Sharjah is one of the seven Emirates in the UAE, and honestly, not many people give it much thought when planning a trip to the UAE.
However, I decided to make the trip from my hotel in Dubai to Sharjah to watch a football match, and it was a 10 out of 10 experience (I’ll discuss the match itself in a separate article).
For now, I just want to walk you through how I got there using the bus, because it’s really straightforward and I think more people should know about it.
Related: Dubai vs Sharjah, Which One is Better?
Starting Point: Union Bus Station
So earlier that day I was around the Deira district, visiting the souks, taking the Abra boat across the creek, which was lovely.
Later in the evening, I made my way to the Union Bus Station.
From Union Station, you can catch buses to Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, and a bunch of other destinations across the UAE.
It’s a very important and convenient bus station.
Bus Number & Station
The bus you’re looking for is Bus E303, with the destination at Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah.
When you board, make sure you tap the payment machine near whichever entrance you use, most buses have two entrances, one at the front near the driver and one in the middle. Don’t skip the tap. You can actually get fined if you don’t.
What the Journey is Like – Costs, Frequency & Time Taken
Buses run every 30 minutes from Union Station, and the journey to Al Jubail in Sharjah took me about 45 minutes, though it can stretch closer to 1 hour depending on traffic.
The ticket cost me 12 Dirhams one way, and you pay using your Nol card.
The buses are really comfortable, with proper AC (make sure to carry a light sweater as the AC might be strong), and they even have USB ports so you can charge your phone on the way. One small thing to note: the USB ports are Type-A, so if your cable is Type-C on both ends, it won’t work.
Getting Back – Plan Ahead
This is where it gets a little interesting. The last bus from Sharjah back to Dubai is around midnight, and the last bus from Dubai side is around 11:30pm, so you want to plan accordingly.
My match ended at around 11:20pm, which meant I had to move quickly. Getting a taxi in Sharjah late at night isn’t as easy as it is in Dubai — it took me about 15 to 20 minutes to find one. Luckily the bus was running a few minutes late, so it worked out, but don’t count on that. Just be aware that late-night taxis in Sharjah can be a bit hit or miss.
Overall, it’s a really easy trip. Make sure your Nol card is loaded, know your bus number, and just enjoy the ride. For 12 Dirhams, you really can’t go wrong.
