Sharjah Airport to Dubai Airport: Need to Know Transport Guide

[ad_1]

Are you flying into Sharjah Airport in the United Arab Emirates but need to connect with a service that flies from Dubai Airport?

In this transport guide will talk you through all your options for transferring from SHJ to DXB.

Sharjah and Dubai are two separate emirates in the United Arab Emirates, but they are essentially connected cities with no border checkpoint between them. They do, however, run two completely separate public transport systems. Let’s take a look at how they operate together to help you transfer as quickly and as conveniently as possible from SHJ to DXB.

Sharjah Airport to Dubai Airport Distance

The distance from Sharjah International Airport to Dubai International Airport (Terminal 3) by road is just 24 kilometres.

However, due to heavy traffic between these two key airport locations in the UAE, the journey can take upwards of 30 minutes to complete by road in private transport or anything up to 2 hours when relying on public transport and connections.

Public Transport Sharjah Airport to Dubai Airport

If you seek to connect by public transport between SHJ and DXB, you will need to take at least two buses, or a bus and a Metro train connection.

Note the Metro that runs through the heart of Dubai does not extend as far as the Emirate of Sharjah. You must complete any journey between the Emirates by bus, taxi, ferry or private car.

Buses in Dubai are regulated by The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and in Sharjah by the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA). Each has its own payment system – nol card in Dubai or Sayer card in Sharjah (or cash payment can be used on SRTA services).

When we refer to bus routes below, routes starting with an “E” are RTA-operated in Dubai. Otherwise, assume they are operated by SRTA, and you can pay cash on board.

For Dubai buses and Metro, you must have an Nol card.

Option 1 – SHJ to DXB via Al Rolla Terminal

You can catch the Mowasalat bus service from Sharjah Airport to Al Rolla Terminal (Rolla Square) in Sharjah – see the daily bus timetable here.

  • These run pretty regularly as there are several different buses taking this route, including the 14, 15, 88 and 99.
  • If you have a Sharjah Sayer Card, the journey will cost you AED 6; without you can pay cash AED 8. (Remember, you cannot use Dubai Nol card for services WITHIN Sharjah).
  • From Al Rolla Terminal, you can connect to the 313 Bus to DXB Terminal 2. This service operates every 30 minutes from 6:15 AM to 10:15 PM. (NB most flights, however, leave from Terminals 1 & 3).
  • SRTA buses from Sharjah to Dubai cost AED 17.
  • Another choice is to take the E307 from Al Rolla to Deira City Centre (service every 30 minutes, cost AED 12 on Nol). You can catch the Red Line Metro (service every 5 minutes) from Deira City Centre to DXB Terminal 3 (AED 3-4).

Option 2 SHJ to DXB via Al Jubail

Another option is to take bus Route 99 or 88X from Sharjah Airport to Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah. This is the larger bus Terminal where many inter-city services run from to connect to other Emirates in the UAE.

  • At Al Jubail Terminal, you can transfer to an E303, which takes you to Union Square Bus Station in Al Karama, Dubai.
  • This service is pretty regular from 5:30 AM to 11:30 PM daily, every 15-20 minutes. The fare is AED 12 one way, which you must use a Dubai nol card for (you can get this at Al Jubail Terminal in Sharjah)
  • It is within easy walking distance here to Union Square Metro Station, which takes you directly to Terminal 3 on the Red Line Metro, services every 5 minutes, AED 3-4.

Option 3 SHJ to Dubai with Air Arabia

Air Arabia operates a coach service from SHJ to Al Ghurair Centre in Dubai. These comfortable airline coaches run from 7:30 AM to 10:30 PM and cost AED 20 per person. (We are confirming with Air Arabia if they are still running this service in 2024 as they have removed it from their website)

Sharjah International Airport
Sharjah International Airport is the arrival point in the UAE for many low-cost carriers

Private Transfer Options Between Sharjah Airport and Dubai Airport

Public taxis will be waiting for your arriving visitors at the exit to Sharjah airport. The journey to DXB is around 30 minutes, is traffic-dependent and will cost around

If you’d prefer the option of having your own vehicle to transfer you to Dubai Airport, the companies we suggest you pre-book with are:

  • Welcome Pick Ups – a reputable airport transfer service that will get you door-to-door pick-ups from any airport in the UAE
  • Get Transfer – ask drivers to bid on your journey, a convenient way to find the cheapest transfers if you want to plan your lifts in advance and avoid the hassle of airport queues.

