From Sharjah Airport to Dubai, a taxi works at every hour and carries AED 40 in fixed charges before the meter starts; the cheaper ways are Air Arabia's free coach, with one departure at 08:00, and a public bus at about AED 12. Sharjah is a separate emirate, so the airport has its own taxis and its own rules, and there is no Metro. This guide gives the fixed charges, the coach times, the bus routes, the rush-hour timing and the best choice for each part of Dubai.
By SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
Tour on this route: Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai — From $45 per person, 7 hours.
How much is a taxi from Sharjah Airport to Dubai?
Two fixed charges apply before the meter: AED 20 for the airport, according to Sharjah Airport, and AED 20 for crossing between Sharjah and Dubai, according to Khaleej Times and Dubai Taxi. That is AED 40, plus the meter. Neither emirate publishes a fixed fare per district, so ask the driver for an estimate or use the price in a ride app.
This guide also answers:
- Is there a free bus from Sharjah Airport to Dubai?
- How long does it take to get from Sharjah Airport to Dubai?
- Can I take a Dubai taxi from Sharjah Airport?
Five ways to get from Sharjah Airport to Dubai
#1
Taxi from the airport rank
Sharjah Airport says its taxis run around the clock, are metered and add an airport charge of AED 20 to every trip that starts there. Taxis in both emirates also add AED 20 for crossing the border between Sharjah and Dubai, so AED 40 is fixed before the meter counts any distance. Family taxis and ladies-only taxis are available.
#2
Air Arabia free coach
Air Arabia's own shuttle page lists a free coach from Sharjah International Airport to City Centre Al Shindagha in Dubai at 08:00, arriving about 09:00. The only other trip on that page runs the opposite way at 18:00. With one departure each way, it suits a plan made in advance, not a flight that lands at midnight.
#3
Bus E303, E306 or E307
Gulf News lists these RTA routes at AED 12, paid with a Nol card. They start at Al Jubail bus station in Sharjah, not at the airport, so you first need a short taxi, which already carries the AED 20 airport charge. The saving is real for a solo traveller in daytime and small for two or three people.
#4
Bus to Rashidiya, then the Metro
Gulf News lists SRTA route 113 between Sharjah (Rolla and Muwailah) and Dubai Centrepoint, also called Al Rashidiya, at AED 12. The Red Line Metro starts there, so one bus plus one train reaches Deira, Downtown or the Marina without a road transfer. It is slow with luggage, so use it only on a light day.
#5
Rental car from the Arrivals hall
Sharjah Airport says the car rental offices at Arrivals open 24 hours and name several international and local companies. Driving into Dubai means Salik tolls and paid parking, and the morning commute is slow. Read our rental guide first if this is your first drive in the UAE, and check that the car covers both emirates.
Sharjah Airport to Dubai: the short answer
A taxi from the rank at Arrivals is the simple choice, and the only one that works at every hour. Sharjah Airport says its taxis run 24 hours, use a meter and add an airport charge of AED 20 on every trip that starts at the airport. Khaleej Times has reported that taxis in both emirates add another AED 20 for crossing between Sharjah and Dubai, and Dubai Taxi's own fare page lists the same AED 20 charge for passing through Sharjah. That is AED 40 in fixed charges before the meter counts a single kilometre.
The cheaper options are slower and less flexible. Air Arabia lists a free coach from the airport to City Centre Al Shindagha in Dubai, but with one departure a day, at 08:00. A public bus costs about AED 12, but it starts at a Sharjah bus station, not at the airport. If you land at night, take the taxi.
There is no Metro line in Sharjah. Visit Abu Dhabi says Etihad Rail plans a Sharjah station from 30 March 2027, but until it opens there is no train service there, and announced dates can move.
