Sharjah to Abu Dhabi Bus Timings: Route 117

The bus between Sharjah and Abu Dhabi is route 117, operated by SRTA rather than Dubai’s RTA. It runs from Al Jubail Bus Station to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station, costs AED 33 one way (AED 30 coming back), and takes about two hours 40 minutes. Buses leave Sharjah from 03:45 to 23:30, every 45 to 60 minutes, and unlike RTA intercity services you can buy a ticket with cash at the station.

The Sharjah to Abu Dhabi bus at a glance

This is one of the longer and pricier intercity bus journeys in the UAE, and it is run by a different authority from the routes most people are used to. Both of those facts have practical consequences.

Item	Detail
Route	117, also shown as 117G
Operator	SRTA, the Sharjah transport authority
Sharjah end	Al Jubail Bus Station
Abu Dhabi end	Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station
Fare	AED 33 from Sharjah, AED 30 from Abu Dhabi
Journey time	About 2 hours 40 minutes
Frequency	Every 45 to 60 minutes

For comparison, Dubai to Abu Dhabi costs AED 25 and takes around 90 minutes. This journey costs AED 8 more and takes roughly an hour longer, even though Sharjah is only a little further from Abu Dhabi than Dubai is. The reason is that the route runs through the northern corridor before joining the highway south.

Why this route works differently?

Most intercity buses in the UAE are RTA services, which means Nol card only and no cash on board. Route 117 is an SRTA service, and it does not follow that rule.

Feature	RTA intercity routes	SRTA route 117
Operator	Dubai RTA	Sharjah SRTA
Payment	Nol card only	Cash accepted at the station
Example fare	AED 25 to Abu Dhabi	AED 33 to Abu Dhabi
Ticketing	Tap on with your card	Buy a ticket before boarding

This catches out people who assume the whole country runs on Nol. If you turn up at Al Jubail expecting to tap a Nol card onto a 117, you may be redirected to the ticket counter instead. Tickets can be bought with cash at Al Jubail Bus Station, which is genuinely useful for visitors who have not set up a transport card.

The Dubai-operated alternative is covered in our Dubai to Abu Dhabi bus timings guide, which uses Nol and is cheaper if you can get to Dubai first.

Sharjah to Abu Dhabi bus timings

Southbound from Sharjah, the service starts remarkably early, well before any RTA intercity route.

Item	Detail
From	Al Jubail Bus Station, Sharjah
First bus	About 03:45
Last bus	About 23:30
Frequency	Every 45 to 60 minutes
Intermediate stop	Shahama Village, in Abu Dhabi emirate

A 03:45 first departure is the earliest on the intercity network, and it exists for a reason: with a journey of nearly three hours, that bus arrives in Abu Dhabi around 06:30, in time for an early shift. If you need to be at work in Abu Dhabi first thing, this is the only bus that makes it possible.

The stop at Shahama is worth knowing about if your destination is in the north of Abu Dhabi emirate rather than the city centre, since getting off there can save you doubling back.

Abu Dhabi to Sharjah bus timings

The return runs from Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station back to Al Jubail on the same route number, for AED 30. SRTA’s online schedule lists only two return departures, at 00:45 and 01:30, which looks incomplete, so confirm daytime return times at Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station before relying on a particular bus.

Item	Detail
From	Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station
To	Al Jubail Bus Station, Sharjah
Route number	117, the same in both directions
Frequency	Not fully published by SRTA, confirm locally
Journey time	About 2 hours 40 minutes

Because the journey is close to three hours, the practical planning point on the return is arrival time rather than departure time. A bus leaving Abu Dhabi at 21:00 does not reach Sharjah until close to midnight, by which time onward local buses in Sharjah may have finished for the night.

On a three-hour journey, always plan the connection at the far end as well as the bus itself. Confirm both on the day, as published information for SRTA services is less consistent than for RTA routes.

Fare and how to pay?

At AED 33 from Sharjah this is one of the higher intercity bus fares in the country, though not the highest, and the payment method is different from the RTA network.

Item	Detail
Single journey	AED 33
Return	AED 63 in total, AED 33 out and AED 30 back
Payment	Cash accepted at Al Jubail Bus Station
Versus Dubai to Abu Dhabi	AED 8 more expensive
Cost per hour of travel	About AED 12, still cheap for the distance

The ability to pay cash is a genuine advantage for visitors and for anyone travelling occasionally, since setting up a transport card for a single trip is a nuisance. Buy at the counter before boarding rather than expecting to pay the driver. The wider fare picture is in our UAE bus timings guide.

Is the bus the right choice?

For this particular journey, it is worth pausing to consider the alternative, because the numbers are closer than usual.

• Direct from Sharjah, route 117 at AED 33 and about 2 hours 40 minutes.
• Via Dubai, an E303 to Dubai then an E100, which is cheaper in total but involves a change.
• The 117 wins on simplicity, with no connection to miss.
• Going via Dubai can be faster if the connection lines up well.

For most people the direct 117 is the better option despite the higher fare, simply because a single three-hour bus is less risky than two buses with a transfer in between. If you are driving instead, our UAE traffic, vehicle and fines guide covers the tolls and fines on the route, including the Darb gates in Abu Dhabi.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the bus from Sharjah to Abu Dhabi?

The route 117 fare is AED 33 from Sharjah to Abu Dhabi and AED 30 for the return, so a round trip costs AED 63. Tickets can be bought with cash at Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah.

Can I use a Nol card on the Sharjah to Abu Dhabi bus?

Route 117 is an SRTA service rather than an RTA one, so it does not follow the Nol-only rule that applies to Dubai intercity buses. Cash tickets are sold at Al Jubail Bus Station, so buy before boarding rather than assuming your Nol card will work.

How long does the Sharjah to Abu Dhabi bus take?

About two hours and 40 minutes on SRTA’s schedule, which is roughly an hour longer than the Dubai to Abu Dhabi run. The route calls at Shahama Village in Abu Dhabi emirate before reaching Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station.

What is the first bus from Sharjah to Abu Dhabi?

Around 03:45, which is the earliest departure anywhere on the UAE intercity network. Given the near three-hour journey, that bus reaches Abu Dhabi at about 06:30, making it the only realistic option for an early start.

Last verified: October 2026 against the SRTA intercity schedule. Departures from Sharjah, fares and journey time are SRTA’s published figures; return departures from Abu Dhabi are not fully listed, so confirm them locally.
Written by Roman Shah · Reviewed by the UAEexplained editorial team
Source: Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA)

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