Last updated: 28 October 2026
Dubai bus timings run from 4am to 1am the next day across the RTA network, and route C01 runs 24 hours a day. Each route has its own first bus, last bus and frequency inside that window.
RTA does not print one city-wide timetable, because routes change several times a year. This guide covers the official hours, night and feeder routes, intercity buses with their stations, fares, fines, and how to see the exact time your bus leaves.
Dubai bus timings at a glance
RTA lists Dubai Bus as fully operational from 04:00 to 01:00 the following day, every day of the week. The only route RTA lists as running around the clock is C01.
| Service | Hours |
|---|---|
| Dubai Bus network (city routes) | 4am to 1am (next day) |
| Route C01 | 24 hours |
| H02 Hatta Express (Dubai Mall Bus Station to Hatta) | 7am to 7pm daily, about every 2 hours |
| H04 Hatta Hop on Hop off (circular, Hatta) | 7am to 9pm daily, about every 30 minutes |
| Intercity routes (E routes) | Varies by route; check S’hail |
The 4am to 1am window covers the network as a whole, so treat it as the outer limit rather than the hours of your own route. You can see the current table on the RTA public transport timetable page.
Many expats in the UAE start work early. The metro opens at 5am on most days and at 8am on Sunday, while buses start from 4am. Our Dubai Metro timings guide has the full train timetable if you are planning a bus and metro trip together.
How often do Dubai buses run?
RTA does not publish one frequency for the whole bus network. It gives the gap between buses route by route, usually for peak hours, when it launches or changes a route.
The routes RTA launched on 17 July 2026 show what a typical peak-hour service looks like:
| Route | From and to | Peak-hour frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | International City to Dubai Silicon Oasis | Every 30 minutes |
| 37A | International City to Dubai Silicon Oasis Lake | Every 30 minutes |
| 37B | Dubai Silicon Oasis Lake to International City | Every 30 minutes |
| 85 | Al Quoz (Al Khail Gate) to Dubai Internet City Metro Station | Every 20 minutes |
For the gap on your own route at other times, use the departure board in S’hail or on the RTA website.
Route changes in 2026
RTA reviews the bus network several times a year, so a route you used last year may now end somewhere else. In the July 2026 round:
- Routes 36A and 36B stopped running between International City and Dubai Silicon Oasis. Routes 37A and 37B now cover those trips.
- Route 67 now ends at Oud Metha Bus Station instead of Al Ghubaiba Bus Station. RTA suggests the Green Line to reach Bur Dubai.
If your usual bus does not appear, check the latest RTA route announcement.
Night buses and the 24-hour C01
Route C01 is the only Dubai bus RTA lists as running 24 hours. After 1am, Dubai bus timings come down to this one route for anyone finishing a late shift.
RTA has also run dedicated night routes with an N prefix. Route N30, launched in September 2019, links Dragon Mart 2 in International City with Dubai International Airport Terminal 2, passing the station now called Centrepoint. RTA has not listed N30 hours on its current timetable page, so check S’hail for tonight’s departures before relying on it.
Metro feeder buses (F routes)
Metro feeder buses, which RTA calls Metro Link routes, carry passengers between metro stations and the surrounding areas. Their route numbers start with F.
Your trip counts as one journey for the fare if you change between the metro and a feeder bus within 30 minutes. Recent RTA changes to Metro Link routes include:
- F06: extended to serve Nad Shamma.
- F36: extended to serve Al Barsha South 2.
- F47: now serves staff accommodation in Jebel Ali Industrial Area.
Before a late train home, check that the feeder bus from your station is still running.
Intercity buses: Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and other emirates
RTA’s intercity routes carry an E prefix and link Dubai with Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Hatta, Fujairah and Al Ain. RTA lists these intercity routes as operating: E100, E101, E201, E303, E306, E307, E307A, E315, E400, E411, E16 and E700.
Dubai to Abu Dhabi bus
Route E100 runs between Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Bur Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and route E101 runs between Ibn Battuta Bus Station and Abu Dhabi. The fare is AED 25, according to Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre.
| Route | Dubai station | Other end | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| E100 | Al Ghubaiba Bus Station | Abu Dhabi Main Bus Station | AED 25 |
| E101 | Ibn Battuta Bus Station | Abu Dhabi Main Bus Station | AED 25 |
| E201 | Dubai | Al Ain Main Bus Station | AED 25 |
Abu Dhabi also lists an E102 service to Dubai from Abu Dhabi Main Bus Station. On the Abu Dhabi side, tickets are sold at the Customer Happiness Offices in the bus station. On the Dubai side, RTA links to its own intercity ticket booking site from the timetable page.
