Dubai boasts one of the most developed transport networks in the region. Buses offer a cost-effective, reliable, and well-connected way for thousands of commuters to travel across the city and beyond. Whether you’re heading to work, exploring the city, or taking an intercity trip, knowing the top Dubai bus stations will make your journey smoother. These stations provide access to major commercial and residential areas, as well as connections to other Emirates.
Your Complete Guide to Top Dubai Bus Stations & Routes
These major bus stations are essential for a smart and efficient commute across Dubai. This guide covers the key stations you need to know, including Oud Metha, Sabkha, Al Quoz, and Gold Souq, with tips to travel smoothly and stress-free. For commuters in Deira, check our detailed guide to the Union Bus Station. For a broader overview across the Emirates, explore our UAE Bus Stations Guide for routes and travel tips.
Comparison of the Top Dubai Bus Stations
| Bus Station & Best For | Key Routes, Nearby Metro, Intercity Routes & Highlights |
|---|---|
| Oud Metha Bus Station – Daily city commuters | Key Routes: 28, 33, 44, F70 Nearby Metro: Oud Metha Metro Intercity Routes: E303/303, E400, E600 Highlights: Central location, fast metro access |
| Sabkha Bus Station – Old Dubai travel | Key Routes: 13D, E16, E303A Nearby Metro: Baniyas Square Metro Intercity Routes: Sharjah (Jubail) Highlights: Near souqs, good for tourists |
| Al Quoz Bus Station – Industrial areas & workers | Key Routes: 91A, 50, F15 Nearby Metro: Onpassive / Al Safa Metro Intercity Routes: Limited Highlights: Best for workers & factory access |
| Gold Souq Bus Station – Intercity travel | Key Routes: 4, 8, 29, 13D Nearby Metro: Gold Souq Metro Intercity Routes: Sharjah / Ajman / Abu Dhabi Highlights: The biggest station, high frequency |
Why the Major Bus Stations in Dubai are Important
In Dubai, there are over 1500 buses with hundreds of routes. These stations form the backbone of a well-organised Dubai public transport system. They help thousands of people commute daily without needing personal cars. You can use these hubs for work commutes, tourist visits, or intercity travel to Sharjah, Ajman or Abu Dhabi. For planning your Abu Dhabi trips, check our Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station guide
for routes and timings.
You can also explore detailed Musaffah Bus Station routes for commuters heading to Abu Dhabi. It is well-connected and well-equipped. The blog is your bus travel guide for commuters. This will provide you with all the information you require to navigate the transport system in the city without problems.
Oud Metha Bus Station, Dubai – Key Routes, Timings & Daily Commute Hub
Oud Metha Bus Station in Dubai is one of the busiest and most centralised stations in the city. It is located near residential areas, with schools and offices nearby. The Oud Metha Metro station is conveniently located for residents and frequent transport users.
Why is Oud Metha Station Important?
It offers excellent connectivity, essential commuter facilities and access to key Dubai bus routes.
- Linked with the major city routes such as Karama and Deira and Satwa, and Bur Dubai.
- Has access to the city and limited intercity buses.
- Spacious, shaded waiting areas and quick access to the metro.
It best suits the needs of work commuters who are students and individuals who reside in central Dubai. It is one of the top Dubai Bus Stations.
Key Routes from Oud Metha
This station is vital in the day-to-day commute to Dubai, linking the passenger to offices with commercial areas and congested neighbourhoods. Oud Metha is a convenient hub in case you are going to travel daily within the city.
