Satwa Bus Station is the RTA bus terminus for Al Satwa, one of Dubai’s oldest and busiest residential districts. It sits on Al Satwa Road, beside Satwa Roundabout, where Al Satwa meets Al Bada’a and the Al Jafiliya side of Bur Dubai. From this one small terminus you can ride across the city — to Deira, Al Qusais, Al Quoz, International City and Dubai Airport — and it is also the Dubai end of the E304 intercity bus to Sharjah.
Satwa has no Metro station of its own, which is exactly why this station matters: for thousands of residents in Satwa, Al Bada’a, Al Hudaiba and the Jumeirah 1 side, these buses are the link to the rest of Dubai. This guide covers every route that starts at the station, the general timings picture, the nearest Metro stations and how to reach them, and the practical details — Nol payment, departure bays and the traffic traps around the roundabout.
Satwa Bus Station Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Al Satwa Road, beside Satwa Roundabout, Al Satwa, Dubai — near Al Diyafah Street (now 2nd December Street) |
| Operator | RTA Dubai (Roads and Transport Authority) |
| Intercity route | E304 — Satwa Bus Station ↔ Al Jubail Bus Station, Sharjah (the only Sharjah intercity bus from Satwa) |
| Main city routes | C1 (Airport Terminal 3), C9 (Hor Al Anz East), 7 and 98E (Al Quoz), 32C (Al Qusais), 55 (International City), X02 (Union Square), X13 (Lulu Village), F11 (Financial Centre Metro) |
| Nearest Metro | World Trade Centre and Max (formerly Al Jafiliya), both Red Line — roughly 1.6–2 km away, about a 20-minute walk |
| Payment | Nol card only — tap in when you board, tap out when you leave. No cash on any RTA bus |
| Station style | Open local terminus with numbered departure bays — check your bay number in the S’hail app before you go |
| Service hours | Most routes run from early morning (around 5am) to around midnight; the C1 airport bus runs through most of the night |
Routes from Satwa Bus Station
Intercity: E304 to Sharjah
The E304 is the station’s only intercity service and the reason many people search for Satwa at all. It runs from Satwa Bus Station to Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah via Al Karama, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Ittihad Road and Al Wahda Road — it is the only Sharjah bus that starts this deep in Bur Dubai, which makes it the natural route for Sharjah residents working around Satwa, Karama and Al Jafiliya. Buses leave Satwa from 6:00am on most days (7:00am on Fridays) until around 10:05–10:10pm, roughly every 30 minutes, and the fare is AED 12 by Nol card. Full stops and the day-by-day timetable are in our E304 bus route guide, and every Sharjah option is compared in the Dubai to Sharjah bus guide.
Dubai City Routes from Satwa
Satwa is one of the best-connected local termini in old Dubai. These are the city routes that start (or end) at the station itself, per current RTA route listings:
| Route | Destination | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| C1 | Airport Terminal 3 | The airport link — runs via Bur Dubai and Deira, and operates almost around the clock |
| C9 | Hor Al Anz East | Deira via Qiyadah Metro station — handy for the Green Line and Abu Hail side |
| X02 | Union Square, Deira | Express to Union — few stops, the fastest Satwa–Deira option |
| 32C | Al Qusais Bus Station | Via Oud Metha and the airport corridor to Al Qusais |
| X13 | Lulu Village | Express towards Muhaisnah / Lulu Village |
| 55 | International City (Civil Defence) | Via World Trade Centre side and Ras Al Khor to International City |
| 7 | Al Quoz Bus Station | Via the Jumeirah / Al Wasl side to Al Quoz |
| 98E | Al Quoz Bus Station | Express via the World Trade Centre side to Al Quoz |
| F11 | Financial Centre Metro Station | Short feeder to the Red Line at Financial Centre (DIFC side) |
More routes call at the street stops around Satwa Roundabout, Satwa Post Office and Al Satwa Road rather than starting inside the station — among them the 15 towards Al Khail Gate (Al Quoz), the 88 between Deira City Centre and Dubai Internet City, the 93 towards Mall of the Emirates, and feeders such as F12 (Wasl Park – Al Jafiliya) and F28 (Emirates Towers and World Trade Centre Metro stations). A seasonal route to Global Village has also operated from Satwa in recent seasons. Because RTA adjusts routings from time to time, confirm your exact route and stop in the S’hail app on the day you travel.
