RTA Bus Routes Dubai 2026: All Routes, Timings and Fares

Over 370,000 people use Dubai’s RTA bus network every single day. It is the most affordable, air-conditioned, and widely connected public transport option in the city, covering more than 80% of Dubai’s urban areas with over 1,500 buses across 119 routes. Every major residential area, commercial district, tourist attraction, airport, and even neighbouring Emirates is reachable by bus.

This complete guide covers all essential RTA Bus Routes, exact bus numbers, and key stops across the city. You will quickly learn about daily timings, current fares, and how to properly manage your Nol card for a smooth commute. We have placed all necessary travel details in exactly one simple place so you can confidently navigate the streets like a true local.

Types of RTA Buses Operating in Dubai

Before looking at specific routes, it helps to understand why bus numbers look different from one another. RTA organises its network into seven distinct categories, each serving a different purpose and identified by a prefix in the route number.

Route Type	Prefix	Purpose
Urban Routes	Numbers only (1, 2, 4, 8 etc.)	City-wide coverage across residential and commercial areas
Feeder Routes	F (F01, F02, F41 etc.)	Connect metro and tram stations to nearby communities
Express Routes	X (X22, X24 etc.)	Faster city travel with limited stops
Intercity Routes	E (E100, E303 etc.)	Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Hatta, Fujairah
Night Routes	N (N30, N55)	Late-night service after metro hours
Urban CBD Routes	C (C01)	Central Business District loop through Deira and Bur Dubai
Seasonal Routes	S, J, JLT, H	Global Village, JVC, Jumeirah, Hatta visitor routes

In terms of the fleet, RTA runs 935 standard buses, 170 double-decker buses, and 339 articulated buses across the network. Regular urban buses are red and white. Feeder buses are blue and white. Intercity and express services use larger coaches.

RTA Urban Bus Routes Dubai 2026: Complete List

Urban routes form the backbone of daily commuting in Dubai. These run through residential areas, markets, schools, hospitals, and commercial zones throughout the city. According to Moovit data, the most popular urban routes in Dubai are Routes 4, 55, 44, 81, and 43.

Bus	From	To
1	Al Ghubaiba Bus Station	Muhaisna 4
2	Union Square	Al Qusais (Terminus)
3	Union Square	Rashidiya Bus Station
4	Union Square	GGICO Metro Station (via Deira)
5	Gold Souq Bus Station	Rashidiya Bus Station
7	Al Ghubaiba	Al Qusais Industrial Area
8	Gold Souq	Muhaisna 4
9	Gold Souq	Al Warqa’a
10	Al Ghubaiba	Al Quoz Industrial Area
11	Gold Souq Bus Station	Al Rashidiya
12	Al Ghubaiba	Al Nahda (Sharjah Border)
13	Al Ghubaiba	Dubai Airport Free Zone
14	Al Ghubaiba	Global Village (Seasonal)
15	Gold Souq	Al Muhaisna
16	Al Ghubaiba	Academic City
17	Al Ghubaiba	Hatta
19	Union Square	Al Satwa
20	Al Ghubaiba	Al Quoz
21	Gold Souq Bus Station	Dubai Healthcare City
22	Al Ghubaiba	Jebel Ali
23	Al Ghubaiba	Al Barsha
24	Al Ghubaiba	Al Sufouh
25	Al Ghubaiba	Burjuman
26	Gold Souq	Hor Al Anz
27	Al Ghubaiba	Mirdif
28	Al Ghubaiba	Jumeirah
29	Al Ghubaiba	Al Rashidiya
30	Union Square	Al Barsha
31	Al Ghubaiba	Al Manara
32	Al Ghubaiba	Al Quoz
33	Union Square	Satwa
43	Al Ghubaiba	Ibn Battuta Bus Station
44	Gold Souq	Mall of the Emirates
50	Dubai International Airport	Ibn Battuta Bus Station
55	Al Ghubaiba	Expo City Dubai
61	Al Ghubaiba	Al Qusais
63	Gold Souq	Al Warqa’a 2
64	Gold Souq	Mirdif City Centre
65	Union Square	Al Twar
66	Gold Souq	Al Muhaisna 4
71	Al Ghubaiba	Discovery Gardens
75	Al Ghubaiba	Emirates Hills
81	Al Ghubaiba	Rashidiya Bus Station
83	Al Ghubaiba	Al Qusais Industrial
84	Gold Souq	International City

RTA Feeder Bus Routes Dubai 2026: Metro and Tram Connectors

Feeder buses (F-series) exist to bridge the last mile between metro or tram stations and the surrounding neighbourhoods. They are blue and white, run during metro hours, and operate every 5 to 15 minutes during peak times. If your destination isn’t on the metro map, a feeder bus will almost certainly get you there.

