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:
About Dubai Bus
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’.
Bus timings
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.
How do bus numbers work?
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.
Using your Nol Card
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
Within one zone:
• Dh3 (Blue)
• Dh3 (Silver)
• Dh4 (Red)
• Dh6 (Gold)
Adjacent two zones:
• Dh5 (Blue)
• Dh5 (Silver)
• Dh6 (Red)
• Dh10 (Gold)
More than two zones:
• Dh7.5 (Blue)
• Dh7.5 (Silver)
• Dh8.5 (Red)
• Dh15 (Gold)
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
Bus stations
Main bus stations
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
Sub bus stations
These are smaller bus stops, located in their residential districts.
• Al Satwa Bus Station
• Al Qusais Bus Station
• Al Sabkha Bus Station
• Deira City Centre Bus Station
• Al Karama Bus Station
• Al Quoz Bus Station
• Union Square Bus Station
Feeder bus stations
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
• Abu Hail Bus Station
• Jebel Ali Bus Station
Outside bus station
The Hatta bus station is categorised as an outside bus station, as it is located on the outskirts of Dubai city.
• Hatta Bus Station
Bus Routes
Here is a complete list of the bus routes in Dubai, in order of the bus number.
“DPR” stands for Dubai Parks and Resorts
“J” is Jumeirah Village
“JLT” is Jumeirah Lake Towers
“H” is Hatta
Local bus routes - Grey
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
Express bus routes – Red
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
Feeder bus – Blue
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
Night buses – Black
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
Intercity buses – Gold
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
