The al ghubaiba bus station is Dubai’s main bus terminal on the Bur Dubai side of the Creek, and for many passengers it is where an intercity journey begins. Run by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the station in Al Shindagha sends coaches to Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Sharjah, and dozens of city buses to almost every corner of Dubai — all from one open-air terminus right beside Al Ghubaiba Metro Station on the Green Line. If you are starting from Bur Dubai, Al Fahidi, Meena Bazaar or the Creek area, this is your station.
This guide covers every route that uses the station, the station-level timings pattern, how to reach it by Metro, bus, taxi or car, the facilities and Nol card services inside, and the mistakes to avoid — including the Ajman and Fujairah buses that do not leave from here, whatever some other websites claim.
| Quick Facts — Al Ghubaiba Bus Station | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Al Shindagha, Bur Dubai — beside Dubai Creek, off Khalid Bin Waleed Road |
| Nearest Metro | Al Ghubaiba Metro Station (Green Line) — right beside the terminal |
| Intercity routes | E100 to Abu Dhabi · E201 to Al Ain · E306 to Sharjah Al Jubail |
| City routes | RTA buses to Al Quoz, Jebel Ali, Deira, Business Bay, Rashidiya, Gold Souq and more |
| 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 Al Ghubaiba
Three intercity routes are based at Al Ghubaiba. They are the station’s biggest draw: each one leaves from the dedicated intercity bays, takes Nol card only, and runs 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| E100 | Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station | About 2 hours (longer in traffic) | Roughly every 30 minutes |
| E201 | Al Ain Central Bus Station | About 2 hours | Roughly hourly |
| E306 | Sharjah Al Jubail Bus Station | About 55 minutes off-peak; 1 to 1.5 hours at peak | Every 20–30 minutes |
For Abu Dhabi, the E100 bus is the only service from this side of Dubai; our Dubai to Abu Dhabi bus guide compares it with the E101 and E102 from Ibn Battuta. For Al Ain, the E201 bus is covered in full in our Dubai to Al Ain bus guide. For Sharjah, the E306 bus to Al Jubail costs around AED 10–12 and is usually the fastest Sharjah option from Bur Dubai; the Dubai to Sharjah bus guide compares it with the Deira routes.
Two warnings. There is no bus to Ajman or Fujairah from Al Ghubaiba: the E400 to Ajman leaves from Union Square in Deira, and the E700 to Fujairah also departs from the Deira side — both are a short Green Line ride away from Al Ghubaiba Metro Station. And the E101 and E102 to Abu Dhabi do not stop here either; they start at Ibn Battuta.
Dubai City Buses from Al Ghubaiba
Alongside the intercity coaches, a long list of RTA city routes starts at Al Ghubaiba, which makes the station the bus hub for the whole of old Bur Dubai. The main routes are:
| Route | Where It Goes |
|---|---|
| 7 | Al Quoz |
| 8 | Ibn Battuta, via Jumeirah and Internet City |
| 9 | Business Bay, via Oud Metha and Dubai Healthcare City |
| 12 | Al Quoz Bus Station |
| 15 | Al Quoz, Al Khail Gate |
| 21 | Al Quoz Industrial Area |
| 29 | Business Bay and Dubai Mall |
| 33 | Al Qusais, via Deira |
| 44 | Rashidiya Metro Station |
| 61 | Ras Al Khor |
| 66 | Al Faqa |
| 67 | Dubai International Endurance City |
| 83 | Nakheel Seaside, Al Sufouh side |
| 91 | Jebel Ali Bus Station |
| 93 | Mall of the Emirates and The Greens |
| 104 | Global Village (seasonal — runs in the winter season) |
| C5 | Gold Souq Bus Station, Deira |
The Al Quoz routes (7, 12, 15 and 21) are the station’s workhorses for the industrial areas, while the 8, 91 and 93 cover the Jumeirah and Sheikh Zayed Road corridor towards Jebel Ali and Mall of the Emirates. For Deira, the C5 crosses the Creek corridor to Gold Souq, and the 33 and 44 head north-east to Al Qusais and Rashidiya. Route lists and departure bays change from time to time, so confirm your route and bay on the station departure board or in the S’hail app on the day.
Al Ghubaiba Bus Station Timings
Al Ghubaiba is not a station with a single opening time so much as a terminus that wakes before dawn and quietens around midnight. The earliest intercity coaches leave at around 4:30–5:00 AM, city buses start from around 5:00 AM, and departures continue until roughly midnight, with most intercity services winding down between about 11:00 PM and midnight. Frequencies are best in the morning and evening peaks and thinner in the middle of the day and late at night.
Because every route keeps its own timetable — and Friday, weekend and public-holiday patterns differ — treat the times 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 route guides linked in this article for the full E100, E201 and E306 timetables.
How to Reach Al Ghubaiba Bus Station
By Metro
The easiest way. Al Ghubaiba Metro Station, on the Green Line, stands right beside the bus terminal — leave the station and the bus bays are in front of you. The Green Line connects directly to BurJuman and Union (change for the Red Line), Deira and the Airport side of the network, and the same Nol card works on the Metro and every bus, so a combined Metro-plus-bus trip needs no second ticket.
By Bus
Any of the city routes in the table above will bring you to the terminal, and further RTA buses stop on Khalid Bin Waleed Road outside. If you are coming from Satwa or Al Jafiliya, the ride is only a few minutes; from Deira, the C5 and the Creek-corridor routes stop at the station itself.
