Dubai to Sharjah: taxi fares, traffic by time of day and the best way across

Dubai to Sharjah is only 12–40 km, from Deira to Dubai Marina, but the time of day matters more than the distance. Off-peak, Downtown to central Sharjah takes 25 minutes; at rush hour the same trip can take over an hour. A Dubai taxi costs roughly AED 60–150 with the AED 20 Sharjah charge, and a Sharjah taxi back to Dubai about AED 45–95.

We drive this road both ways with our chauffeur service in Sharjah, which covers pickups inside Sharjah as well as transfers. Below: distances, the times we plan for, taxi fares in both directions, the bus, and when a private car is worth it.

How far is Sharjah from Dubai?

The two cities run into each other, so “distance” depends on the neighbourhood.

From	To central Sharjah (Al Majaz)	Drive, light traffic
DXB airport	about 12 km	about 15 min
Deira	about 13 km	about 17 min
Downtown Dubai / Business Bay	about 22–23 km	about 25 min
Dubai Marina / JLT	about 41 km	about 40 min

Heading for Sharjah International Airport instead? It’s about 24 km from DXB and 59 km from Dubai Marina, reached via the E311 and the E88. Our guide to Sharjah Airport to Dubai covers that trip.

How long does it take from Dubai to Sharjah at rush hour?

Traffic between Dubai and Sharjah has a clear pattern: into Dubai in the morning, back to Sharjah in the evening. Many people live in Sharjah and work in Dubai, so the direction you travel matters as much as the hour.

What we allow from Downtown Dubai to Al Majaz, Sharjah, on a weekday:

Time	Dubai to Sharjah	Sharjah to Dubai
6:00–7:00 am	25 min	40–50 min (queues start building)
7:00–10:00 am	30–35 min	60–90 min
10:00 am – 4:00 pm	25–30 min	30–35 min
4:00–8:30 pm	60–90 min	30–40 min
After 8:30 pm	25 min	25–30 min

We see the longest queues on Al Ittihad Road near the border, the Al Nahda and Al Qusais crossings, and the E311 junctions toward Sharjah’s University City. If you have a meeting in Sharjah at 9 am, you’re travelling against the flow and it’s easy. If you have a flight from DXB at 7 pm and you’re leaving Sharjah at 5 pm, you’re also against the flow; leave Dubai for Sharjah at 6 pm and you’re in the thick of it. Our Dubai rush hour traffic guide covers the rest of the city.

Which road should you take between Dubai and Sharjah?

• Al Ittihad Road (E11): the direct route from Deira and Downtown into central Sharjah. It passes the Al Mamzar North and Al Mamzar South Salik gates and it’s the road that jams first at peak times.
• Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311): inland, no Salik gates, best for Sharjah Airport, University City and the Sharjah industrial areas, and for anyone starting in Dubai Hills, Al Barsha or the Marina.
• Emirates Road (E611): the outer bypass, useful for northern Sharjah and onward trips to Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah.

Salik charges AED 6.30 per gate from 6–10 am and 4–8 pm, Monday to Saturday, AED 4.20 at other times (both including the 5% VAT added in June 2026), and nothing from 1–6 am. Sharjah has no road tolls for cars. See our guide to Salik toll gates in Dubai for the full list.

How much is a taxi from Dubai to Sharjah?

Roughly AED 80–95 from Downtown and AED 140–150 from Dubai Marina, including tolls. Dubai Taxi publishes a start of AED 5 on the street (AED 9–13 by app), AED 2.45 per km, 50 fils a minute of waiting, and an extra AED 20 whenever a trip passes into Sharjah, per Dubai Taxi’s tariff.

Dubai taxi to central Sharjah	Distance	Meter plus AED 20 Sharjah charge	With likely Salik
From DXB airport (AED 20 start)	about 12 km	about AED 70	about AED 70–75
From Deira	about 13 km	about AED 57	about AED 60–65
From Downtown Dubai	about 22 km	about AED 80	about AED 85–95
From Dubai Marina	about 41 km	about AED 125	about AED 140–150

Waiting time is where Sharjah trips get expensive. Forty minutes crawling on Al Ittihad Road at 6 pm adds AED 20 to the meter.

How much is a taxi from Sharjah to Dubai?

Cheaper. Sharjah taxis start lower and charge less per kilometre. Sharjah Taxi’s published prices list a daytime start of AED 3 in Sharjah city, 25 fils for every 155 metres (about AED 1.61 per km), an operational fee of AED 3.50 per trip, and AED 20 extra for trips heading to Dubai.

