Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah Bus Timings and Fare
The bus between Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah is run by RAKTA, the Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority, from Union Bus Station in Dubai to RAKTA’s main bus station in Ras Al Khaimah. It costs AED 30 from Dubai and AED 27 from Ras Al Khaimah. RAKTA lists 19 departures a day in each direction: from Dubai between 07:30 and 23:30, and from Ras Al Khaimah between 05:00 and 21:00. Most buses from Dubai also call at Umm Al Quwain.
- Check the last bus from Ras Al Khaimah, it leaves at 21:00, more than two hours before the last from Dubai.
- Book or check your seat in RAKTA’s Sayr app.
- Pick a direct departure if you are short of time, the others go via Sharjah or Umm Al Quwain.
The Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah bus at a glance
Ras Al Khaimah is the northernmost emirate, and its buses to Dubai are run by its own transport authority rather than by Dubai’s RTA. That changes how you book, what you pay, and which departures suit you.
| Item | Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah | Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai |
|---|---|---|
| Operator | RAKTA | RAKTA |
| Departs from | Union Bus Station, Dubai | RAKTA main bus station, Ras Al Khaimah |
| Departures a day | 19 | 19 |
| First and last | 07:30 and 23:30 | 05:00 and 21:00 |
| Fare | AED 30 | AED 27 |
| Journey time | Around 90 minutes direct, longer via Umm Al Quwain | Around 90 minutes direct, longer via Sharjah |
The two timetables are offset by about two and a half hours. Buses start early from Ras Al Khaimah and run late from Dubai, which is the pattern of a commuter service carrying people south to work in the morning and home again at night.
The route, the operator and the E601 confusion
RAKTA does not give this service a route number in its published timetable. Some guides call it the E601, but that number does not appear on RTA’s list of Dubai bus routes, and the few sources that use it describe a service to Umm Al Quwain rather than Ras Al Khaimah. The safest way to identify the bus is by its destination and departure time.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Dubai station | Union Bus Station, beside Union metro, where the Red and Green Lines meet |
| Ras Al Khaimah station | RAKTA’s main bus station, often called Al Hamra Bus Station, in the Al Dhait area |
| Direct buses from Dubai | 18:00 and 20:00 |
| Direct buses from Ras Al Khaimah | 05:00, 06:00, 07:00, 08:00, 15:30 and 17:30 |
| Other departures | Call at Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah or Ajman on the way |
Despite its common name, the Ras Al Khaimah station is not in Al Hamra Village. It sits in Al Dhait, so check the location before you take a taxi there.
Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah bus timings
These are the departures RAKTA lists from Union Bus Station, every day of the week. RAKTA publishes departure times only, so allow around 90 minutes for a direct bus and longer for one that calls at Umm Al Quwain.
| Departs Union | Calls at |
|---|---|
| 07:30 | Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah |
| 08:30 | Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah |
| 09:30 | Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah |
| 10:30 | Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah |
| 11:30 | Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah |
| 12:30 | Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah |
| 13:30 | Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah |
| 14:30 | Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah |
| 15:30 | Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah |
| 16:30 | Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah |
| 17:30 | Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah |
| 18:00 | Ras Al Khaimah, direct |
| 18:30 | Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah |
| 19:30 | Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah |
| 20:00 | Ras Al Khaimah, direct |
| 20:30 | Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah |
| 21:30 | Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah |
| 22:30 | Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah |
| 23:30 | Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah |
There is nothing before 07:30, so the bus cannot get you to Ras Al Khaimah for an early working start. If you are heading north after work, the direct 18:00 and 20:00 departures are the quickest of the evening.
Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai bus timings
From Ras Al Khaimah the day starts at 05:00, and the first four buses run direct to give commuters the fastest trip into Dubai. Through the day most buses go via Sharjah, and the last two also call at Ajman.
| Departs Ras Al Khaimah | Route to Union, Dubai |
|---|---|
| 05:00 | Direct |
| 06:00 | Direct |
| 07:00 | Direct |
| 08:00 | Direct |
| 09:00 | Via Sharjah |
| 10:00 | Via Sharjah |
| 11:00 | Via Sharjah |
| 12:00 | Via Sharjah |
| 13:00 | Via Sharjah |
| 14:00 | Via Sharjah |
| 15:00 | Via Sharjah |
| 15:30 | Direct |
| 16:00 | Via Sharjah |
| 17:00 | Via Sharjah |
| 17:30 | Direct |
| 18:00 | Via Sharjah |
| 19:00 | Via Sharjah |
| 20:00 | Via Sharjah and Ajman |
| 21:00 | Via Sharjah and Ajman |
The 21:00 is the binding constraint for anyone visiting Ras Al Khaimah from Dubai. It is the last bus south, and because it goes via Sharjah and Ajman it is also one of the slowest. Plan your day backwards from it, or from the direct 17:30 if you want a quicker trip home.
Stopping at Umm Al Quwain
Umm Al Quwain sits between Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah, and this service is the main bus link to it. RAKTA lists 17 of the 19 daily departures from Dubai as calling at Umm Al Quwain on the way north. Only the 18:00 and 20:00 run direct.
RAKTA also runs a separate Ras Al Khaimah to Umm Al Quwain service for AED 15. It does not publish a separate fare for the shorter Dubai to Umm Al Quwain leg, so confirm what you will be charged in the Sayr app before travelling, and expect it could be the full fare.
Fares and how to pay
| Journey | Fare |
|---|---|
| Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah | AED 30 |
| Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai | AED 27 |
| Round trip | AED 57 |
| Ras Al Khaimah to Sharjah | AED 27 |
| Ras Al Khaimah to Abu Dhabi, for comparison | AED 50 |
Older guides quote AED 27 in both directions and call it the most expensive intercity bus fare in the UAE. Neither is true now: the trip from Dubai costs AED 30, and several routes cost more, including RAKTA’s own AED 50 service from Ras Al Khaimah to Abu Dhabi.
RAKTA sells tickets through its Sayr app and at its Ras Al Khaimah station. It is a separate operator from Dubai’s RTA, so do not assume a Nol card will be accepted. Check how to pay in the app before you travel. If you are heading to the capital instead, see our Abu Dhabi to Ras Al Khaimah bus guide, and for every intercity route, our UAE bus timings guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the bus from Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah?
AED 30 from Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah, and AED 27 from Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai. The service is run by RAKTA and booked through its Sayr app.
What is the last bus from Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai?
21:00, going via Sharjah and Ajman. The last bus from Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah is much later, at 23:30.
Where does the Ras Al Khaimah bus leave from in Dubai?
Union Bus Station, next to Union metro station where the Red and Green Lines meet. Buses leave between 07:30 and 23:30.
Is the Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah bus the E601?
RAKTA does not number the route in its timetable, and E601 is not on RTA’s list of Dubai bus routes. Identify the bus by its destination and departure time instead.
Last verified: October 2026 against RAKTA’s published intercity timetable and RTA’s route list. RAKTA lists departure times only, so journey times are estimates. Check the Sayr app before you travel.
Written by Roman Shah · Reviewed by the UAEexplained editorial team
Source: Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority (RAKTA)
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