E100 from Al Ghubaiba was suspended over both New Year and Eid Al Adha in 2026. Each time, RTA sent Abu Dhabi passengers to E101 from Ibn Battuta.
Dubai to Sharjah bus
Intercity Dubai bus timings vary by route. Several Dubai to Sharjah buses end at Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah. These three routes have their stations confirmed by RTA and Gulf News:
| Route | Dubai start | Sharjah end |
|---|---|---|
| E303 | Union Metro Station | Al Jubail Bus Station |
| E307A | Abu Hail Metro Station | Al Jubail Bus Station |
| E315 | e& Metro Station (formerly Etisalat) | Muwaileh Bus Station |
Routes E306 and E307 also run to Sharjah. The fare depends on the route, so check it in S’hail or the RTA journey planner before you travel, and keep enough balance on your nol card.
Hatta and the other emirates
Route H02, the Hatta Express, runs from Dubai Mall Bus Station to Hatta Bus Station between 7am and 7pm, about every two hours, for AED 25 a journey on deluxe coaches. Once in Hatta, route H04 runs a loop past Hatta Wadi Hub, Hatta Hill Park, Hatta Dam and the Heritage Village from 7am to 9pm, about every 30 minutes, for AED 2 a stop.
For Ajman, RTA lists routes E400 and E411, and for Fujairah, route E700. Look up their departures in S’hail.
Children aged 8 to 11 normally need a permit from their parents to ride RTA public transport alone, but RTA makes an exception for intercity buses. Children under 8 must always travel with an adult.
Weekend, Ramadan and holiday changes
RTA’s published bus network hours do not change at the weekend; the 4am to 1am window applies every day. For Ramadan, Eid and New Year, RTA announces changes to Dubai bus timings a few days ahead and sends passengers to the S’hail app for the new bus times.
The 2026 announcements show what usually changes:
- Ramadan 2026: RTA’s announcement of 16 February 2026 gave no fixed bus hours and told customers to check S’hail for the latest schedules.
- Eid Al Adha 2026: E100 did not run from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station from 23 to 31 May 2026. Passengers for Abu Dhabi used E101 from Ibn Battuta Bus Station.
- New Year 2026: E100 stopped running from Al Ghubaiba on the afternoon of 31 December 2025, with the last trips at noon from Abu Dhabi and 2pm from Al Ghubaiba, and stayed suspended until 4 January 2026. E101 and E102 ran from Ibn Battuta instead.
RTA posts holiday timetables through the main banner on its homepage, so check there before any public holiday.
How to check live Dubai bus timings
The quickest way to get exact Dubai bus timings for your stop is the S’hail app, RTA’s official journey planner. The RTA website and the RTA call centre are the other official options.
- S’hail app: download it free from the App Store or Google Play (the developer is Roads & Transport Authority). Open Departures, enter your stop or station, and you see the routes due with real-time information, including how full the bus is. The journey planner suggests the best bus, metro, tram or marine route from A to B.
- RTA website: the bus section of rta.ae has a “View Departure Board” search by stop name, a “Download Timetables” search by route number, and a journey planner.
- RTA call centre: call 800 9090 from a UAE number, or +971 4 605 1414 from abroad. RTA also lists WhatsApp on +971 58 800 9090 and email at [email protected]. Details are on the RTA contact page.
Dubai bus fares and the nol card
Dubai bus fares depend on how many of Dubai’s 7 fare zones you cross, and the fare comes off your nol card. A trip within one zone costs AED 3 on a silver card.
| Zones travelled | Silver or personal (blue) card | Red ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Within 1 zone | AED 3 | AED 4 |
| 2 adjacent zones | AED 5 | AED 6 |
| More than 2 zones | AED 7.50 | AED 8.50 |
- Tap your card on the reader at the bus entrance, and tap it again on the reader when you get off. The fare is worked out from the zones between the two taps.
- You can change between bus, metro and tram within 30 minutes and pay one fare. A journey can last up to 180 minutes with up to 3 transfers.
- The gold class surcharge applies on the metro and tram only, not on buses.
- Children aged 5 and under travel free. The personal blue card gives 50% off for students, senior Emiratis and some other eligible groups, and free travel for people of determination.
- You need at least AED 7.50 on the card to use public transport.
Our nol card balance check guide shows how to see your balance and top up before you reach the bus stop.
Monthly passes for daily commuters
A daily bus commuter can save with a travel pass on a registered silver card. A 30-day silver pass costs AED 140 for 1 zone, AED 230 for 2 zones and AED 350 for all zones. Anonymous cards can only buy the 7-day pass, which costs AED 50, AED 80 or AED 110. Fares and passes are listed on the RTA nol fares page.