You theoretically could hire a car too, but given the short journey distance, we’d strongly recommend you stick with public transport or a private vehicle transfer when travelling SHJ to DXB. The hassle of a car rental simply doesn’t make sense for a journey of less than an hour.

Sharjah Airport to DWC Al Maktoum Airport

The second Dubai airport – DWC – is much further away from SHJ, being on the other side of the Emirate of Dubai.

As there are no direct public transport options, we strongly recommend you consider the private transfer services we recommend above.

It is theoretically possible by public transport, but cumbersome, involving several changeovers and a taxi to complete your journey no matter what.

Sharjah Airport and Abu Dhabi Airport

Is your next connection actually in Abu Dhabi (AUH – Zayed International Airport)?

Predominantly used by Etihad and low-budget carriers WizzAir and Air Arabia, there are several ways to get from Sharjah to Abu Dhabi; most involve at least a couple of connections unless you use the private vehicle options we mention above all the way from

  • Sharjah Airport to Abu Dhabi Airport is about kilometres 150 kilometres.

Taxis and Transfer Services

You can make the journey by public taxi from the airport, with an approximately metered fare charge of around AED 350 – 450, depending on your endpoint in Abu Dhabi. The journey should take about 1.5 hours.

Another option is to take an airport transfer service, such as Welcome Pickups from Sharjah to Abu Dhabi. This door-to-door airport service is a quick and efficient way to travel between the two airports. You’ll get an English-speaking driver, an air-conditioned vehicle and a guaranteed price you’ve already paid online, so there’s no need to withdraw any dirhams during your brief transfer.

Bus from Sharjah Airport to Abu Dhabi

Another new option is the airport express transfer service that runs from Ibn Battuta to AUH. Ibn Battuta is one of the last stops on the Red Metro line in Dubai.

The new AUH Terminal A building in Abu Dhabi
The new Abu Dhabi International Airport Terminal A building
  • Following the steps above for getting to DXB in Dubai Emirate.
  • Instead of taking the Metro to DXB from Union Square or Deira City Centre, take the Metro red line west, all the way to Ibn Battuta (Approx AED 7.50-8.50)
  • Alternatively, take the E308 bus service from Sharjah Al Rolla to Ibn Battuta (AED 20). Generally speaking, even if it involves an extra swap, it’s quicker to use the Metro than the bus.
  • There is a large bus terminal at Ibn Battuta; switch here for the AUH airport transit service.
  • This comfort coach will cost you 35 AED one way. Tickets need to be purchased separately from the Dubai Nol card system. You will need a credit card or UAE dirhams to purchase your ticket.
  • The journey from Ibn Battuta to AUH is around 1 hour and 15 minutes.
  • All up, allowing for connections, we’d allow 2.5 to 3 hours to transit from Sharjah Airport to Abu Dhabi Airport using public transport and a budget of AED 63.

Visiting Sharjah

If you’re not in a hurry to make your journey between Sharjah and the other emirates, do stick around in the city of Sharjah. Often referred to as the country’s Culture Capital, Sharjah is abound by incredible museums and beautiful parks. Accommodation, for the most part, is cheaper in Sharjah than in Dubai, and you’ll find another fascinating side to the country.


Before you go… More important things you should know when planning a trip to Dubai


Take me back to the essential planning information page

Please note we are not a travel agency. This site is a travel blog to help newcomers to the UAE and transit passengers self plan their trip, we cannot book your flights, hotels, visas or connections for you. We may make a small commission if you click on any of our recommendation links.

Dubai Travel Planner

[ad_2]

Source link