Satwa Bus Station Timings
There is no single station timetable — every route keeps its own schedule — but the pattern is consistent. Most city routes out of Satwa start running at around 5am and finish around midnight, with the busiest service in the morning and evening peaks. The C1 to Airport Terminal 3 is the exception that proves the rule: it runs through most of the night, which is why Satwa is a workable base for very early and very late flights. The E304 to Sharjah runs to a shorter day, roughly 6:00am to 10:10pm from Satwa. For live departures on any route, check RTA‘s S’hail app rather than relying on any printed list — timings change on public holidays and during Ramadan.
How to Reach Satwa Bus Station
By Metro, Then Bus or Taxi
Satwa has no Metro station, and neither of the two nearest stations is on the station’s doorstep — be honest with yourself about the walk before you plan on it. The closest are both on the Red Line: World Trade Centre station and Max station (the station older guides and maps call Al Jafiliya — it was renamed Max in 2021). Each is roughly 1.6–2 km from the bus station, around a 20-minute walk, which is fine in winter and punishing at midday in summer.
The smarter move is a feeder bus for the last leg. The F28 links Satwa with World Trade Centre and Emirates Towers Metro stations, the F27 runs between Satwa and Al Jafiliya (below Max station), and the F11 connects Satwa to Financial Centre Metro station. A taxi from either Metro station to the bus station takes only a few minutes outside peak hours. If you are coming from Deira or the Green Line side, ride one of the city routes above in reverse — the C9 from Qiyadah and the X02 from Union Square both finish at Satwa.
By Taxi or Car
Taxis know the station as “Satwa Bus Station” or simply the Satwa Roundabout — it is one of the best-known landmarks in old Dubai. By car, approach via Al Satwa Road from the Al Jafiliya side or via 2nd December Street (Al Diyafah) from the World Trade Centre side. Two warnings: the roundabout and Al Satwa Road clog badly in the evening peak, and parking in Satwa’s streets is limited and competitive at the times you would most want it. If someone is dropping you, allow extra time and expect them to circle.
Facilities and Tickets
Satwa is a working local terminus, not a terminal building: buses depart from numbered bays (the RTA listings show Satwa departure points numbered like bays 04, 05 and 11), so the single most useful thing you can do is check your route’s bay in the S’hail app before you arrive, especially at busy times when several routes load at once.
Payment is by Nol card only on every bus from the station — city routes charge RTA’s standard zone fares, and the E304 to Sharjah is AED 12; in both cases the reader shows the fare when you tap out. There is no Metro station at Satwa to rescue a low balance, so top up before you come: at any Metro station, online, or in the Nol Pay app. If you are starting your Dubai trip here, buy your Nol card at the airport or a Metro station first.
Around the station, Al Satwa does the rest. The streets off the roundabout and along 2nd December Street are lined with the cafeterias, budget restaurants, textile and tailoring shops, pharmacies and small supermarkets the area is famous for — Satwa is one of the cheapest places in Dubai to eat well before or after a trip, and landmark budget eateries such as Ravi Restaurant sit a short walk from the roundabout.
Travel Tips for Satwa Bus Station
- Beat the roundabout: Al Satwa Road and Satwa Roundabout crawl between about 7–9:30am and again from 5–8:30pm. Buses cannot beat the traffic they sit in — if your timing matters, travel outside the peaks or take the Metro for the cross-town leg and a feeder bus at the end.
- Check your bay, not just your route: Several routes load at the same time from different numbered bays. Confirm the bay for your route in S’hail and be at it a few minutes early — a Satwa departure will not wait while you cross the station.
