Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah Bus: Timings, Fare & Station

The Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah bus is run by RAKTA (Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority) between Union Bus Station in Dubai and Al Hamra Bus Station in Ras Al Khaimah. Buses run roughly every hour through the day, the journey takes 1.5–2 hours, and the one-way fare is AED 27–30 depending on direction — a fraction of the AED 250+ a taxi would cost. This guide covers the full timetable pattern in both directions, the direct vs via-Sharjah departures, how to pay with the Sayr app, and how the service connects with Ras Al Khaimah Airport.

Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah Bus — Quick Facts

Operator	RAKTA (Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority)
Dubai terminal	Union Bus Station, Deira (beside Union Metro)
RAK terminal	Al Hamra Bus Station, Ras Al Khaimah
Fare	AED 30 from Dubai · AED 27 from Ras Al Khaimah
Dubai → RAK hours	First bus ~7:30 AM · Last bus ~11:30 PM
RAK → Dubai hours	First bus 5:30 AM · Last bus 9:00 PM
Frequency	Roughly hourly
Journey time	1 hour 30 minutes – 2 hours
Payment / booking	Sayr app and station ticket counters
RAKTA call centre	800 1700

Older guides quote AED 20–25 fares and a Dubai Mall departure — both are out of date; see the notes below.

The Route: Union Station to Al Hamra

Every Dubai–RAK coach uses the same two terminals. In Dubai, buses leave from Union Bus Station in Deira — walk out of Union Metro station (Red and Green Lines) and follow the intercity signs. In Ras Al Khaimah, the terminus is Al Hamra Bus Station, the emirate’s intercity hub. Do not confuse it with Al Nakheel station, which serves RAK’s local city buses; if a taxi driver asks, “Al Hamra bus station” is the one for Dubai.

Not every departure runs the same way. The early-morning buses from RAK (5:30 AM and 7:00 AM) run direct, while most later departures route via Sharjah, and some evening services also call at Ajman and Umm Al Quwain. The via-Sharjah pattern adds time but makes the coach useful for intermediate trips too — the same bus sells seats to Sharjah, Ajman and UAQ at lower stage fares. When you book in the Sayr app, the itinerary shows whether your departure is direct or via.

Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah Bus Timings

From Dubai (Union Bus Station) to Ras Al Khaimah

Buses depart from around 7:30 AM until 11:30 PM, roughly every hour to 90 minutes through the day. The run takes about 1 hour 30 minutes on direct-pattern services and closer to 2 hours when the coach calls at Sharjah and the northern emirates stops.

Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai bus timings

From Al Hamra, the first bus leaves at 5:30 AM and the last at 9:00 PM, approximately hourly. The first two departures of the day are the direct ones commuters aim for; from 8:00 AM onwards, most buses travel via Sharjah (and some via Ajman as well), arriving at Union around 1.5–2 hours after departure. There is no late-night service from RAK — after 9:00 PM, a taxi or pre-booked car is the only option.

Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah Bus Fare

The current one-way fare is AED 27 travelling from Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai and around AED 30 from Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah — RAKTA prices the two directions slightly differently. Be wary of the AED 20 and AED 22 fares quoted on older travel blogs: those were the pre-2024 prices and no budget should be built on them. Tickets are sold through RAKTA’s Sayr app (which also shows live schedules and lets you book ahead) and at the station ticket counters. Unlike Dubai’s RTA buses, this is a RAKTA service, so do not assume your Nol card is the payment method — follow the app/counter process.

Stations and How to Reach Them

• Union Bus Station (Dubai): Deira, integrated with Union Metro station. If you are coming from the airport or the south of Dubai, ride the Metro to Union and walk into the bus station. The same station serves our Dubai to Ajman bus and Dubai to Sharjah bus routes.
• Al Hamra Bus Station (RAK): the intercity terminal for Ras Al Khaimah city. Local RAKTA buses and taxis connect it to Al Nakheel, the Corniche, Al Hamra Village and the resort strip; Jebel Jais trips usually start with a taxi from here or from the city centre.
• Intermediate stops: via-services call at Sharjah (Al Jubail side), Ajman and Umm Al Quwain — useful if you are only travelling part of the corridor.

Ras Al Khaimah Airport Connections

Searches for a “Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah Airport bus” are common because Air Arabia uses RAK Airport (RKT) for budget flights. Be clear about what exists: the RAKTA intercity coach goes to Al Hamra Bus Station in the city, not to the airport. From the station, the airport is a taxi ride away. Separately, the pre-booked RAK Shuttle runs between Dubai International Airport (DXB Terminals 1 and 3) and RAK hotels/resorts — it must be booked online in advance and serves resort drop-offs rather than the city bus station. If you land at DXB and want the cheapest route to RAK city, Metro to Union + RAKTA coach + local taxi is the budget chain.

Step-by-Step: Taking the Bus from Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah

1. Download the Sayr app (RAKTA’s official app) and check today’s Union → Al Hamra departures; note whether your bus is direct or via Sharjah.
2. Ride the Metro to Union station and enter Union Bus Station; find the Ras Al Khaimah/RAKTA stand.
3. Buy or validate your ticket (app booking or station counter) — keep your phone charged for the app ticket.
4. Board when called; luggage goes in the hold. Keep valuables and documents in the cabin with you.
5. Stay on until Al Hamra Bus Station unless you booked an intermediate stop such as Ajman or Umm Al Quwain.
6. From Al Hamra, continue by RAKTA local bus or taxi to your hotel or the Al Nakheel/city-centre side.

Rules and Tips

• Book ahead at weekends: Friday evening and Sunday services fill with weekend-trippers heading to RAK resorts and Jebel Jais; the Sayr app booking beats queuing.
• Last-bus asymmetry: Dubai → RAK runs to 11:30 PM but RAK → Dubai stops at 9:00 PM. Plan day trips around the 9:00 PM return, not the later Dubai departure.
• Journey time varies: via-Sharjah departures in the evening peak can push past 2 hours. For a flight at RAK Airport, take a bus at least two departures earlier than you think you need.
• Onboard: coaches are air-conditioned with luggage holds; eating and drinking rules mirror other UAE intercity services — keep food for the station stops.
• Going further? Fujairah is the other northern-emirates run from Dubai — see the Dubai to Fujairah bus guide for the E700.

Is the Bus Practical for a RAK Day Trip?

Yes — with one planning rule. Ras Al Khaimah’s headline sights are spread out: the Al Hamra and Al Marjan Island resort strip, the old town and National Museum near Al Nakheel, and Jebel Jais, the UAE’s highest peak, which is a further 45–60 minutes by road from the city. The bus gets you cheaply to Al Hamra station, but you will still need local transport at the RAK end. A workable day-trip pattern is: 7:30 AM coach from Union, taxi or local bus to your first stop, sightseeing through the day, and the 7:00 or 8:00 PM departure back (remember the last bus is 9:00 PM, and via-Sharjah returns reach Union around 10:30–11:00 PM). For Jebel Jais specifically, most visitors pair the coach with a pre-arranged taxi or a tour pickup from RAK city, as there is no public bus up the mountain.

From Al Hamra Bus Station, RAKTA’s local network covers Al Nakheel, the Corniche and the city centre, and RAK’s taxis are plentiful and metered. If your hotel is in Al Hamra Village or on Al Marjan Island, ask the driver when you board — some arrivals find the station is only a short taxi hop from the resort gates, making the coach-plus-taxi combination far cheaper than a door-to-door Dubai taxi at AED 250–300 each way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related routes: Dubai to Ajman Bus · Dubai to Sharjah Bus · Dubai to Fujairah Bus