Al Ghubaiba bus station is Bur Dubai’s main bus hub and the starting point for the E100 to Abu Dhabi, the E201 to Al Ain and the E306 to Sharjah. About 20 RTA routes start or end here, reaching Dubai Mall, Business Bay, Al Quoz, Al Rashidiya, International City and Jebel Ali.
It sits next to Al Ghubaiba metro station on the Green Line and Al Ghubaiba marine station on Dubai Creek. Buses use nol cards only.
Quick answer: Main intercity routes: E100 (Abu Dhabi), E201 (Al Ain), E306 (Sharjah). Night route N55 to Al Maktoum airport. Nearest metro: Al Ghubaiba (Green Line). Pay with a nol card; check live times in S’hail.
Al Ghubaiba bus station at a glance
Item | Detail |
Area | Bur Dubai, by Dubai Creek |
Metro | Al Ghubaiba (G24), Green Line, a short walk |
Marine | Al Ghubaiba marine station: Dubai Ferry and abras |
Opened (current building) | October 2020 |
Design capacity | Up to 15,000 passengers a day |
Facilities | Customer service, shops and food outlets, taxi stand, bike docks |
Payment | nol card only, no cash on board |
The building was rebuilt as a “new generation” station and opened in October 2020, with 50 bus slots, a 34-taxi stand and 60 bike docks, Gulf News reported.
Routes that start or end at Al Ghubaiba
This table lists routes that use Al Ghubaiba as a terminal, based on RTA’s route data in October 2026. Other routes pass through stops nearby.
Intercity and night routes
Route | Goes to | Notes |
E100 | Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station | Stops at Al Jafiliya Bus Station on the way out |
E201 | Al Ain Bus Station | Stops at Al Jafiliya Bus Station |
E306 | Sharjah, Al Jubail Bus Station | |
N55 | Al Maktoum International Airport | Night route |
City and express routes
Route | Goes to |
9 | Business Bay metro station |
12 | Al Quoz Bus Station |
15 | Al Khail Gate |
21A / 21B | Al Quoz Industrial Area (opposite directions) |
29 | The Dubai Mall (via Museum of the Future stop) |
44 | Al Rashidiya Bus Station (via Dubai Festival City) |
61 | Ras Al Khor, Samari Residence |
66 | Al Faqa |
83 | Al Fardan Exchange metro station |
91 | Business Bay metro station |
93 | Mall of the Emirates metro station |
C05 | Gold Souq Bus Station |
X23 | International City (express) |
X91 | Jebel Ali Bus Station (express) |
X92 | Parco Hypermarket, Jebel Ali (express) |
Seasonal
Route | Goes to | Notes |
104 | Global Village | Every 60 minutes in the 2025–26 season |
Route 67 used to start here, but since July 2026 it ends at Oud Metha Bus Station instead.
Al Ghubaiba bus timings
RTA runs buses across the city from about 4 am to 1 am, according to its timetable page. Each Al Ghubaiba route has its own first and last bus:
- E100 to Abu Dhabi starts very early. RTA’s data showed a 4:20 am departure in October 2026, with a trip of about 2 hours.
- City routes mostly run from early morning to around midnight.
- N55 covers the overnight hours to Al Maktoum airport.
We have not listed exact first and last times for every route, because RTA adjusts them often and lists online go out of date fast. Check the S’hail app, or the digital boards at the station, on the day.
How much are fares from Al Ghubaiba?
City routes use normal nol zone fares: AED 3, AED 5 or AED 7.50 on a Silver card, depending on zones crossed. Our Dubai Metro and bus fares guide has the full table.
Intercity fares are higher. Reported fares have been around AED 25 for E100 to Abu Dhabi and around AED 12 for E306 to Sharjah, in line with RTA’s AED 12 fare for its newer Dubai–Sharjah route E308. Fares change, so confirm in S’hail before you travel.
Make sure your card has enough for the whole trip before boarding. Drivers can’t top it up.
The E100 to Abu Dhabi is one of the most used routes from Al Ghubaiba.
Al Ghubaiba to Abu Dhabi on the E100
The E100 is the classic budget way to Abu Dhabi. It runs from Al Ghubaiba, stops at Al Jafiliya Bus Station, and then heads to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station with a few stops on the way.
A few practical points:
- Weekend evenings can be busy. Arrive early if you’re travelling on a Friday or Saturday evening.
