Dubai to Sharjah Airport: bus, taxi and how early to leave

How long does it take to get from Dubai to Sharjah Airport?

Dubai to Sharjah Airport is a short run, because Sharjah Airport (SHJ) sits just over the Dubai border, next to the Sharjah International Airport Free Zone. From Dubai International (DXB) it is about 24 km by road, 22 minutes with free-flowing traffic. Nobody drives it in free flow at 6 pm on a weekday.

The table gives free-flow drive times from the main Dubai starting points. Treat them as the best case and add time from the next section.

Starting point in Dubai	Distance to SHJ	Free-flow drive
Dubai International (DXB)	about 24 km	22 minutes
Mirdif	about 26 km	25 minutes
Deira	about 30 km	26 minutes
Al Ghubaiba and Bur Dubai	about 35 km	33 minutes
Downtown Dubai	about 40 km	35 minutes
Dubai Marina	about 60 km	52 minutes

Figures come from OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap, checked on 17 October 2026 and rounded. They are not a timetable.

Is there a bus from Dubai to Sharjah Airport?

Not as one ride from every district. The RTA runs intercity buses between Dubai stations, including Union Square in Deira and Al Ghubaiba in Bur Dubai, and Sharjah’s Al Jubail bus station. Al Jubail is the main intercity hub in Sharjah and is about 18 km from the airport.

From Al Jubail you change to a local Sharjah bus or take a taxi for the last leg. That makes the bus the low-cost option and the slowest, so it suits a flight with hours to spare and one small bag. Check the current route numbers, stops and fares in the RTA app, because intercity services change.

If you travel with a family, a stroller or more than two bags, the change at Al Jubail is the hard part. A direct car removes it.

What is the taxi fare from Dubai to Sharjah Airport?

A Dubai taxi runs on the meter. A trip that crosses into Sharjah can carry extra charges, and the amount depends on the pickup point and the day. We have not confirmed a published tariff for this route, so this guide gives no figure. Ask the driver before you start, or look at the RTA taxi pages.

Two practical points. Dubai taxis can drop at SHJ, but a taxi leaving SHJ for Dubai joins the airport queue, and that is a different journey, covered in our guide to Sharjah Airport to Dubai. For a pickup from Bur Dubai, Deira or a hotel, a pre-booked car means you do not hunt for a taxi at rush hour.

A private car with Assure is quoted on WhatsApp with the pickup address, time and passengers. See Sharjah Airport transfers for what is included.

When should you leave for an Air Arabia flight?

Sharjah is Air Arabia’s home airport, so many travellers from Dubai are flying with Air Arabia. The airline lets you check in online from 48 hours before departure, and city check-in counters open 36 hours before. Both cut the time you need at the airport. The closing time for baggage drop is printed on your booking, so use that figure.

Then work backwards:

1. Take the check-in closing time for your flight.
2. Add the free-flow drive from the table above.
3. Add a traffic margin: 15 to 20 minutes off-peak, 30 to 45 in the evening peak.
4. Add 10 minutes for the drop-off kerb and bag trolley.

For a rule that works across all UAE airports, see our guide to departure timing.

Which peak hours should you avoid on Al Ittihad Road and the E311?

Al Ittihad Road (E11) and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311) carry most Dubai to Sharjah commuters. The pattern is simple: slow into Dubai in the morning, slow into Sharjah in the evening. Friday afternoon and the evening before a long weekend are also heavy.

You cannot avoid the traffic, only the timing. If your flight leaves between 7 pm and 11 pm, assume the evening peak applies to your drive. Our Dubai rush hour guide shows the pattern across the city. Our guide to travel from DXB to the northern emirates covers the same corridor for arrivals.

If you are collecting someone from SHJ instead, read Sharjah Airport arrivals. For the wider picture of all seven airports, see the UAE airports guide, and for longer road trips see our intercity transfers.