| Route & Destination | Timings, Frequency, Duration & Fare |
|---|---|
| 33 – Deira / Al Ghubaiba | First Bus: 05:00 AM Last Bus: 12:00 AM Frequency: Every 15–20 min (peak), ~30 min (off) Approx. Duration: 45 minutes (approx) Approx. Fare: AED 3 – 7.50 (zone-based) |
| 44 – Jumeirah / Rashidiya (via Oud Metha) | First Bus: 05:10 AM Last Bus: 11:50 PM Frequency: Every ~20 min (peak) Approx. Duration: 53 minutes (full route) Approx. Fare: AED 3 – 7 (or up to 7.50 depending on zones) |
| 66 – Dubai Mall / Ghubaiba direction | First Bus: 05:30 AM (or slightly later – see notes) Last Bus: 19:30 / ~19:45 (per Moovit) Frequency: Every 120 min (very infrequent, per Moovit) Approx. Duration: 83–86 min (full route) Approx. Fare: Not precisely listed — depends on zones; standard |
| 28 – Dubai Mall ↔ Oud Metha | First Bus: 05:00 AM Last Bus: 01:46 AM Frequency: 5–27 min on weekdays; 20–30 min on Sat; 19–30 min on Sun Approx. Duration: 56 min (full route) Approx. Fare: AED 4 – 7 (depending on distance) |
| F70 – Circular: Oud Metha → BurJuman → Sharaf DG → Dubai Museum → back to Oud Metha | First Bus: 04:41 AM Last Bus: 11:30 PM Frequency: Every ~10–20 mins (peak/off-peak) Approx. Duration: 50–60 min (full loop) Approx. Fare: AED 3 per ride (NOL card) |
| E303 / 303 – Sharjah (Intercity) | First Bus: 05:00 AM (Mon–Fri) Last Bus: 12:00 AM (Mon–Fri) Frequency: Every ~20–30 min (Mon–Fri) Approx. Duration: 30–40 min Approx. Fare: AED 10–15 |
| E400 / 400 – Ajman (Intercity) | First Bus: 05:15 AM Last Bus: 11:30 PM Frequency: Every ~30 min (Mon–Fri) Approx. Duration: 45–60 min Approx. Fare: AED 12–15 |
| E600 / 600 – Fujairah (Intercity) | First Bus: 06:00 AM Last Bus: 10:00 PM Frequency: Every ~60 min (Mon–Fri) Approx. Duration: 2 hr – 2 hr 30 min Approx. Fare: AED 25–30 |
Sabkha Bus Station, Dubai – Your Main Gateway to Old Dubai
The location of the Sabkha Bus Station in Dubai is Deira. It is one of the oldest and busiest trading areas. It is also popular with both residents and visitors. Due to its closeness to gold stores, markets, and conventional souqs.
The reason why Travellers choose to visit Sabkha Station
- Good connectivity in the areas of Deira and Bur Dubai and Jumeirah, and Satwa.
- Close accessibility to local and intercity routes.
- It is popular with tourists visiting old Dubai in its historic places.
- Located close to malls, restaurants, street food areas, and traditional markets.
Bus Routes from Sabkha
The station serves some of the bus routes most utilized in the city of Dubai. This covers a large area of the city as it serves people who work or live in the old city of Dubai. Sabkha is also among the best bus stations in Dubai. The commuters would use to move around the city economically and conveniently.
| Route & Destination | Timings, Frequency, Duration & Fare |
|---|---|
| E16 – Hatta | First Bus: 05:30 AM Last Bus: 22:32 (or ~10:32 PM) Frequency: 30–60 min (varies) Approx. Duration: 117 min (~1h 57m) Approx. Fare: AED 25–30 (depending on distance) |
| E303A – Sharjah, Al Jubail Bus Station | First Bus: 05:35 AM Last Bus: 12:00 AM (midnight) Frequency: Every 20–30 min Approx. Duration: 29 minutes Approx. Fare: AED 5–7 (one way) |
| 13D – Qusais ↔ Gold Souq (passes Sabkha) | First Bus: 05:05 AM (or thereabouts) Last Bus: 10:45 PM or ~11:00 PM (varies) Frequency: 13–20 min (varies by day) Approx. Duration: 36–38 minutes (full route) Approx. Fare: AED 5 (for this route) |
Al Quoz Bus Station, Dubai – Ideal with Business and Industry Routes
Al Quoz Bus Station in Dubai is built in the Al Quoz industrial area. It is a busy station used daily by workers, business visitors, and residents of nearby communities.
What is Unique about Al Quoz Station?
- Connection to industrial and warehouses and business parks.
- Suited for those workers who have to travel by bus daily.
- It offers easy access to the Al Quoz residential communities.
- Properly planned routes that have high-frequency buses.
Connectivity and Access
Al Quoz station is an essential part of the bus station connectivity between Dubai bus stations. It provides thousands of people with an opportunity to travel to their workplaces with commercial premises and places where residents are concentrated with ease. When going along the Al Khail Road or Umm Suqeim Road. This station is among the most effective points of departure.
Gold Souq Bus Station, in Dubai – Major Intercity Hub for Sharjah, Ajman & Abu Dhabi
Gold Souq Bus Station in Dubai is one of the biggest and busiest bus stations in the city. It is next to the renowned Gold Souq in Deira. It handles both high-demand city routes and major intercity services.
The reason why Gold Souq Station is so important
- It is one of the primary intercity bus stations in Dubai.
- Direct intercity buses to Sharjah, Ajman and Abu Dhabi. For detailed routes and timings in Sharjah, see our Sharjah bus stations guide. If you are travelling further east, check out our comprehensive Sharjah & Al Ain Bus Stations Guide for updated routes, schedules, and travel tips to plan your journey smoothly between these key Emirates.
- Outstanding bus frequency both in peak time and off-peak.
- One of the key attractions for tourists visiting Deira and Old Dubai.