Rules and fines on Dubai buses
RTA’s public transport fines run from AED 100 to AED 2,000, and inspectors check buses as well as the metro. The most common bus fine is for not paying the correct fare, which costs AED 200.
| Offence | Fine |
|---|---|
| Standing or sitting in non-passenger areas, such as the red-marked area by the doors | AED 100 |
| Putting feet on seats | AED 100 |
| Eating or drinking where it is not allowed | AED 100 |
| Sitting in areas set aside for specific groups | AED 100 |
| Opening doors or getting off while the bus is moving | AED 100 |
| Travelling without paying the fare, or using an expired, invalid or someone else’s card | AED 200 |
| Distracting or obstructing the driver while driving | AED 200 |
| Smoking, spitting or littering | AED 200 |
| Sleeping in a passenger shelter or where sleeping is not allowed | AED 300 |
| Carrying alcoholic drinks, or using a counterfeit card | AED 500 |
| Carrying weapons, sharp tools or flammable materials | AED 1,000 |
| Damaging seats or equipment, or using emergency exits without need | AED 2,000 |
Sleeping in a bus shelter while waiting for the first bus can cost AED 300. Animals are not allowed on board, except guide dogs.
If you also drive, road fines are separate; our Dubai traffic fine check guide covers how to look up road fines.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting to tap out. Not tapping your card correctly when getting on and off is the most common bus violation found in RTA and Dubai Police inspections.
- Heading to Al Ghubaiba for Abu Dhabi on a holiday. E100 is often suspended at Eid and New Year. Check whether E101 from Ibn Battuta is the one running.
- Counting on a bus after 1am. Dubai bus timings end at 1am on every route except C01.
Frequently asked questions
What time do Dubai buses start and stop?
Dubai buses run from 4am to 1am the next day, according to RTA’s public transport timetable. Route C01 is the exception and runs 24 hours a day. Each route has its own first and last bus inside that window, so check the departure board for your stop in the S’hail app or on the RTA website before you travel early or late.
Is there a 24-hour bus in Dubai?
Yes, route C01 is the Dubai bus that RTA lists as running 24 hours a day. RTA has also run night routes with an N prefix, such as N30 between International City and Dubai International Airport Terminal 2. RTA does not list N30 hours on its timetable page, so check tonight’s departures in S’hail before relying on a night bus.
Which bus goes from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
Route E100 goes from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Dubai to Abu Dhabi, and route E101 goes from Ibn Battuta Bus Station. The fare is AED 25, according to Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre. E100 is often suspended over Eid and New Year, and during those breaks RTA advises passengers to take E101 from Ibn Battuta instead.
How can I check live bus timings in Dubai?
You can check live Dubai bus timings in RTA’s free S’hail app by opening Departures and entering your stop or station. The RTA website also has a departure board search by stop name and timetable downloads by route number. For help by phone, call the RTA call centre on 800 9090 from a UAE number.
Do Dubai bus timings change during Ramadan?
Yes, Dubai bus timings can change during Ramadan, and RTA tells passengers to check the S’hail app for the new schedules. For Ramadan 2026, RTA’s announcement did not list fixed bus hours and pointed customers to S’hail instead. Before Ramadan, Eid or New Year, look for the new RTA announcement rather than using last year’s times.
How much is the bus fare in Dubai?
A Dubai bus fare is AED 3 for a trip within one zone on a silver nol card, AED 5 across two adjacent zones and AED 7.50 for more than two zones. A red ticket costs AED 4, AED 6 or AED 8.50. Children aged 5 and under travel free, and you need at least AED 7.50 on your card.
Key takeaways
- Dubai bus timings: the network runs from 4am to 1am the next day, and C01 runs 24 hours.
- Dubai to Abu Dhabi: E100 from Al Ghubaiba or E101 from Ibn Battuta, AED 25.
- For exact times use S’hail Departures, the RTA departure board or the call centre on 800 9090.
- Tap in and tap out; not paying the right fare costs AED 200.
Sources
- Timetables: Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram and buses, Roads and Transport Authority
- nol fares, Roads and Transport Authority
- Public transport rules and fines, Roads and Transport Authority
- Launch of 4 new bus routes and enhancement of 13 others on 17 July 2026, Roads and Transport Authority (14 July 2026)
- Announcing service hours during Eid Al Adha holiday 2026, Roads and Transport Authority (22 May 2026)
- Announcing service hours during the holy month of Ramadan, Roads and Transport Authority (16 February 2026)
- RTA announces service timings for 2026 New Year holiday, Dubai Media Office (29 December 2025)
- Inter-emirates bus services, Abu Dhabi Integrated Transport Centre
- Contact us, Roads and Transport Authority