Bus	Metro Station	Area Served
F01	Union Metro Station	Al Baraha
F02	Etisalat Metro Station	Al Muhaisna 4
F03	Al Rashidiya Bus Station	Mirdiff West
F04	GGICO Metro Station	Sabkha Turnoff
F05	Al Rashidiya Bus Station	Mizhar 1
F06	Al Rashidiya Bus Station	Al Rashidiya Area
F07	Etisalat Metro Station	Al Qusais DM Housing
F09	Airport Terminal 1/3 Metro	Al Twar
F10	Airport Terminal 1/3 Metro	Muhaisna
F11	Union Metro Station	Al Ras Metro Stop
F13	Dubai Internet City Metro	Al Barsha
F14	Mall of Emirates Metro	Al Quoz
F15	Dubai Internet City Metro	Barsha South
F16	Ibn Battuta Metro	Discovery Gardens
F19A	Nakheel Harbour Metro	Palm Jumeirah (East)
F19B	Nakheel Harbour Metro	Palm Jumeirah (West)
F20	Centrepoint Metro	Al Warqa’a
F22	Stadium Metro	Al Qusais
F23	Stadium Metro	Al Nahda 1
F24	Rashidiya Metro	Mirdiff
F25	Emirates Metro	Meadows
F26	Ibn Battuta Metro	Jumeirah Park
F27	Jebel Ali Metro	Discovery Gardens
F28	Nakheel Harbour Metro	Jumeirah
F29	Mall of Emirates Metro	Al Quoz Industrial
F30	Sharaf DG Metro	Oud Metha
F31	ADCB Metro	Karama
F33	BurJuman Metro	Al Mankhool
F34	Max Metro	Bur Dubai
F35	Sharaf DG Metro	Al Jafiliya
F36	Noor Bank Metro	Al Safa
F37	First Abu Dhabi Bank Metro	Jumeirah 3
F38	Noor Bank Metro	Motor City
F39	Ibn Battuta Metro	International City
F40	Dubai Internet City Metro	JLT
F41	Rashidiya Metro	Silicon Oasis
F43	Etisalat Metro	International City
F44	Dubai Internet City Metro	JLT Cluster
F45	Dubai Internet City Metro	JBR Walk
F46	First Abu Dhabi Bank Metro	Dubai Butterfly Garden
F47	Nakheel Harbour Metro	Palm West Beach
F48	Noor Bank Metro	Arabian Ranches
F49	DMCC Metro	JLT South
F50	Rashidiya Metro	Al Warqa’a 2
F51	Centrepoint Metro	International City Ph 2
F53	Ibn Battuta Metro	Discovery Gardens 2
F55	Ibn Battuta Metro	Remraam
F57	Nakheel Harbour Metro	Palm West Palm
F58	Jebel Ali Metro	Garden City
F59	Ibn Battuta Metro	Sports City
F60	BurJuman Metro	Oud Metha
F61	GGICO Metro	Al Twar 2
F62	Max Metro	Umm Hurair
F63	Al Ras Metro	Union Bus Station
F70	Rashidiya Metro	Academic City
F81	Dubai Internet City Metro	Al Sufouh

RTA Express Bus Routes Dubai 2026

Express buses (X-series) cover the same city areas as urban routes but with far fewer stops, making journey times significantly shorter for longer distances within Dubai.

Bus	From	To
X22	Al Ghubaiba	Jebel Ali (Express)
X24	Al Ghubaiba	Al Barsha (Express)
X25	Al Ghubaiba	Burjuman (Express)
X28	Al Ghubaiba	Jumeirah Beach Road
X29	Al Ghubaiba	Rashidiya (Express)

RTA Intercity Bus Routes Dubai 2026: Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Beyond

Intercity buses (E-series) are the most affordable way to travel between Dubai and other Emirates. Most depart from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station or Ibn Battuta Bus Station. The journey to Abu Dhabi takes around 90 minutes depending on traffic. You can check Abu Dhabi to Dubai bus timings or Sharjah to Abu Dhabi bus routes for the full schedule from other Emirates.

