Dubai Airport Bus Routes: C1, 401 and 402
Dubai airport is served by several RTA buses. The C1 runs between Satwa Bus Station and Terminal 3 around the clock, the only 24-hour bus route in Dubai. Routes 401 and 402 link Terminal 1 with Al Sabkha and Al Ghubaiba. Fares are zone-based at AED 3 to AED 7.50, paid by Nol card only, and you can buy a Nol at the arrivals machines.
- Buy a Nol card at the arrivals machine before leaving the terminal.
- Use the metro if it is running, or the C1 if it is not.
- Check which terminal your bus serves, they differ.
Dubai airport buses at a glance
Dubai International sits close to the city centre, which is unusual for a major hub and means public transport into town is quick and cheap. The buses here are city routes rather than intercity coaches, so the fare structure is different from the E-routes that run between emirates.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Main routes | C1, 401 and 402 |
| Fare type | Zone-based, AED 3 to AED 7.50 |
| Payment | Nol card only, no cash |
| C1 service | 24 hours a day, seven days a week |
| Other routes | Generally within the 04:00 to 01:00 network window |
| Where to buy Nol | Machines in the arrivals terminals, or any metro station |
The single most useful thing to know on arrival is that you cannot pay cash. There is no ticket to buy from a driver, so getting a Nol card is the first step before you can board anything.
The airport bus routes
The routes serve different terminals, which is the detail to get right. Turning up at the wrong terminal for your bus is the most common mistake here.
| Route | Terminal | Other end |
|---|---|---|
| C1 | Terminal 3 | Satwa Bus Station |
| 401 | Terminal 1 | Al Sabkha Bus Station |
| 402 | Terminal 1 | Al Ghubaiba Bus Station |
Terminal 3 handles Emirates flights and is the busiest, served by the C1 to Satwa. Terminal 1 handles most other international carriers and is served by the 401 and 402, which run into Deira and Bur Dubai respectively.
Al Ghubaiba and Al Sabkha are both useful onward connection points, since Al Ghubaiba is the departure terminal for several intercity routes including the E100 to Abu Dhabi and the E201 to Al Ain.
Timings and the 24-hour C1
Most Dubai buses run within the standard network window, but the airport has one important exception.
| Route | Operating hours | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| C1 | 24 hours, every day | Every 8 to 16 minutes |
| 401 and 402 | Within the 04:00 to 01:00 window | Standard city frequency |
| Dubai Metro | Does not run overnight | Not available in the small hours |
The C1 being 24 hours is genuinely valuable, because a great many flights land in Dubai between midnight and 05:00 when the metro is closed. It is the only public transport option at those hours, and at every 8 to 16 minutes you will not wait long. In RTA listings the route sometimes appears as C01.
If you land at 03:00 with no plan, the C1 from Terminal 3 to Satwa is the answer, and it costs a few dirhams rather than the far higher taxi fare at that hour.
Fares and buying a Nol card
Airport buses use Dubai’s zone-based city fares, not the flat intercity fares charged on the E-routes. What you pay depends on how many zones you cross.
| Journey | Fare |
|---|---|
| Within one zone | AED 3 |
| Across two zones | AED 5 |
| Across three zones | AED 7.50 |
| Payment | Nol card, cash not accepted |
| Where to buy | Arrivals terminal machines, or any metro station |
Even the maximum three-zone fare of AED 7.50 is a fraction of a taxi from the airport, so the bus is by far the cheapest way into the city. Buy your Nol card at the machine in arrivals before you leave the terminal building, and load enough for a few journeys rather than a single trip. The wider fare picture across the country is in our UAE bus timings guide.
Bus or metro from the airport
The metro serves both Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 directly on the Red Line, and for most arrivals it is the better option.
- During metro hours, take the Red Line, which is faster and avoids road traffic.
- Outside metro hours, take the C1, the only 24-hour service.
- For Deira or Bur Dubai from Terminal 1, the 401 and 402 go directly.
- Both metro and bus use the same Nol card, so one card covers everything.
The practical rule is simple: metro if it is open, C1 if it is not. Because the same Nol card works on both, you do not need to decide before you buy. If you are heading to another emirate straight from the airport, connect to Al Ghubaiba or Union and pick up an intercity E-route from there.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a 24-hour bus from Dubai airport?
Yes. The C1 between Terminal 3 and Satwa Bus Station runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every 8 to 16 minutes. It is the only 24-hour bus route in Dubai, which makes it the go-to option for flights landing after the metro closes.
How much is the bus from Dubai airport?
Airport buses use zone-based city fares: AED 3 within one zone, AED 5 across two zones, and AED 7.50 across three. Payment is by Nol card only, which you can buy from machines in the arrivals terminals.
Can I pay cash on the Dubai airport bus?
No. All Dubai public buses require a prepaid Nol card and cash is not accepted. Buy a Nol card at the machine in the arrivals terminal or at any metro station before boarding, and load it with enough for several journeys.
Which bus goes to Terminal 1 at Dubai airport?
Routes 401 and 402 both serve Terminal 1. The 401 runs to Al Sabkha Bus Station in Deira and the 402 to Al Ghubaiba in Bur Dubai. Terminal 3 is served by the C1 to Satwa instead.
Last verified: August 2026 against RTA network operating hours and current route information
Written by Roman Shah ยท Reviewed by the UAEexplained editorial team
Source: Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)
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