For travellers planning intercity trips to Sharjah, including routes to Al Jubail Bus Station, check out our detailed Al Jubail Bus Station Sharjah Guide for updated routes, timings, and travel tips. For commuters specifically using the Muwaileh Bus Terminal in Sharjah, including routes to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and local facilities, see our Muwaileh Bus Terminal Sharjah Guide for detailed travel tips.
Key Routes
This is one of the main stations used for intercity travel from Dubai. It is a mandatory component of organising intercity and city bus journeys in Dubai. How to Reach Oud Metha, Sabkha, Al Quoz and Gold Souq Stations. Dubai is so easy to reach these major bus stations courtesy of its metro, feeder buses, as well as shared transport services. You can:
- Take the Dubai Metro to Oud Metha and Gold Souq.
- Use local buses in any part of town.
- Ride faster with the help of taxis or ride-hailing apps. You can also check Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Dubai for more connectivity tips.
- This renders these stations very convenient to both the commuters and visitors.
You can also check Deira City Centre and Al Karama Bus Stations guide, or the Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Dubai, for more connectivity tips.
| Route & Destination | Timings, Frequency & Duration |
|---|---|
| 8 – Ibn Battuta / Jumeirah-Marina area | First Bus: 05:00 AM Last Bus: 01:07 AM Frequency: Every 12–20 min (route is long / varies) |
| 4 – Rashidiya Metro (or via key stops) | First Bus: 04:59 AM Last Bus: 11:30 PM Frequency: Every 15–24 min (varies by day) Approx. Duration: 40–55 min |
| 29 – Dubai Mall / Burj Khalifa area (via Gold Souq) | First Bus: (via Gold Souq) Last Bus: (via Gold Souq) Frequency: 15–20 min (per 29-bus schedule) Approx. Duration: 25–35 min (per 29-bus route) |
| 53 – International City | First Bus: 06:05 AM from Gold Souq Last Bus: 12:01 AM (or shortly after midnight) Frequency: Every 20–30 min (source: UAEBusTiming) |
| 13D – Al Qusais ↔ Gold Souq | First Bus: 05:58 AM from Gold Souq Last Bus: 11:56 PM from Gold Souq Frequency: Every 10–25 min (varies by time) Approx. Duration: 75–85 min (full route) |
How to plan the Dubai City Commute using Buses
Be it on a local trip or a commute to another Emirate. These stations have the best routes and frequency, and convenient commuter-friendly bus facilities at the top Dubai stations. To get the most accurate, up‑to‑date route maps and time schedules for all Dubai buses, visit the official RTA Dubai Bus page. These are some of the tips to keep in mind when travelling easily:
Smart Tips for a Smooth Dubai Bus Commute
- Always check the city bus timings in Dubai through the RTA app.
- Begin with a major station and have better bus options.
- Take Nol cards to travel within minutes without any cash.
- Plan your travel during less busy hours to avoid long queues and peak-time rush.
- In case of intercity, arrive early at the station of Gold Souq station.
These tips allow you to maximise the efficiency of public transport and the Dubai city bus timings. For a complete list of routes and timings, visit our Dubai bus stations routes and timings guide. These buses are one of the most efficient public transport options in Dubai.
The Reason Why These are the Best Dubai Bus Stations
These large stations are not only stops but also significant connections that connect the various areas of the city, like Oud Metha and Sabkha and Al Quoz, and Gold Souq. They support:
- Daily workers and residents
- Between major attractions and tourists move between these places.
- Bus users commuting to Sharjah and Ajman, and Abu Dhabi.
- Tourists seeking good and cheap transport.
These four stations stand out for their strong connectivity, wide route coverage, and reliable commuter-friendly facilities. Whether you’re a daily worker, a resident or a visitor, these Top Dubai Bus Stations make travelling across Dubai and to other Emirates simple and affordable. For more guides on cars, SUVs, and public transport across the UAE, visit DubaiWheels for trusted tips, reviews, and updates.
FAQs
How can I travel between these top Dubai bus stations?
Direct RTA buses, Metro, or short feeder buses connecting major hubs can be used to travel between stations.
Are there facilities like parking and waiting areas at these stations?
Yes- most large stations have shaded waiting cabinets, ticket machines, lavatories and some parking.
What are the daily operating hours for these stations?
They usually work between approximately 4:30-5:00 AM and up until midnight or even after, depending on the route.
How can I plan intercity travel from Dubai using these stations?
Check the schedule of intercity buses such as E300+, E400+, and E700 routes using the S’hail app by RTA for departures from Gold Souq, Sabkha, or any other of the hubs.
What are the main bus routes from Oud Metha, Sabkha, Al Quoz, and Gold Souq stations?
Major ones are 28, 33, 44, E303A, E16, 91A, 53, 4, 8 and several intercity E-routes.
Are these stations accessible to people with disabilities?
Yes–RTA bus stations are accessible to people by wheelchair, ramp, tactile footpath, and priority seats.