The options compared
Fares and timetables change, so treat the figures below as the latest we could read and check the live price in your taxi or ride app. The sources are Sharjah Airport's website, Air Arabia's website, Gulf News and Khaleej Times.
| Option | When it runs | Cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi from the airport rank | 24 hours | AED 20 airport charge + AED 20 for crossing into Dubai + the meter | Door to door; family and ladies-only taxis; Sharjah Taxi phone 600 525 252 |
| Air Arabia coach to City Centre Al Shindagha | One departure, 08:00, arriving about 09:00 | Free | Book through Air Arabia; the 18:00 coach runs from Dubai to the airport |
| Coach to Al Ghurair Centre | The airport's page lists 8:00 to 23:30 from the airport | AED 20 one way | Shown on the airport's page but not on Air Arabia's current list: confirm before you rely on it |
| Bus E303, E306 or E307 | Dubai buses run about 4 AM to 1 AM | About AED 12 with a Nol card | Starts at Al Jubail bus station, so you need a taxi first |
| SRTA bus 113, then the Red Line | Check the S'hail app | About AED 12 for the bus, plus the Metro fare | Ends at Rashidiya (Centrepoint), where the Red Line starts |
| Rental car | Desks open 24 hours | Rental price, fuel, Salik tolls and parking | Slow in the morning commute |
If you need Dubai International Airport, not the city, SRTA route 313 from Rolla in Sharjah serves Terminal 2, according to an older Khaleej Times list. Our Dubai airport to Sharjah guide covers the same trip the other way round.
Taxi: what you pay and the rules
The fixed part of the fare is clear: AED 20 for the airport and AED 20 for the emirate crossing. After that the meter decides, and neither emirate publishes a ready-made fare for each Dubai district. For a rough idea, our Dubai to Sharjah guide puts a taxi between central Dubai and the Sharjah lagoon area at about AED 40-80 plus the emirate charge, and a ride between Dubai Marina and Sharjah at well over AED 100. From the airport, add its AED 20 charge. Ask the driver for an estimate before you set off, or use the price shown in a ride app.
A few rules and habits help:
- Taxis wait at the stands on the Arrivals level of each terminal, according to Sharjah Airport.
- Sharjah Taxi also offers a luxury limousine from outside Arrivals, and its phone number on the airport's website is 600 525 252.
- Dubai Taxi says it picks up passengers only inside Dubai, so a Dubai taxi will not collect you at Sharjah Airport. Use a Sharjah taxi or a ride app.
- Dubai Taxi also says extra fares apply at Salik toll gates. Ask a Sharjah driver how tolls are charged, because we could not find a published rule.
- Ask whether the taxi takes cards before you leave the rank, and keep some dirhams in small notes.
Our taxi and Careem guide explains how ride apps price a trip and what tips are normal once you are in Dubai. If you prefer to drive, renting a car in Dubai covers the licence, Salik and the rules.
Air Arabia coaches and the public buses
Air Arabia's shuttle page, read in November, lists two free trips between Sharjah International Airport and City Centre Al Shindagha: one from the airport at 08:00 and one from Dubai at 18:00. The page says you book on Air Arabia's website or at its sales shop, and it does not say whether you need an Air Arabia ticket, so ask when you book.
The airport's own page still describes coaches to the Al Ghurair Centre in Dubai at AED 20 one way, with trips from the airport between 8:00 and 23:30. We could not find that service on Air Arabia's current list, so confirm it before you plan around it.
For public buses, Khaleej Times lists RTA routes E303 from Al Jubail to Union, E306 to Al Ghubaiba and E307 to Deira City Centre, and Gulf News gives the fare as AED 12. E315 runs from Muwailah in Sharjah to Etisalat Metro station. These are Dubai RTA routes, so you need a Nol card; our Dubai to Sharjah guide has the step-by-step bus ride from the Dubai side. The airport says it is served by bus and coach services, but the only operator it names with fares is Air Arabia, so plan the first leg to a bus station as a taxi.
Journey time and rush hour
Air Arabia schedules its 08:00 coach from the airport to arrive at 09:00. That is a useful reference, because 08:00 is inside the busiest hours for traffic into Dubai.
Our Dubai to Sharjah guide gives the commuter pattern: traffic is heaviest from 7 to 9 AM towards Dubai and from 5 to 8 PM towards Sharjah, and a trip that takes 20-40 minutes off-peak from Deira can take an hour in the peaks. From the airport you join the Dubai-bound flow in the morning, so a morning arrival is the slow one. In the evening, the road towards Dubai runs against the commute and is usually quicker.