Dubai to Abu Dhabi

Bus	From	To
E100	Al Ghubaiba Bus Station	Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station
E101	Ibn Battuta Bus Station	Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station
E102	Ibn Battuta Bus Station	Mussafah Shabiya, Abu Dhabi

Dubai to Sharjah

Bus	From	To
E303	Union Square Bus Station	Sharjah Al Jubail Bus Station
E306	Al Ghubaiba Bus Station	Sharjah Al Jubail Bus Station
E307	Deira City Centre	Sharjah Al Jubail Bus Station
E307A	Abu Hail Metro Station	Sharjah Al Jubail Bus Station
E308	Stadium Bus Station	Sharjah Al Jubail Bus Station

Dubai to Other Emirates

Bus	From	To
E400	Al Ghubaiba	Ajman Bus Station
E500	Al Ghubaiba	Fujairah Bus Station
E700	Al Ghubaiba	Hatta Bus Station

Hatta Special Services

Bus	Route	Timing	Fare
H02 (Hatta Express)	Dubai Mall Bus Station to Hatta	Every 2 hours, 7 AM to 7 PM daily	AED 25 per ride
H04 (Hatta Hop-On Hop-Off)	Hatta Bus Station (circular)	Every 30 min, 7 AM to 9 PM daily	AED 2 per stop

H04 stops include Hatta Wadi Hub, Hatta Hill Park, Hatta Dam, Heritage Village, and Hatta Souq.

RTA Night Bus Routes Dubai 2026

Only two dedicated night routes operate after metro hours, running from 9 PM to 5 AM daily. The C01 CBD route also runs 24 hours. These are essential for airport workers, hospitality staff, and anyone arriving on late flights.

Bus	From	To	Operating Hours
N30	Dragon Mart 2 (International City)	Dubai Airport Terminal 2 (via Centrepoint Metro)	9 PM to 5 AM daily
N55	Al Ghubaiba Bus Station	Al Maktoum International Airport	9 PM to 5 AM daily
C01	Circular CBD route (Deira/Bur Dubai)	Same terminal (circular)	24 hours, 7 days

RTA Urban CBD Bus Routes Dubai

C01 is the only 24-hour bus service in Dubai. CBD routes (C-series) serve the Central Business District, looping through Deira and Bur Dubai with frequent stops at markets, souqs, and commercial hubs.

Bus	Area Served	Operating Hours
C01	Deira and Bur Dubai CBD loop	24 hours, 7 days
C02	Central Deira markets and Gold Souq	Standard hours
C03	Bur Dubai and Karama	Standard hours

Seasonal and Community Bus Routes Dubai 2026

Seasonal routes operate only when specific attractions are open. Global Village routes run from October to April. Jumeirah community routes (J-series) and JLT routes serve residential clusters that are not directly on the metro line.

Global Village Seasonal Routes

Bus	Route	Notes
102	Al Ghubaiba to Global Village	Seasonal only (Oct to April)
103	Union Square to Global Village	Seasonal only
104	Ibn Battuta to Global Village	Seasonal only
106	Rashidiya to Global Village	Seasonal only

Jumeirah Community Routes (J-series)

Bus	From	To
J01	Mall of Emirates	JVC
J02	IMPZ	Mira Community
J03	Studio City Metro	Damac Hills
J04	Studio City Metro	Remraam

JLT Community Route

Bus	Route
JLT1	Sobha Realty Metro Station to JLT Internal Loop

RTA Bus Timings Dubai 2026

Most RTA bus routes operate from 4:00 AM to 1:00 AM the following day, giving you a 21-hour daily service window. C01 is the only route running 24 hours. Night buses N30 and N55 operate from 9 PM to 5 AM. For Dubai Metro timings when planning integrated journeys, they run on a slightly different schedule.

Time Period	Service Type	Frequency
Peak hours (7:00 to 9:30 AM and 5:00 to 8:00 PM)	Urban and Feeder routes	Every 5 to 12 minutes
Off-peak hours	Urban routes	Every 15 to 30 minutes
Community and suburban routes	All hours	Every 20 to 40 minutes
Intercity routes	All day	Every 20 to 30 minutes

Friday and Saturday (UAE weekend) some routes run at reduced frequency, especially early mornings. During Ramadan, timings adjust across many routes. Always check the S’hail app for real-time departures before heading out.

RTA Bus Fares Dubai 2026: How Much Does It Cost?

Dubai uses a zone-based fare system. The more zones your journey crosses, the higher the fare. All buses are completely cashless. You must use a Nol card or a contactless credit or debit card. The minimum balance required on a Nol card before boarding any bus is AED 7.50. Make sure to check and top up your Nol card balance before setting off.

Zones Crossed	Nol Silver Card Fare	Nol Gold Card Fare
1 zone	AED 3.00	AED 6.00
2 zones	AED 5.00	AED 10.00
3 or more zones	AED 7.50	AED 15.00
Daily cap (Silver)	AED 20.00	Not applicable
Monthly cap (Silver)	AED 300.00	Not applicable

For the Hatta Express H02, the fare is flat AED 25 per ride. The Hatta Hop-On Hop-Off H04 charges AED 2 per stop. Intercity bus fares to Abu Dhabi and Sharjah vary by destination and are best checked on the S’hail app before travelling. Nol Red Tickets (disposable) are available for tourists and occasional users. Children under 5 travel free. People of Determination receive concession fares. For more information on the Nol card, visit rta.ae/en/toll/nolcard.

