The union bus station is Deira’s main bus interchange — the cluster of numbered boarding points at Union Square, directly beside Union Metro Station, where Dubai’s Red and Green Metro lines cross. Run by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), it is the Dubai end of the intercity buses to Sharjah and Ajman, the starting point for a set of Deira city and feeder routes, and the bus stop the whole of old Deira — Baniyas Road, Naif, Al Rigga and the Creek side — funnels through. If you are travelling from Deira, this is your station.
This guide covers the buses that use Union, the Metro interchange it is attached to, the station-level timings pattern, how to reach it, and the mistakes to avoid — including the Fujairah bus that does not leave from here any more, whatever older websites still claim.
| Quick Facts — Union Bus Station | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Union Square, Deira — beside Union Metro Station, off Omar Bin Al Khattab Road, near Baniyas Road and the Creek |
| Nearest Metro | Union Metro Station — Red Line and Green Line interchange, right at the station |
| Intercity routes | E303 to Sharjah Al Jubail · E400 to Ajman |
| City routes | 5 to Abu Hail · X02 to Satwa · F01 Deira loop · F63 to Al Ras · 103 to Global Village (seasonal) · C1 airport bus calls here |
| Payment | Nol card only — cash is not accepted on any RTA bus |
| Station hours | Buses run from before 5:00 AM until around midnight, every day; exact times vary by route |
| Operator | RTA Dubai (Roads and Transport Authority) |
Intercity Buses from Union Bus Station
Two intercity routes are based at Union, both leaving from the intercity side of the station, both Nol card only, and both running every day of the week. The summary below is the station-level picture — for full stop lists and exact first and last buses, use the linked route guide for your service.
| Route | Destination | Journey Time | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| E303 | Sharjah Al Jubail Bus Station | About 40–50 minutes off-peak; longer at peak | Every 15–20 minutes |
| E400 | Ajman (Al Musalla) | About 1 hour off-peak; up to 2 hours at peak | Roughly every 30 minutes |
The E303 bus to Sharjah is the station’s busiest intercity service and the most frequent Dubai–Sharjah bus of all: it runs from Union Square to Al Jubail Bus Station in central Sharjah for a flat AED 12, leaving every 15–20 minutes through the day. Our Dubai to Sharjah bus guide compares it with the other five Sharjah routes, and the Al Jubail Bus Station guide covers the Sharjah end. The E400 to Ajman runs north from Union along the same Ittihad Road corridor to Al Musalla in Ajman — allow much longer than the off-peak hour in the evening peak, when the Sharjah corridor slows to a crawl.
One important change to know about: the E700 to Fujairah no longer leaves from Union. It moved to Etisalat Bus Station, by the Green Line terminus in Al Qusais, in August 2024 — many older guides (and even some journey planners) still list Union as its starting point. From Union, ride the Green Line to Etisalat and board the E700 there. There is also no bus to Abu Dhabi from Union: the E100 leaves from Al Ghubaiba in Bur Dubai, a direct Green Line ride away.
Dubai City Buses from Union
Union is not a single terminal building but a ring of numbered boarding points around Union Square — RTA stop names here run “Union Bus Station 2, 3, 4, 5…” alongside the lettered Union Metro Bus Stops A to D. The routes based at, or centred on, the station are:
| Route | Where It Goes |
|---|---|
| 5 | Abu Hail Metro Station — the short Green Line-side hop across Deira |
| X02 | Satwa Bus Station, via Al Rigga, Baniyas Square and Al Fahidi |
| F01 | Circular Deira loop from Union — Naif, Maktoum Hospital Road and Al Baraha side, back to Union |
| F63 | Al Ras Metro Station, via the Baniyas Road and souk side of Deira |
| 103 | Global Village — seasonal service from Union Metro Bus Stop C, running in the Global Village season (roughly October to May) |
The best-known bus at Union is actually one that passes through: the C1, the airport bus between Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 and Satwa, calls at the Union Metro bus stops on its way across Deira. It runs from very early until very late — it is one of the last buses still moving in Deira after midnight — which makes Union one of the most practical places in old Dubai to start or end an airport journey by bus. Many more Deira routes (towards Gold Souq, Al Qusais and International City) use the stops around Baniyas Square, a few minutes’ walk from the square, so check your exact boarding point in the S’hail app before you set out: at Union, the right stop number matters as much as the right route.
Union Bus Station Timings
Union has no single opening time: the first city buses leave before 5:00 AM, intercity departures run from early morning until late evening, and the C1 keeps the station’s stops active later into the night than almost anywhere else on the network. Frequencies are best in the morning and evening peaks and thinner in the middle of the day; Friday and public-holiday patterns differ from weekdays.
The Metro beside the station follows the standard network pattern — roughly 5:00 AM to midnight on most days, later on Friday nights, and a later Sunday start. Because every route keeps its own timetable, treat the pattern above as the station’s rhythm, not a promise: check your exact departure in the RTA S’hail app or on rta.ae, and follow the E303 route guide linked in this article for its full timetable.
How to Reach Union Bus Station
By Metro
The easiest way, and the reason Union works so well as an interchange. Union Metro Station is one of only two stations where the Red and Green lines cross, and it sits directly at the bus station — follow the signs from the concourse and the boarding points are at street level around Union Square. The Red Line runs to the airport, BurJuman and down Sheikh Zayed Road; the Green Line runs through old Dubai to Al Ghubaiba, Al Jafiliya and the Creek. The same Nol card works on the Metro and every bus, and a Metro-to-bus transfer made within the transfer window is charged as one continuous journey rather than two separate fares.
