Start with the honest picture: the umm al quwain bus station is not a big terminal building like Dubai’s Al Ghubaiba or Ajman’s Al Musalla. Umm Al Quwain is the UAE’s least populous emirate, it has no transport authority or city bus network of its own, and its “bus station” is in practice the cluster of stops on King Faisal Street — above all the Lulu Centre bus stop — where the emirate’s two intercity bus services call. Those services are run by other emirates: Ajman Transport’s buses from Ajman, and RAKTA coaches on the Ras Al Khaimah corridor. Between them they connect this quiet coastal city to Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah and — with one easy change — Sharjah and Dubai. This guide covers both services, what each one costs, and how to use the stops.
| Umm Al Quwain Bus Station — Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Location | King Faisal Street, Umm Al Quwain city — the main stop is Lulu Centre Bus Stop; Carrefour Market Bus Stop is the other main stop on the same road |
| Station type | Street stops used as the town’s bus terminus — no terminal building, ticket hall or local bus network |
| Ajman buses | Ajman Transport to Al Musalla Bus Station, Ajman — AED 10 Masaar card · AED 15 cash |
| Ras Al Khaimah buses | RAKTA coaches to Al Hamra Bus Station — about 50 minutes |
| Dubai & Sharjah | No direct bus — change at Ajman Al Musalla (E400/E411 to Dubai · SRTA 114/112 to Sharjah) |
| Payment | Masaar card or cash on Ajman Transport · cash on RAKTA · Nol card NOT accepted anywhere in Umm Al Quwain |
| Local buses | None — Umm Al Quwain has no city bus network; taxis cover local trips |
| Enquiries | Ajman Transport call centre 600 599997 · RAKTA 800 1700 |
Ajman Buses from Umm Al Quwain (Ajman Transport)
The Ajman bus is Umm Al Quwain’s lifeline service. Ajman Transport — the neighbouring emirate’s Transport Authority — runs it between Al Musalla Bus Station in Ajman and the Lulu Centre bus stop on King Faisal Street in Umm Al Quwain, a run of roughly 25 km that takes about 30–40 minutes in normal traffic. Journey planners label the service UAQ 1 / UAQ 2. Buses run through the day in both directions; Ajman Transport’s published service window is 5:45 AM–12:00 AM, although this route’s own hours have previously been listed more narrowly (7:00 AM–9:00 PM when the service resumed in 2021), so check the day’s first and last departures in the Masaar app or by calling 600 599997 before you rely on an early or late bus.
| Service | Destination | Fare | Journey time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ajman Transport (UAQ 1 / UAQ 2 in planners) | Al Musalla Bus Station, Ajman | AED 10 Masaar · AED 15 cash | About 30–40 min |
The fare is from Ajman Transport’s official fare table (service card TA7 on ta.gov.ae): AED 10 with a Masaar card, AED 15 in cash, paid on board. From Al Musalla Bus Station the whole northern-emirates network opens up — Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain buses all leave from the same terminal, which is why most longer journeys from Umm Al Quwain start with this short hop south.
Ras Al Khaimah Buses from Umm Al Quwain (RAKTA)
Northbound, the coaches belong to RAKTA, Ras Al Khaimah’s Transport Authority. Its buses link Umm Al Quwain with Al Hamra Bus Station in Ras Al Khaimah — the emirate’s intercity terminal, south of RAK city — in about 50 minutes. Published listings show roughly hourly departures through the day; the fare is listed at around AED 15, paid in cash, but listings vary slightly, so confirm the current fare and times in RAKTA’s Sayr app or on 800 1700. The through Ajman–Ras Al Khaimah coach also stops in Umm Al Quwain on its way up and down the coast, so between the two patterns there is usually a RAK-bound coach every hour or two. Full fares, stops and timings for the corridor are in our Ajman to Ras Al Khaimah bus guide.
One practical note: RAKTA coaches use the same King Faisal Street stops as the Ajman buses, but they are a different operator with a different ticket — your Masaar card does not work on them, and change in Ajman is not needed for Ras Al Khaimah. If you are heading beyond Al Hamra into RAK city itself, stay on the coach or change at Al Hamra as directed by the driver.