- Friday E304 trap: The first E304 from Satwa on Friday leaves at 7:00am, an hour later than other days. Friday-morning trips to Sharjah need planning around it — or a city bus to Union Square and the E303 instead.
- Use the C1 for the airport: For Terminal 3, the C1 runs through most of the night when nothing else does. For Terminal 1, ride the 32C corridor or change to the Metro — and always check which terminal your flight uses before you board.
- Do not walk the Metro leg in summer: The 20-minute walk from World Trade Centre or Max station is a winter option. From May to September, take the F28, F27 or F11 feeder, or a short taxi, and save yourself the heat.
- Top up the night before: A Silver Nol card with enough balance for the fare plus your onward ride removes the only real stress at this station. The Nol Pay app makes it a two-minute job.
Related Routes
- E304 Bus — Satwa to Sharjah Al Jubail
- Dubai to Sharjah Bus — all routes compared
- E303 Bus — Union Square to Sharjah Al Jubail
- E306 Bus — Al Ghubaiba to Sharjah Al Jubail
Frequently Asked Questions
Which bus goes from Satwa to Sharjah?
The E304. It is the only intercity bus from Satwa Bus Station, running to Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah via Al Karama and Al Wahda Road. Buses leave Satwa from 6:00am on most days (7:00am on Fridays) until about 10:10pm, roughly every 30 minutes, and the fare is AED 12 by Nol card.
What is the nearest Metro station to Satwa Bus Station?
World Trade Centre and Max (formerly Al Jafiliya), both on the Red Line. Each is roughly 1.6–2 km from the station — about a 20-minute walk. Most people cover the last leg by feeder bus (F28 from World Trade Centre, F27 from Al Jafiliya, F11 to Financial Centre) or a short taxi ride instead of walking.
Can I buy or top up a Nol card at Satwa Bus Station?
Do not count on it. Satwa has no Metro station and the bus station is a simple open terminus, so arrive with a topped-up Nol card. You can top up at any Metro station, online, or through the Nol Pay app; if you need to buy a card, get one at the airport or a Metro station before coming to Satwa.
Which areas do buses from Satwa Bus Station serve?
Most of old and central Dubai: Deira (Union Square, Qiyadah, Hor Al Anz), Al Qusais, Lulu Village, Airport Terminal 3, International City, Al Quoz, and the Financial Centre and World Trade Centre Metro stations — plus Sharjah on the E304. Routes such as the 88, 93 and 15 also pass the stops around the station towards Deira City Centre, Mall of the Emirates and Al Khail Gate.
Is there a bus from Satwa to Dubai Airport?
Yes — the C1 runs from Satwa Bus Station to Airport Terminal 3, via Bur Dubai and Deira, and it operates through most of the night, making it the practical option for early and late flights. For Terminal 1, use the 32C corridor or connect to the Red Line Metro, and always confirm your terminal before travelling.
What time is the first and last bus from Satwa Bus Station?
It depends on the route. Most city routes start at around 5am and finish around midnight, and the C1 airport bus runs through most of the night. The E304 to Sharjah runs from 6:00am (7:00am on Fridays) to about 10:10pm. Check live departures for your exact route in RTA’s S’hail app on the day.
Can I pay cash on buses from Satwa Bus Station?
No. Every RTA bus from Satwa — city routes and the E304 to Sharjah alike — is Nol card only. Tap in when you board and tap out when you leave; forgetting to tap out can cost you the maximum fare for the route.
How do I get from Satwa to Deira?
You have three good options: the X02 express to Union Square, the C9 via Qiyadah Metro station to Hor Al Anz East, or the C1, which crosses to Deira on its way to Airport Terminal 3. All three start at Satwa Bus Station and are paid by Nol card.
Daniyal Sheikh
Transport Editor, UAE Travel Hub
Dubai daily commuter covering the Metro, Nol cards, RTA buses and intercity routes across all seven emirates — every fare and timing checked against official RTA, ITC and SRTA sources.