Good news — and it is news many websites have missed: there is now a direct bus from Ajman to Al Ain. Ajman Transport Authority launched the intercity service on 1 May 2025, running from Al Musalla Bus Station in Ajman straight to Al Ain Bus Station. Before this route existed, the same trip meant two or three buses via Sharjah or Dubai; older guides and journey planners still describe it that way. This guide covers the direct bus timings and the AED 35 fare, plus the two older connecting routings in case the direct departure times don’t work for you.
| Ajman to Al Ain Bus — Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Direct bus | Yes — launched 1 May 2025 |
| Operator | Ajman Transport Authority |
| From | Al Musalla Bus Station, Ajman |
| To | Al Ain Bus Station (Central) |
| Fare | AED 35 one-way |
| Payment | Masaar card or cash |
| Departures | 4 daily each way: 08:00, 12:00, 16:00 and evening (see note) |
| Journey time | Not published by the operator — ask at Al Musalla before travelling |
Ajman to Al Ain bus timings
The direct service runs four trips a day in each direction. At launch, Ajman Transport announced departures from Al Musalla at 08:00, 12:00, 16:00 and 20:00, with the same pattern from Al Ain Bus Station back to Ajman. One current Ajman transport guide lists the last evening departure as 22:00 instead of 20:00, which suggests the evening trip may have been retimed since launch — if you are planning on the last bus of the day, confirm at the Al Musalla ticket counter or with Ajman Transport before you travel. The four-hour gaps between buses mean this is a route to plan around, not one you can simply turn up for.
Fare and payment: AED 35 with Masaar or cash
The one-way fare is AED 35. You can pay with Ajman’s Masaar card — the emirate’s transport smart card, also used on Ajman’s local and intercity buses — or in cash. If you ride Ajman buses regularly, the Masaar card is worth having: on Ajman’s Sharjah route, for example, the card fare (AED 5) is noticeably cheaper than the cash fare (AED 9). Buy and top up the card at Al Musalla station.
The stations: Al Musalla and Al Ain Bus Station
Al Musalla Bus Station is Ajman’s intercity hub, from where buses leave for Sharjah, Dubai (E400/E411 connections), Umm Al Quwain and now Al Ain. Arrive at least 20 minutes before departure — with only four buses a day, missing one costs you four hours. Al Ain Bus Station (the central station) is where all Al Ain intercity services arrive, including buses from Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and local Al Ain buses leave from the same complex, so onward travel inside the city is straightforward.
Step by step: taking the Ajman to Al Ain bus
- Reach Al Musalla Bus Station in Ajman and go to the intercity departures area.
- Buy your ticket at the counter or keep your Masaar card topped up — the fare is AED 35.
- Check the departure board for the Al Ain service (08:00, 12:00, 16:00 or the evening trip) and board when called.
- Keep your ticket/card handy for inspection during the journey.
- Get down at Al Ain Bus Station; local buses and taxis wait outside the terminal.
Alternative 1: Ajman → Sharjah → Al Ain (Route 118)
If the direct bus times don’t suit, the classic routing still works and runs far more frequently. First take an Ajman Transport bus from Al Musalla to Sharjah (AED 5 with Masaar, AED 9 cash, roughly every 20 minutes from 06:00 to 23:00). From Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah, SRTA Route 118 runs to Al Ain Central Bus Station — about 2 hours 45 minutes for the 151 km trip. The 118 fare is most often quoted as AED 33 (some guides say AED 35), with buses from early morning (sources differ between 03:45 and 06:00 for the first departure) until around 22:00–23:00. Total cost via Sharjah: roughly AED 38–44, similar to the direct bus but with a same-city transfer at Al Jubail.
Alternative 2: Ajman → Dubai → Al Ain (E400 + E201)
The second option goes the long way round through Dubai. RTA bus E400 links Ajman (Al Musalla) with Union Square in Dubai in about 50–60 minutes (fare quoted as AED 12–15 depending on direction and source). You then cross Dubai — the Al Ain bus leaves from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station, reachable on the Metro Green Line from Union — and take RTA E201 to Al Ain Central Bus Station, a journey of about 2 hours 15 minutes. The E201 fare is AED 25 in most guides, with AED 30 shown in more recent checks of RTA’s official journey planner; payment is by Nol card only. Door to door this routing takes around 3½ hours or more — see our Dubai to Ajman bus guide for the E400 and E411 details.
Which option should you choose?
For almost everyone, the direct bus wins: one seat, one ticket, AED 35, no transfers and no Dubai cross-city hop. Choose the Sharjah routing only if you need an early-morning or late-evening departure the direct service doesn’t offer, and the Dubai routing only if you are combining the trip with a stop in Dubai itself. Coming from Dubai to Al Jubail? Our Dubai to Sharjah bus guide lists every route into Sharjah’s main station. And if you’re exploring Ajman’s other intercity links, the same Al Musalla station is the departure point covered in our buses to Umm Al Quwain guide.
FAQs
Is there a direct bus from Ajman to Al Ain?
Yes. Ajman Transport launched a direct Al Musalla (Ajman) to Al Ain Bus Station service on 1 May 2025. Many older websites still say there is no direct bus — that information is out of date.
What is the Ajman to Al Ain bus fare?
AED 35 one-way, payable by Masaar card or cash.
What are the Ajman to Al Ain bus timings?
Four departures a day each way. Announced times from Al Musalla are 08:00, 12:00, 16:00 and an evening departure — listed as 20:00 at launch and 22:00 in one current guide, so confirm the last bus at the station before relying on it.
Where does the bus leave from in Ajman?
Al Musalla Bus Station, Ajman’s main intercity terminal. In Al Ain, buses arrive at and depart from Al Ain Central Bus Station.
How long is the Ajman to Al Ain bus journey?
Ajman Transport does not publish an official journey time for the direct bus. The connecting route via Sharjah takes about 2 hours 45 minutes on the Sharjah–Al Ain leg alone, so allow a full morning or afternoon for the trip either way.
Can I travel from Al Ain to Ajman on the same bus?
Yes — the service runs in both directions with the same four-departures-a-day pattern and the same AED 35 fare from Al Ain Bus Station.
What is the cheapest way from Ajman to Al Ain by bus?
The direct bus at AED 35 is both the cheapest simple option and the fastest. Via Sharjah costs about AED 38–44 in total (AED 5–9 plus about AED 33), and via Dubai about AED 42–45 plus a Metro transfer.
Related routes
- Dubai to Ajman Bus: timings, fare and routes (E400, E411)
- Dubai to Sharjah Bus: all routes, timings and fares
- Buses to Umm Al Quwain from Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Abu Dhabi
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.