Dubai and Sharjah from Umm Al Quwain (via Ajman)
There is no direct bus from Umm Al Quwain to Dubai or Sharjah — whatever some timetable websites suggest. An RTA bus (the old E601) once linked Dubai with Umm Al Quwain, but it no longer appears in RTA’s current network and no official source lists a replacement. The working route today goes through Ajman, and it is simple:
- Umm Al Quwain → Ajman: Ajman Transport bus from Lulu Centre bus stop to Al Musalla Bus Station — AED 10 with Masaar card or AED 15 cash, about 30–40 minutes.
- For Dubai: at Al Musalla, change to RTA bus E400 to Union Square (AED 15, Nol card) or E411 to Etisalat Bus Station (AED 12, Nol card) — both run on into the evening and connect straight into the Dubai Metro.
- For Sharjah: at Al Musalla, change to SRTA route 114 or 112 to Al Jubail Bus Station in central Sharjah — AED 6, Sayer card or cash, every 15–30 minutes.
Budget roughly an hour and a half to two hours door to door for Dubai, depending on the connection at Al Musalla, and carry both payment types: the Ajman leg takes Masaar or cash, the Dubai leg is Nol only, and the Sharjah leg takes Sayer or cash. Connections at Al Musalla are covered in that station’s guide.
Getting Around Umm Al Quwain
Within the emirate, be clear about what does not exist: Umm Al Quwain has no local bus network of its own. There are no city routes, no local smart card and no UAQ-run bus company — the only scheduled buses in the emirate are the Ajman Transport and RAKTA intercity services above, and both simply pass along the King Faisal Street corridor. Day-to-day local travel runs on taxis and private cars: taxis are easy to find around the Lulu and Carrefour stops, the Corniche and the old town, and short hops across this small city are cheap by UAE standards. The inland town of Falaj Al Mualla has no scheduled bus service either — a taxi or a lift is the practical way to reach it.
How to Reach the Umm Al Quwain Bus Stops
The stops sit on King Faisal Street, the main road running through Umm Al Quwain city past the Al Salamah district shops. The Ajman bus uses Lulu Centre Bus Stop as its town terminus; Carrefour Market Bus Stop, on the same road, is the other stop most listings show. The old town, the fort and the museum are a short taxi ride or a longer walk from the stops.
By taxi: the practical way to reach the stops from anywhere in the emirate — the Corniche hotels, the Marina side or Falaj Al Mualla road. Ask for “Lulu, King Faisal Street” and every driver will know it.
By bus: the Ajman Transport bus from Al Musalla terminates at Lulu Centre, and RAKTA coaches from Al Hamra call at the King Faisal Street stops — so the stops are where both services leave you anyway.
By car: King Faisal Street is reached from Al Ittihad Street (E11) at the Umm Al Quwain exits. If you are being dropped off, the Lulu Centre stop is the one to aim for, as it is the Ajman bus’s terminus and the easiest place to confirm the next departure.
Fares and Payment in Umm Al Quwain
Two operators, two payment habits — and one card that is useless here. Ajman Transport takes Ajman’s Masaar card or cash: AED 10 by card, AED 15 in cash to Ajman. The Masaar card itself is an Ajman product — it costs AED 25 including AED 20 of balance and is bought at Al Musalla’s counter, through the Masaar or Ajman One apps, or on the Ajman Transport website; there is no Masaar sales point in Umm Al Quwain, so regular travellers buy and top up on the Ajman side, while occasional travellers simply carry cash. RAKTA coaches are paid in cash — keep small notes for the roughly AED 15 Al Hamra fare. Dubai’s Nol card is not accepted on any bus in Umm Al Quwain; you will only need it after changing at Al Musalla onto an RTA bus.
Tips for Using Umm Al Quwain Bus Station
- Head for Lulu Centre, King Faisal Street: when anyone in Umm Al Quwain says “the bus station”, this stop is what they mean. It is the Ajman bus’s terminus and the surest place to board and to ask about the next departure.
