By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 4 min read
How far is Sharjah from Dubai, and how long does it really take?
Sharjah’s city centre is 22 to 26 km from Downtown Dubai, but time varies more than distance. The table shows free-flow times to four places in Sharjah.
| From | To | Distance | Without traffic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Dubai | Al Majaz Waterfront | about 22 km | 24 min |
| Downtown Dubai | Al Noor Island | about 24 km | 26 min |
| Downtown Dubai | Al Jubail Bus Station | about 25 km | 27 min |
| Downtown Dubai | Heart of Sharjah | about 26 km | 29 min |
| Dubai Marina | Al Majaz Waterfront | about 42 km | 39 min |
| Union Bus Station, Deira | Al Jubail Bus Station | about 16 km | 18 min |
| Al Ghubaiba Bus Station, Bur Dubai | Al Jubail Bus Station | about 20 km | 22 min |
These come from the OSRM route planner on OpenStreetMap data, checked on 17 October 2026. They are the floor, not the average.
When is traffic worst between Dubai and Sharjah?
The pattern is simple. The morning peak runs towards Dubai and the evening peak runs back towards Sharjah. RTA lists taxi rush hours of 8 to 10 am and 4 to 8 pm, Monday to Thursday. On Friday the afternoon window is longer, to midnight. Salik uses nearly the same weekday peaks, 6 to 10 am and 4 to 8 pm, at AED 6 a gate.
Leaving before 7 am or between 10 am and 3 pm avoids most of it. Our getting around Sharjah guide covers the Sharjah side of the pattern.
Which buses run between Dubai and Sharjah?
RTA’s route list shows four intercity buses between Dubai and Al Jubail Bus Station, which is Sharjah’s main intercity station:
- E303, E306, E307 and E307A: all run to Al Jubail.
- E315: goes to Muwailah in Sharjah.
RTA says the Dubai Bus network runs from 04:00 to 01:00. We could not read the stop lists, frequencies or fares for these routes, so check them in RTA’s journey planner. At Al Jubail you change for local buses or a taxi to reach Al Majaz, Heart of Sharjah or the airport. Our Dubai to Sharjah Airport guide covers the last leg.
The bus suits one traveller with a light bag. Bulky luggage is not allowed inside RTA buses.
What does a taxi from Dubai to Sharjah cost?
A Dubai taxi runs on the meter. RTA adds AED 20 when a trip passes through Sharjah, plus 50 fils a minute of waiting and any Salik gate. The minimum fare is AED 12 for a street pickup and AED 13 for an app booking. RTA does not print the per-kilometre rate.
Salik gates on the way are Al Mamzar North and South, at the Dubai edge of Sharjah. A gate is AED 6 or AED 4, depending on the hour. See Salik tolls in Dubai for which gates your trip passes.
Coming back, the taxi is a different matter. Dubai Taxi does not cover trips that start in another emirate. Read Dubai taxi fares for the start fares.
Al Ittihad Road, E11, E311 or E611: which road to take?
Al Ittihad Road is part of the E11 and is the direct road from Deira and Bur Dubai to Sharjah. It crosses Salik’s Al Mamzar gates. The E311 and E611 run on the outer side of the city and avoid parts of the congestion near the border. We did not measure their times.
A local driver chooses on the day, from live traffic. That is the main thing a private car adds on a short run. Do not decide on distance alone: the shortest road is often the slowest between 4 and 8 pm.
How do you reach the main Sharjah sights from Dubai?
- Al Majaz Waterfront: about 22 km from Downtown, 24 minutes without traffic.
- Al Noor Island: about 24 km, 26 minutes. It sits beside Khalid Lagoon.
- Heart of Sharjah: about 26 km, 29 minutes.
- Sharjah Safari, Al Dhaid: about 69 km, 59 minutes from Downtown, per the road figures in our road travel guide.
There is also a ferry. RTA’s route FR5 runs from Al Ghubaiba Station to Sharjah Aquarium Marine Station, AED 15 in Silver and AED 25 in Gold, one way. It is the way to reach the Aquarium without the road. Our list of things to do in Sharjah goes through the attractions, and the Sharjah city tour covers them with a driver.
Private driver for a Sharjah day or a daily commute
A private car is door to door, with no change at Al Jubail. For a day in Sharjah, a car with a driver can wait while you visit. See our chauffeur service in Sharjah and intercity transfers. Assure is RTA licensed and answers on WhatsApp 24/7.
Only licensed vehicles may carry passengers for payment. If you are weighing a cheap lift, read car lift from Dubai to Abu Dhabi for the fines. Planning on going further? See Dubai to Ajman and Umm Al Quwain, Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah to Abu Dhabi.
Photos in this guide
Slow traffic on a road in Sharjah, with the Burj Khalifa visible on the Dubai skylineJanjua shj / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0
Red and white intercity coaches parked under shade canopies at the Bur Dubai bus stationFabio Achilli / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Sunset over the Sharjah skyline with gulls on the water at Al Majaz WaterfrontSayfbhai / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Restored coral-stone buildings and a paved square in the Heart of Sharjah heritage districtWael Mohammed Al-Masri / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