By Taxi or Car
Taxis wait outside the station and ride-hailing pick-ups are easy in Al Shindagha. By car, approach via Mankhool Road or Khalid Bin Waleed Road — but allow for Bur Dubai traffic, which is heavy around the souks for much of the day. The terminal has no large car park of its own; drivers use paid RTA street parking in the surrounding streets, and most passengers find the Metro simpler.
While you are here, the station sits in historic Dubai: the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and Dubai Museum are a short walk east, Al Shindagha Museum and the Heritage Village are along the Creek, and Meena Bazaar’s shops and restaurants fill the streets behind the station. The traditional abra boats cross the Creek from the Bur Dubai side nearby, which makes Al Ghubaiba a practical first stop on a sightseeing day as well as a commute.
Facilities and Nol Cards at Al Ghubaiba
Facilities at the station are built for volume rather than luxury, and most passengers find everything they need:
- Covered waiting areas with seating, arranged by departure bay
- Departure boards and information screens showing routes, bays and next buses
- Restrooms inside the station area
- Ticket counter and Nol machines — buy a Nol card and top up before you board
- Kiosks and food and drink outlets, plus ATMs in and around the station
- Step-free access between the Metro station, the bays and the street
On payment, the rule is absolute: every bus from Al Ghubaiba is Nol card only, city and intercity alike, and no driver can sell you a ticket. Buy or top up a card at the station counter or machines, at Al Ghubaiba Metro Station next door, or in the Nol Pay app — a Silver card covers everything in this guide. Tap in when you board and tap out when you leave; on the intercity coaches the fare is calculated on tap-out, so keep enough balance for the full journey plus your onward trip.
Tips for Using Al Ghubaiba Bus Station
- Check your bay before you queue. Dozens of routes share the terminus and buses for different destinations can use neighbouring bays. The departure board and the destination blind on the front of the bus are the two things to trust.
- Board intercity coaches at the terminus for a seat. The E100 and E306 start empty here; on weekday mornings the Abu Dhabi queue builds early, so arrive 15–20 minutes before you want to leave.
- Top up your Nol card the day before. The machines and counter get busy in the morning peak, and a card short of the fare means no boarding — there is no cash fallback.
- Use the Metro to beat Bur Dubai traffic. If your bus is stuck in souk traffic on the way in, the Green Line one stop in either direction is often faster for the last stretch.
- Mind the peak direction. Buses towards Abu Dhabi and Sharjah fill in the early morning; returns towards Bur Dubai are busiest in the evening. Mid-morning departures are the calmest.
- Keep luggage manageable. The intercity coaches have luggage space, but the station is crowded and bays are busy — one wheeled case per person is far easier than several bags.
Related Routes and Guides
Start with the route guides for the three intercity services: the E100 bus to Abu Dhabi, the E201 bus to Al Ain and the E306 bus to Sharjah. For the full comparison of every option on each corridor, see our Dubai to Abu Dhabi bus guide, the Dubai to Al Ain bus guide and the Dubai to Sharjah bus guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the nearest Metro station to Al Ghubaiba Bus Station?
Al Ghubaiba Metro Station, on the Green Line. It stands right beside the bus terminal in Al Shindagha, so the walk from the Metro exit to the bus bays takes only a couple of minutes, and the same Nol card covers both the train and the bus.
Which buses go from Al Ghubaiba to Abu Dhabi?
Only the E100. It runs from Al Ghubaiba to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station roughly every 30 minutes, taking about two hours. The other Abu Dhabi buses — E101 and E102 — leave from Ibn Battuta, not from Al Ghubaiba. Full timings are in our E100 route guide and the Dubai to Abu Dhabi bus guide linked above.
Is there a bus from Al Ghubaiba to Al Ain?
Yes — the E201 runs from Al Ghubaiba to Al Ain Central Bus Station roughly hourly, with a journey time of about two hours. It is the only direct Al Ain service from Dubai’s Bur Dubai side; check the E201 route guide for first and last bus times.
Which bus goes from Al Ghubaiba to Sharjah?
The E306, to Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah. It runs every 20–30 minutes, takes about 55 minutes off-peak (longer in the peak), and costs around AED 10–12 by Nol card. Other Sharjah routes such as the E303 and E307 leave from Deira instead.
Can I buy a Nol card at Al Ghubaiba Bus Station?
Yes. Nol cards are sold and topped up at the station’s ticket counter and machines, and at Al Ghubaiba Metro Station next door. You will need one before boarding any bus — city or intercity — because cash is not accepted on board.
What time does Al Ghubaiba Bus Station open?
The station’s buses start before dawn: the first intercity coaches leave at around 4:30–5:00 AM, city buses run from around 5:00 AM, and departures continue until about midnight. There is no single published opening hour for the terminal itself, so check your route’s first and last bus in the S’hail app.
Is there parking at Al Ghubaiba Bus Station?
The terminal has no large dedicated car park. Drivers use the paid RTA street parking on the surrounding Al Shindagha and Bur Dubai streets, which fills quickly near the souks. Most passengers arrive by Metro, bus or taxi instead.
Can I pay cash on buses from Al Ghubaiba?
No. Every RTA bus from the station — the city routes and the E100, E201 and E306 intercity coaches alike — is Nol card only, and drivers cannot sell tickets. Load enough balance for your fare before you travel, and remember to tap out on the intercity services.
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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