By Bus
Any of the routes in the tables above will bring you to Union Square, and Deira’s other services stop around Baniyas Square and Baniyas Road nearby. From Bur Dubai, the C5 and the Creek-corridor routes reach the Deira side a short walk from the station; from the airport, the C1 stops here directly.
By Taxi or Car
Taxis know the station as “Union Square” or “Union Metro Station, Deira”. By car, approach via Omar Bin Al Khattab Road or Al Maktoum Road — but Deira traffic around Baniyas Road and the souks is heavy for much of the day, and there is no car park at the station itself; drivers use paid RTA parking in the surrounding streets. Most passengers find the Metro simpler.
While you are here, the station stands in the middle of historic Deira: Baniyas Road and the Creek — with its abra crossings and dhow wharves — are a few minutes’ walk south, Naif Souq and the Deira markets are just across Baniyas Road, and Al Ghurair Centre and the Al Rigga cafés and hotels fill the streets to the north.
Facilities and Nol Cards at Union
Facilities at Union are those of a busy city interchange rather than a coach terminal, and most passengers find everything they need:
- Numbered boarding points around Union Square, each signed with its routes
- Departure information on the station displays and live in the S’hail app
- Nol services inside Union Metro Station — ticket machines, counters and top-up points steps from the bus stops
- Sheltered waiting areas at the main boarding points
- Step-free access between the Metro concourse (lifts and escalators) and street level
- Shops, cafés and hotels all around Union Square and Al Rigga
On payment, the rule is absolute: every bus from Union is Nol card only, city and intercity alike, and no driver can sell you a ticket. Top up inside the Metro station before you head to the boarding points — a Silver card covers everything in this guide. City buses charge Dubai’s zone fares (AED 3 within one zone, AED 5 across two zones and AED 7.50 across three or more), so tap in when you board and tap out when you leave; the intercity E303 and E400 charge flat fares of AED 12, deducted on the bus.
Tips for Using Union Bus Station
- Find your numbered stop first. Union’s buses leave from a ring of numbered and lettered stops, not one hall. Confirm your route’s stop in S’hail and wait there — at peak times, walking to the wrong side of the square costs you the bus.
- Board the E303 here for a seat. The Sharjah bus starts empty at Union and fills fast down the corridor. On weekday evenings the queue builds early — arrive 15–20 minutes before you want to leave.
- Use the Metro to beat Deira traffic. Baniyas Road and the Sharjah corridor jam hard in the evening peak. If your onward trip is within Dubai, the Red or Green line from Union is often faster than the bus for the first stretch.
- Top up inside the Metro station. The machines at the bus stops are not the place to discover a low balance in the morning peak. The station concourse has counters and machines, and the Nol Pay app works anywhere.
- Do not come here for the Fujairah bus. The E700 moved to Etisalat in 2024. From Union it is a straight Green Line ride to the Etisalat terminus — build that leg into your timing.
- Keep the C1 in mind for the airport. It is one of the latest-running buses in Deira and stops at Union on the Terminal 3–Satwa run — often the cheapest sensible option for a very early or very late flight.
Related Routes and Guides
- E303 Bus: Union Square to Sharjah Al Jubail
- Dubai to Sharjah Bus — all routes compared
- Al Jubail Bus Station Sharjah: All Routes, Timings & Fares
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Union Bus Station located?
At Union Square in Deira, Dubai, directly beside Union Metro Station, off Omar Bin Al Khattab Road and a few minutes’ walk from Baniyas Road and the Creek. It is a ring of numbered boarding points around the square rather than a single terminal building.
Which bus goes from Union to Sharjah?
The E303, from Union Square to Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah. It is the most frequent Dubai–Sharjah service, running every 15–20 minutes for a flat AED 12 by Nol card. Full timings and stops are in our E303 route guide linked above.
Is there a bus from Union Bus Station to Ajman?
Yes — the E400 runs from Union Square to Al Musalla in Ajman, roughly every 30 minutes. The ride takes about an hour off-peak but can stretch towards two hours in the evening peak on the Sharjah corridor. Payment is by Nol card.
Does the E700 bus to Fujairah leave from Union?
No — not any more. The E700 moved to Etisalat Bus Station, beside the Green Line terminus in Al Qusais, in August 2024. From Union, take the Green Line directly to Etisalat and board it there. Older websites still listing Union as the E700’s starting point are out of date.
How do I get from Union Bus Station to Dubai Airport?
Two easy options. The C1 bus calls at the Union Metro bus stops and runs directly to Airport Terminal 3. Or walk into Union Metro Station and take the Red Line, which serves Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. The same Nol card covers both.
Is Union Bus Station the same as Union Metro Station?
They are two parts of one interchange. The Metro station — where the Red and Green lines cross — is underground at Union Square, and the bus station’s numbered boarding points are at street level around the square, steps from the Metro entrances.
Can I pay cash on buses from Union Bus Station?
No. Every RTA bus from Union — city routes and the E303 and E400 intercity coaches alike — is Nol card only, and drivers cannot sell tickets. Buy or top up a card inside Union Metro Station or in the Nol Pay app before you board.
What time is the first and last bus from Union Bus Station?
It depends on the route. The first city buses leave before 5:00 AM and departures continue until around midnight; the E303 to Sharjah runs from early morning to late evening, and the C1 airport bus runs later than most, into the small hours. Check your route’s exact first and last bus in the S’hail app.
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.
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