Sharjah taxi from central Sharjah to	Distance	Estimate before tolls and waiting
DXB airport	about 12 km	about AED 45
Deira	about 13 km	about AED 48
Downtown Dubai	about 22 km	about AED 60
Dubai Marina	about 41 km	about AED 90–95

So if you’re splitting a return trip, take a Sharjah taxi for the Sharjah to Dubai leg. If you use a ride-hailing app instead, compare its upfront price with these estimates before you confirm.

Is there a bus or metro from Dubai to Sharjah?

There’s no metro link: the Dubai Metro doesn’t cross into Sharjah, and its closest stations are on the Green Line in Al Qusais. RTA’s intercity buses fill the gap, all running to Al Jubail Bus Station in central Sharjah:

Route	From (Dubai)	Fare (Nol)
E303	Union Bus Station, Deira	about AED 10–12
E306	Al Ghubaiba, Bur Dubai	about AED 10–12
E307	Deira City Centre	about AED 10–12
E308	Stadium Bus Station	AED 12 (RTA)

The buses sit in the same traffic as everyone else, so allow an hour or more at peak times.

When is a private car worth it for Dubai to Sharjah?

For a single off-peak ride, a taxi is fine. A private car earns its price in three situations:

1. Daily commuting. A fixed monthly car and driver means one price, no meter running in queues, and someone else driving Al Ittihad Road twice a day. See our monthly chauffeur service.
2. Meetings in both emirates. An hourly booking (3-hour minimum) keeps the car waiting outside each address, which suits corporate chauffeur days split between Dubai and Sharjah.
3. Airport runs with luggage. A fixed fare to DXB or Sharjah Airport, with flight tracking and waiting built in.

Published Dubai rate cards (September 2026) put a business sedan with driver at AED 90–120 per hour and AED 500–850 for a half day. Our price includes fuel, Salik, parking and VAT, with no surge or night surcharge.

What to do in Sharjah: a half-day plan from Dubai

Sharjah is known for its museums and heritage quarter, and it’s quieter than Dubai. It’s also alcohol-free, so plan dinner accordingly.

1. Leave Dubai at 9:30 am. You’re travelling against the morning flow and arrive by 10 am.
2. Heart of Sharjah and the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm. The museum’s seven galleries sit on the Corniche near the heritage quarter.
3. Lunch at Al Qasba or Al Majaz Waterfront, 12:45–2:15 pm.
4. Al Noor Island, 2:30–4:30 pm. Gardens, art installations and the butterfly house in the lagoon.
5. Head back to Dubai at 4:30–5:00 pm. Sharjah to Dubai in the evening runs against the commuter flow, so this return is usually smooth; it’s the Dubai to Sharjah direction that jams.

Planning further north? Our guide to Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah picks up the road from here.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a taxi from Dubai to Sharjah?

About AED 80–95 from Downtown Dubai to central Sharjah and AED 140–150 from Dubai Marina, including the AED 20 charge Dubai taxis add for Sharjah trips and likely Salik tolls. Rush-hour waiting adds 50 fils a minute. From DXB airport it’s about AED 70.

What is the taxi fare from Sharjah to Dubai?

Around AED 45–60 from central Sharjah to DXB, Deira or Downtown Dubai, and about AED 95 to Dubai Marina. Sharjah taxis start at AED 3 by day, charge about AED 1.61 per km, and add AED 20 for Dubai trips plus a AED 3.50 service fee.

Does the Dubai Metro go to Sharjah?

No. The Dubai Metro stays inside Dubai; its nearest stations to Sharjah are on the Green Line in Al Qusais. RTA buses E303, E306, E307 and E308 connect Dubai with Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah for about AED 10–12 on a Nol card.

What is the cheapest way to travel from Sharjah to Dubai?

The RTA intercity bus, at about AED 10–12 with a Nol card from Al Jubail Bus Station. For a taxi, a Sharjah taxi is cheaper than a Dubai one on the same trip, because its per-kilometre rate is lower.

What time should I avoid driving from Dubai to Sharjah?

Weekday evenings from about 4 pm to 8:30 pm, when commuters head home to Sharjah. The same trip can take 60–90 minutes instead of 25. In the other direction, avoid Sharjah to Dubai from 7 to 10 am.