How to get from Sharjah Airport to Dubai
Shuttlix teamUpdated October 7, 2026 · 2 min read
Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) is the home of Air Arabia, and a large share of its passengers are really going to Dubai. The two cities sit side by side, but the road between them is one of the busiest in the UAE, so timing matters more than distance.
How far is Sharjah Airport from Dubai?
| Destination | Drive time outside rush hour |
|---|---|
| Deira | about 30 minutes |
| Downtown Dubai | about 40 minutes |
| Dubai Marina | about 55 minutes |
When is the road busy?
Traffic towards Dubai is heaviest on weekday mornings, roughly from 6 to 9 am. Traffic back towards Sharjah is heaviest from about 5 to 8 pm. At those times a 30-minute drive can take more than an hour. Late evening, night and weekend journeys are usually quick.
Taxi
Official Sharjah taxis wait outside arrivals and use the meter. An extra charge is added when the taxi crosses into Dubai, and the meter keeps running in slow traffic, so the fare at rush hour can be much higher than at night.
Bus
Sharjah has no Metro. Public buses link the airport with Sharjah’s main bus station, where intercity buses leave for Dubai. It is the cheapest way to travel, but with luggage and a change of bus you should allow about two hours.
Private transfer
A pre-booked driver waits in the arrivals hall and takes you straight to your hotel. The price is fixed when you book, so rush-hour traffic does not change what you pay. See fixed prices on our Sharjah Airport to Dubai page, or all destinations on Sharjah Airport transfers.
Which should you choose?
- Arriving at night with light bags: a taxi is simple and the road is clear.
- Arriving at rush hour: a fixed price protects you from a slow meter.
- Families and groups: a minivan or minibus booked in advance fits everyone and the luggage in one vehicle.
- On a tight budget with time to spare: the bus.
Flying out of Sharjah from a Dubai hotel
For the return journey, leave Dubai earlier than you think you need to if your flight is in the evening. If your flight uses Dubai International instead, read how the options compare in our guide to Dubai Airport taxi fares. Travelling the other way, from Dubai Airport to a Sharjah address, is covered on Dubai Airport to Sharjah.