bay Metro Station to Coral Tower F43 – Ibn Battuta Metro Station to Jebel Ali Gardens F44 – Energy Metro Station to Discovery Gardens Metro Station F45 – Al Furjan to Discovery Gardens Metro Station F46 – Ibn Battuta Metro Station to Dubai Investment Park 2 F47 – Danube Metro Station to Dubai Investment Park 2 F48 – Danube Metro Station to Dubai Investment Park 2 F49 – Jebel Ali Industrial Area to Danube Metro Station F53 – Danube Metro Station to Dubai Industrial City F54 – Danube Metro Station to JAFZA South F55 – Ibn Battuta Metro Station to Al Maktoum Airport F56 – Al Khail Metro Station to Dubai Internet City Metro Station F60 – Rashidiya Metro Station to Downtown Mirdiff F61 – Rashidiya Metro Station to Al Warqa’a F70 – Oud Metha to Bur Dubai F81 – Al Qusais Industrial Area to Al Nahda Metro Station These routes are represented with an ‘N’ and are colour-coded black. There are only two routes that these night buses ply. They operate every evening from 9pm to 5am the next day:
N30 – Dragon Mart 2 to Airport Terminal 2
N55 – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Al Maktoum Airport
These routes are denoted with an ‘E’ and are colour-coded gold. These bus routes connect travellers in Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Ajman, Sharjah, Fujairah and Hatta:
E16 – Al Sabkha Bus Station to Hatta Bus Station E100 – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station E101 – Ibn Battuta Metro Station to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station E102 – Ibn Battuta Metro Station to Mussafa Shabia Bus Station E201 – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Al Ain Bus Station E301 – Al Ahli Club to Al Taawun, Sharjah E303 – Union Square Metro Station to Al Jubail Bus Station, Sharjah E304 – Al Satwa Bus Station to Al Jubail Bus Station, Sharjah E306 – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Al Jubail Bus Station, Sharjah E307 – Deira City Centre Bus Station to Al Jubail Bus Station, Sharjah E311 – Rashidiya Metro Station to Al Jubail Bus Station, Sharjah E315 – Etisalat Metro Station to Al Muwailah, Sharjah E316 – Rashidiya Metro Station to Airport Road Interchange (I/C), Sharjah E400 – Union Square Metro Station to Ajman Bus Station E411 – Etisalat Metro Station to Ajman Bus Station E700 – Union Square Metro Station to Fujairah Bus Station E303A – Al Sabkha Bus Station to Al Jubail Bus Station, Sharjah E307A – Abu Hail Metro Station to Al Jubail Bus Station, Sharjah Seasonal bus routes – Green
These buses are colour-coded green and only pop up during Global Village and Dubai Miracle Garden season between October to May each year:
102 – Al Rashidiya Metro Station to Global Village
103 – Union Metro Station to Global Village
104 – Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Global Village
105 – Mall of the Emirates Metro Station to Miracle Garden
106 – Mall of the Emirates Metro Station to Global Village
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