- Have enough balance. Load your card with more than the fare, in case a top-up machine queue is long.
- Al Jafiliya is a handy alternative stop. If you live near Karama or Satwa, boarding at Al Jafiliya saves the trip into Bur Dubai. See our Al Jafiliya bus station guide.
Is the bus or the train better for Abu Dhabi? Etihad Rail is faster but leaves from Al Yalayis, far from Bur Dubai. For someone starting in old Dubai, the E100 is often simpler. Our Dubai to Abu Dhabi bus guide compares both.
Al Ghubaiba to Al Ain and Sharjah
E201 to Al Ain also stops at Al Jafiliya. It is one of the few public links to Al Ain, so it fills up on weekends. Our Dubai to Al Ain bus guide has more.
E306 to Sharjah runs to Al Jubail Bus Station. If you’re in Deira rather than Bur Dubai, E303 from Union Bus Station usually makes more sense.
How to get to Al Ghubaiba bus station
By metro. Take the Green Line to Al Ghubaiba (G24). The bus station is a short walk away.
By abra or ferry. Al Ghubaiba marine station is on the creek beside the bus station. Dubai Ferry runs from here to Dubai Canal and to Sharjah Aquarium, and abras cross to Deira. Our Dubai abra guide explains the routes.
By bus. C05 links Gold Souq Bus Station in Deira to Al Ghubaiba. 44 comes from Al Rashidiya, and 29 from Dubai Mall.
By taxi. The station has a taxi stand. Traffic around Bur Dubai can be slow at peak times, so allow extra time for an intercity departure.
Nearby: Al Sabkha and Gold Souq
Across the creek in Deira are two more bus stations. Gold Souq Bus Station is still a major hub, and C05 runs between it and Al Ghubaiba. Al Sabkha Bus Station lost its main routes in 2025, but its marine station is still useful for abras.
Mistakes to avoid at Al Ghubaiba
Following an old route list. Several sites still list 67 from here, or E16 from nearby Sabkha. Both changed.
Assuming E100 and E101 are the same. E100 leaves from Al Ghubaiba. E101 leaves from Ibn Battuta, on the other side of the city.
Boarding without enough balance. There is no cash fare.
Missing the last E100 on a Friday night. Weekend evening demand is high. If you’re cutting it fine, check the last departure in S’hail before you set off.
Frequently asked questions
Which buses go from Al Ghubaiba to Abu Dhabi?
The E100 runs from Al Ghubaiba to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station, stopping at Al Jafiliya Bus Station on the way. The trip takes about two hours. The E101 also goes to Abu Dhabi, but it starts at Ibn Battuta, not Al Ghubaiba. Check departures in S’hail.
Which metro station is closest to Al Ghubaiba?
Al Ghubaiba metro station (G24) on the Green Line is the closest, a short walk from the bus station. From the Red Line, change to the Green Line at BurJuman or Union. The bus station is also beside Al Ghubaiba marine station, where Dubai Ferry and abras stop.
How much is the bus from Al Ghubaiba to Sharjah?
Route E306 runs from Al Ghubaiba to Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah. It has been reported at about AED 12, the same fare RTA set for its newer Dubai to Sharjah route E308. Pay with a nol card loaded with enough balance, and confirm the fare in S’hail first.
Does any bus from Al Ghubaiba run all night?
Night route N55 runs from Al Ghubaiba to Al Maktoum International Airport during the hours when most day routes have stopped. It is not 24-hour. The only 24-hour RTA route is C01, which you can catch in nearby Bur Dubai and Karama on its Airport T3 to Al Satwa run.
Can I pay cash at Al Ghubaiba?
You can’t pay cash on the bus. Buy or top up a nol card before boarding, at the station machines, a metro station or in the nol Pay app. The same card works on the metro, tram, buses and Dubai Ferry, so one card covers your whole trip.
Planning your trip from Al Ghubaiba bus station
Al Ghubaiba is the place to start for Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Sharjah if you’re in Bur Dubai, with the Green Line and the creek right next door. Check your route in S’hail, carry a topped-up nol card, and leave extra time on weekend evenings.
For every station and how routes work, go back to our Dubai bus guide. For the full network, see the Dubai public transport guide or the Live In Gulf homepage.
Disclaimer: routes are based on RTA route data and RTA announcements checked in October 2026. Intercity fares are as reported and may change. Confirm in the S’hail app before you travel.