- Carry cash in small notes: RAKTA takes cash only, and cash on the Ajman bus (AED 15) costs AED 5 more than the Masaar fare — but a card you cannot buy or top up in UAQ is no use at the stop. Cash always works.
- Confirm the day’s times before you travel: frequencies on both services are thinner than in the big emirates and published hours differ between sources. Check the Masaar app or call Ajman Transport on 600 599997, and RAKTA on 800 1700.
- Plan Dubai trips around the Ajman change: there is no direct Dubai bus. The Al Musalla change is sheltered and simple, but the last connections wind down in the late evening — do not leave Umm Al Quwain late hoping to connect.
- Do not wait for a local bus that does not exist: inside Umm Al Quwain, take a taxi. Visitors sometimes wait at stops expecting city buses; the only buses that will come are the Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah intercity services.
- Use the right guide for the onward leg: the Ajman to Ras Al Khaimah bus guide covers the northern corridor, and the Al Jubail Bus Station guide covers Sharjah arrivals — both are one change away from this stop.
Where is Umm Al Quwain Bus Station located?
On King Faisal Street in Umm Al Quwain city. There is no terminal building — the “bus station” is the cluster of stops on that road, with Lulu Centre Bus Stop acting as the terminus for the Ajman bus and Carrefour Market Bus Stop nearby on the same street.
Is there a bus from Umm Al Quwain to Ajman?
Yes — Ajman Transport runs it between Lulu Centre bus stop in Umm Al Quwain and Al Musalla Bus Station in Ajman, shown in journey planners as UAQ 1 / UAQ 2. The fare is AED 10 with a Masaar card or AED 15 in cash, and the ride takes about 30–40 minutes. Departures run through the day; check the Masaar app for the current timetable.
How much is the bus from Umm Al Quwain to Ras Al Khaimah?
RAKTA coaches run from the King Faisal Street stops to Al Hamra Bus Station in Ras Al Khaimah in about 50 minutes. Listings put the fare at around AED 15 in cash, but published figures vary slightly — confirm the current fare in RAKTA’s Sayr app or by calling 800 1700.
Is there a direct bus from Umm Al Quwain to Dubai?
No. There is no direct Dubai bus today — the old RTA E601 no longer appears in RTA’s network. Ride the Ajman Transport bus to Al Musalla in Ajman (AED 10 Masaar / AED 15 cash), then change to the RTA E400 to Union Square (AED 15, Nol) or the E411 to Etisalat (AED 12, Nol).
How do I get from Umm Al Quwain to Sharjah by bus?
Take the Ajman bus to Al Musalla Bus Station, then change to SRTA route 114 or 112 to Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah. The Sharjah leg costs AED 6 by Sayer card or cash and runs every 15–30 minutes.
Does Umm Al Quwain have local city buses?
No. Umm Al Quwain has no city bus network and no transport authority of its own — the only scheduled buses are Ajman Transport’s Ajman service and RAKTA’s Ras Al Khaimah coaches, both using the King Faisal Street stops. For travel inside the emirate, use taxis.
Can I pay with a Nol card in Umm Al Quwain?
No. Nol is not accepted on any bus in Umm Al Quwain. Ajman Transport takes its Masaar card or cash, and RAKTA coaches take cash. You only need a Nol card if you change at Al Musalla onto a Dubai RTA bus such as the E400 or E411.
What time is the first and last bus from Umm Al Quwain?
Ajman Transport publishes a service window of 5:45 AM–12:00 AM, but this route’s own first and last buses have been listed more narrowly in the past (7:00 AM–9:00 PM at its 2021 relaunch), and RAKTA’s Al Hamra coaches run through the day rather than late at night. Treat any printed time as a guide only — confirm the day’s departures in the Masaar app or by phone before travelling.
Related Routes
- Al Musalla Bus Station Ajman: Routes & Timings
- Ajman to Ras Al Khaimah Bus: Timings & Fare
- Al Jubail Bus Station Sharjah: Routes & Timings
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.