By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 3 min read
How do visitors get around Sharjah?
Sharjah is a compact emirate next door to Dubai. Most visitors combine metered taxis and ride-hailing apps for short hops, and a bus, the ferry or a private car for the run to Dubai. There is no metro in Sharjah.
The main sights are close together. Al Majaz Waterfront and Al Qasba sit on the same lagoon side of the city, and the Heart of Sharjah old quarter is a few minutes away by car. Check each leg in your map app, because distances depend on where you start.
How much does a Sharjah taxi cost?
We could not confirm a current tariff from the Sharjah transport authority. Articles quote different flagfall and per-km figures, and one report says fares move with monthly fuel prices. So the honest answer is: ask for the meter, and check the rate shown in the taxi or in the booking app.
Which is cheaper, a taxi or an app? Compare the two on the same trip. A Sharjah taxi charges by meter, and an app quotes before you book. Our Uber, Careem and taxi comparison shows how to read a quote, though it uses Dubai’s tariff.
Buses inside Sharjah and to Dubai
Intercity buses link Dubai and Sharjah. We did not confirm route numbers or fares from an official RTA table, because the figures on the sites we found disagreed. Use the RTA S’hail app or the journey planner for the current route, fare and timetable, and pay with a nol card. Sharjah’s own city bus timings sit with the Sharjah authority, so confirm those locally.
The Dubai to Sharjah ferry
RTA runs the ferry on route FR5 from Al Ghubaiba Station in Dubai to Sharjah Aquarium Marine Station. One-way fares are AED 15 in Silver and AED 25 in Gold. Children under 5 and People of Determination travel free.
Weekday departures:
| From | Times |
|---|---|
| Sharjah Aquarium | 7:00, 8:30, 13:00, 16:45, 18:15 |
| Al Ghubaiba | 7:45, 12:00, 16:00, 17:30, 19:00 |
Friday and weekend timetables differ, and no vessel sails from 1 to 2 pm on Fridays. RTA says timings may change and asks you to arrive 15 minutes early. Read more on the water taxi and ferry for the other Dubai crossings.
When is Sharjah to Dubai traffic worst?
Weekday mornings and early evenings, on Al Ittihad Road and the E311. The road distance between the two cities is about 26 km, and OpenStreetMap routing gives 27 minutes without traffic. In the rush that figure is only a floor. Our Dubai rush hour guide shows the worst windows.
Sharjah’s government has used a Monday to Thursday working week since 1 January 2022, per Gulf News. That is a secondary source, so check the current schedule if your trip depends on a government office. Check the calendar of UAE public holidays as well, because holidays change the roads.
Getting to and from Sharjah Airport
Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) is about 14 km and 14 minutes from Sharjah city centre. It is 39 km and 34 minutes from central Dubai, by road without traffic. The guides to Sharjah airport to Dubai and Dubai to Sharjah compare coach, taxi and private car.
Assure covers airport transfers across the UAE and intercity transfers between Sharjah and Dubai. For a day with stops in Sharjah, chauffeur service in Sharjah is quoted on request, and we confirm what applies to your route when you ask. For Dubai itself, see how to get around Dubai, and the Dubai travel guide for the rest.
Photos in this guide
The Al Qasba canal in Sharjah with a painted footbridge and towers on either sideTashmetova808 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sunset over the Sharjah skyline with gulls on the water at Al Majaz WaterfrontSayfbhai / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
A white Emirates Cab taxi with a yellow roof sign on a Sharjah streetAkbarali / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The domed passenger terminal of Sharjah International Airport with its control tower and car parkFadi Fayad Al Taoba / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