Major RTA Bus Stations in Dubai

Dubai has 17 fully equipped bus stations and over 2,000 bus stops across the city. Most urban and intercity routes start or finish at one of two main hubs: Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Bur Dubai and Gold Souq Bus Station in Deira.

Station	Location	Key Routes
Al Ghubaiba Bus Station	Bur Dubai, near Al Fahidi	E100, E102, 43, 55, N55, most urban routes
Gold Souq Bus Station	Deira, near Gold Souq	5, 8, 11, 15, 26, 44, 63, 64
Union Square Bus Station	Deira, near Union Metro	E303, 2, 19, 30, 33, 65
Ibn Battuta Bus Station	Jebel Ali, near Ibn Battuta Mall	E101, F16, F26, F27, F53, 50
Rashidiya Bus Station	Rashidiya, near Metro	F03, F05, F24, F41, F50, 3, 5, 11, 81
Al Qusais Bus Station	Al Qusais	F22, F41, 2, 7
Airport Bus Station	Dubai Airport T1 and T3	F09, F10, A01, A02, A03, A04

Airport Bus Routes

Bus	Airport Terminal	Destination
A01	T1 and T3	Al Ghubaiba Bus Station
A02	T2	Rashidiya Metro Station
A03	T1 and T3	Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa
A04	T2	Gold Souq Bus Station

How to Plan an RTA Bus Trip in Dubai

Three official tools make trip planning quick and reliable.

S’hail App

Download the S’hail app from Google Play or the App Store. Enter your origin and destination, and the app shows route options, live bus arrival times, fare estimates, and any connection points. It covers buses, metro, tram, water buses, and the Dubai Ferry all in one place. This is the most reliable method for real-time arrivals.

RTA Website Journey Planner

Go to the official RTA site and click on the ‘Journey Planner.’ Enter your starting point, destination, date, and preferred time. The planner returns route options with all connections and an estimated fare.

Google Maps

Google Maps works well for RTA bus tracking in Dubai. It shows nearby stops, bus numbers, and real-time arrival countdowns. Best used for quick single-route trips when you already know your route number.

A few things to remember when boarding an RTA bus:

• Always tap your Nol card both when you board and when you exit. Forgetting to tap out results in the maximum zone fare being charged automatically.
• Minimum Nol card balance to board: AED 7.50.
• Women and children board and exit from the front door. Men use the rear door on most routes.
• All RTA buses are fully air-conditioned.

Final Thoughts

With 119 routes and over 2,000 bus stops, RTA buses cover more of Dubai than any other single transport mode. For daily commuters, a Nol Silver card with a monthly pass capped at AED 300 is the most cost-effective way to travel. For getting to and from the metro, pick the right F-series feeder route from the table above. For intercity travel, E100, E101, E303, and E307 are the busiest and most frequent.

Always use S’hail or the RTA website for real-time departure times since road conditions can affect schedules. If you drive regularly and want to manage all your UAE travel costs in one place, keeping on top of your Salik and Nol balances together saves time. And if you use public transport daily, the Emirates Islamic RTA card gives you cashback on bus and metro spending.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which bus goes from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?

E100 departs from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station and E101 departs from Ibn Battuta Bus Station, both heading to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station. E102 runs from Ibn Battuta to Mussafah. Buses run from 5:00 AM to midnight with departures every 20 to 30 minutes.

Which buses go to Dubai Airport?

A01 connects Airport Terminals 1 and 3 to Al Ghubaiba Bus Station. A02 connects Terminal 2 to Rashidiya Metro Station. A03 connects Terminals 1 and 3 to Dubai Mall. A04 connects Terminal 2 to Gold Souq. Feeder buses F09 and F10 also run from the Airport Metro Station to nearby residential areas.

What time do RTA buses start and finish in Dubai?

Most routes operate from 4:00 AM to 1:00 AM the following day. C01 is the only route that runs 24 hours a day. Night routes N30 and N55 operate from 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM.

How much is the RTA bus fare in Dubai?

Fares are zone-based. With a Nol Silver card: AED 3 for 1 zone, AED 5 for 2 zones, and AED 7.50 for 3 or more zones. The daily travel cap is AED 20. Cash is not accepted and the minimum Nol card balance to board is AED 7.50.

Which bus goes to Global Village Dubai?

Buses 102, 103, 104, and 106 operate seasonal services to Global Village, running from October to April. They depart from Al Ghubaiba, Union Square, Ibn Battuta, and Rashidiya Bus Station respectively.