Dubai Marina, JBR and the Palm are at the far end of Dubai from Sharjah. Allow extra time and expect a higher meter fare there. If your hotel is in Deira, Bur Dubai or Business Bay, the trip is shorter. If you are still choosing between a Sharjah and a Dubai hotel, our Sharjah or Dubai: where to stay guide compares prices and commute times.
Which way for which part of Dubai
Pick by where you sleep, not only by price.
| Where you are going | Best option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Deira and Bur Dubai | Taxi, or E307 or E306 by day | Their bus stations are in Deira and Bur Dubai |
| Downtown, Business Bay | Taxi; E303 to Union, then the Red Line, to save money | The bus ends in Deira, so you change to the Metro |
| Dubai Marina, JBR, the Palm | Taxi | The far end of Dubai; our Sharjah guide puts bus plus Metro at about 1.5 hours from the Marina |
| Dubai International Airport | Taxi, or SRTA 313 to Terminal 2 | Check the live timetable in the S'hail app |
| Any hotel, arriving after midnight | Taxi | Buses run about 4 AM to 1 AM |
The Dubai Metro guide lists the Red Line stations and fares, which run from AED 3 to AED 7.5 a trip.
Staying in Sharjah? Our tours collect you there
Some visitors fly into Sharjah and stay on the Dubai side. Others sleep in Sharjah and want to see Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Our full-day desert safari collects guests from hotels in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman in an air-conditioned 4x4, lasts 7 hours and costs from $45 per person, with no prepayment. The Abu Dhabi city tour also collects in Sharjah, earlier than its 8:00 AM Dubai pickup, and costs from $45 shared for the 9-hour day.
Our safari from Sharjah and Ajman article gives the pickup times. Message us on WhatsApp with your hotel name and dates, and we will confirm the pickup point and time. Remember that Sharjah is a dry emirate: our alcohol laws guide explains where you can drink in Dubai.
FAQ
How much is a taxi from Sharjah Airport to Dubai?
Two fixed charges apply before the meter: AED 20 for the airport, according to Sharjah Airport, and AED 20 for crossing between Sharjah and Dubai, according to Khaleej Times and Dubai Taxi. That is AED 40, plus the meter. Neither emirate publishes a fixed fare per district, so ask the driver for an estimate or use the price in a ride app.
Is there a free bus from Sharjah Airport to Dubai?
Air Arabia's shuttle page lists a free coach from Sharjah International Airport to City Centre Al Shindagha in Dubai at 08:00, arriving about 09:00, and a free coach from Dubai to the airport at 18:00. There is one trip each way a day, and you book through Air Arabia. Confirm the times before you plan around them.
How long does it take to get from Sharjah Airport to Dubai?
Air Arabia schedules its morning coach for one hour. Our Dubai to Sharjah guide says a trip that takes 20-40 minutes outside the peaks can take an hour when traffic is heavy: 7 to 9 AM towards Dubai and 5 to 8 PM towards Sharjah. Dubai Marina and the Palm take longer than Deira or Business Bay.
Can I take a Dubai taxi from Sharjah Airport?
No. Dubai Taxi says it picks up passengers only inside Dubai, although it can drop them anywhere in the UAE. At Sharjah Airport, use the Sharjah Taxi rank at Arrivals or a ride-hailing app. Sharjah Taxi's number on the airport's website is 600 525 252.
Is there a Metro or train from Sharjah Airport to Dubai?
No. The Dubai Metro does not reach Sharjah. Visit Abu Dhabi says Etihad Rail plans a Sharjah station from 30 March 2027, but that date can move and we cannot say yet how it would link to the airport. For now, use a taxi, a coach or a bus.
Which bus goes from Sharjah to Dubai?
RTA routes E303 to Union, E306 to Al Ghubaiba and E307 to Deira City Centre all start at Al Jubail bus station in Sharjah, and Gulf News lists the fare at AED 12 with a Nol card. SRTA route 113 runs between Sharjah and Rashidiya (Centrepoint). Check the S'hail app for live times.
Can I rent a car at Sharjah Airport?
Yes. Sharjah Airport lists car rental offices at Arrivals that open 24 hours. Driving into Dubai means Salik tolls and paid parking, and the morning peak into Dubai is slow. Read our guide to renting a car in Dubai as a tourist before you book.
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