How to go from Dubai to Al Ain by bus

• Overview
• FAQs

Travelling to the Garden City? The drive from Dubai to Al Ain can take a couple of hours. If you don’t have your own vehicle, it can be expensive to take a taxi for a Dubai to Al Ain road trip. Thus, a cost-effective way to reach the picturesque location is to take the Dubai to Al Ain bus.

Travelling to Al Ain is easy as the city is well-connected with the rest of the UAE through an extensive network of roads and highways. Here’s all the information you need to travel from Dubai to Al Ain on a bus.

Taking a Bus from Dubai to Al Ain

Dubai is located roughly 140 km from Al Ain. Thus, driving or taking a bus to reach Garden City is not a difficult task. Whether it’s for work, leisure or tourism, you can easily take a bus from Dubai to Al Ain and reach your destination in a couple of hours.

Al Ain, the birthplace of His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, UAE’s Founding Father, is one of the greenest cities in the region. It is also a peaceful location, ideal for a weekend getaway. So, if you want to visit a beautiful destination, taking a bus is ideal for those travelling on a budget. 

How do I get from Dubai to Al Ain by bus?

You can take both buses and minibuses from the Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Dubai. This is one of the major bus stations in Al Shindagha area, to the west of Dubai Creek. Facilities at the bus station include toilets, cafes, an information office and car parking.

One can reach Al Ghubaiba Station by metro – just get off at Al Ghubaiba Metro Station on the Green Line, from where it is a short walk to the bus station. Al Ghubaiba Bus Station is just 350 m from Al Ghubaiba MS and you can walk there in less than five minutes.

E201 Dubai to Al Ain Bus

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) launched this route in April 2019, connecting Dubai and Al Ain by bus. This inter-emirate bus service will run from Al Ain to Al Ghubaiba Bus Station 12.

This was the first direct bus service between the two venues. The Public Transport Agency of RTA collaborated with the Department of Transport (DoT) in Abu Dhabi for this initiative. You can also read more about Abu Dhabi-Dubai intercity buses, which offer similar conveniences to commuters.

E201 Dubai to Al Ain Ticket Prices

A one-way ticket from Dubai to Al Ain on the E201 bus route Dubai will cost AED 25. You can also use your Nol Card to make the trip.

E201 Bus Timings

Dubai to Al Ain – E201 Bus Service

From the Al Ghubaiba Bus Station, the first bus leaves at 06:20 am and the last one at 09:20 pm on weekdays. On weekends, the bus service starts later at 07:20 am and the last bus to Al Ain leaves around 11:20 pm. The journey involves the following stops:

• Al Ghubaiba Bus Station 12
• Wasl, Wasl Club
• Nad Al Shiba, Emirates NBD
• Al Qattara Souq
• Mohammed Bin Khalifa Street/Al Midiyaf Street
• Mohammed Bin Khalifa Street/Al Slimi Park
• Ali Ibn Abi Taleb Street/Eid Prayer Ground
• Al Madina Petrol Station
• Al Ain Central Bus Station

Al Ain to Dubai – E201 Bus Service

On weekdays, the first bus leaves at 06:00 am from Al Ain Central Bus Station and passengers can board the last bus to Dubai Al Ghubaiba Station at 09:00 pm. On weekends, the first journey starts at 07:00 am and the last vehicle leaves at 12:30 am.

In the morning a bus comes after an hour. Generally, later in the day, the duration lessens to around 40 minutes. Bus stops involved in the journey include:

• Al Ain Central Bus Station
• Al Madina Petrol Station
• Ali Ibn Abi Taleb Street/Eid Prayer Ground
• Mohammed Bin Khalifa Street/Al Slimi Park
• Mohammed Bin Khalifa Street/Al Midiyaf Street
• Al Qattara Souq
• Nad Al Shiba, Emirates NBD
• Wasl, Wasl Club
• Al Ghubaiba Bus Station 12

You can always look for additional information and timings on RTA’s official website. 

Once you reach your destination, you can take several buses to reach Al-Ain Town Square. Routes are posted at most bus stops in the city and you can view maps of the area at some interchange stops. Inter-city bus rides will cost you AED 2 for a one-way trip. 

FAQs About Dubai to Al Ain Bus

What are the onboard facilities on the buses?

Facilities on the bus include air-conditioning, wide seats and special sections for passengers with special needs. On-board entertainment is also provided, which further makes the trip comfortable and enjoyable. 

Can we take a minibus from Dubai to Al Ain?

Yes, there is an option to take the Al Ghazal minibuses from the Al Ghubaiba bus station. These minibuses depart from the station every 40 minutes. The Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to Al Ain minibus timings are 05:40 am with intermittent services until 11:40 pm. One-way tickets cost AED 20 and it takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to travel from Al Ghubaiba bus station to Al Ain.

This completes our guide on the bus service from Dubai to Al Ain. If you’re travelling for the first time, it’s ideal that you learn some important information about using Nol cards in Dubai. Travellers may also be interested in a Dubai bus tour, which is a pocket-friendly way of exploring what the city has to offer.