Abu Dhabi to Sharjah Bus Timing (Route 117): 2027 Timetable, Fare and Travel Guide
Bus Route 117 runs daily from Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station to Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah. The first bus leaves at about 6:30 AM, the last at about 11:15 PM, and buses depart every 35 to 60 minutes. A one-way ticket costs AED 30, and the ride takes roughly 2 hours 50 minutes.
The rest of this guide gives you the full timetable in both directions, the return fare from Sharjah (which differs), how to pay, where to board, and how to check whether today’s schedule has changed before you leave home. For more useful travel information and updates, you can also check the Ever List.
Abu Dhabi to Sharjah Bus 117: Quick Facts
| Detail | Abu Dhabi to Sharjah | Sharjah to Abu Dhabi |
| Route number | 117 | 117 |
| Boarding point | Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station | Al Jubail Bus Station, Sharjah |
| First bus | about 6:30 AM (some lists show 6:00 AM) | about 3:45 AM |
| Last bus | about 11:15 PM | about 11:30 PM |
| Frequency | every 35 to 60 minutes | every 45 to 60 minutes |
| One-way fare | AED 30 | AED 33 to 35 (reported) |
| Journey time | about 2 hr 50 min | about 2 hr 40 min |
| Runs on weekends and holidays | Yes. | Yes. |
Published timings differ slightly between sources, and operators adjust schedules for Ramadan and public holidays. Treat these times as a planning guide and confirm on the day using the steps in the “How to Check Today’s Bus Timing” section below.
Bus 117 Abu Dhabi to Sharjah Timetable
Route 117 makes about 25 departures a day from Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station. Buses leave hourly in the early morning, every 45 minutes from late morning, every 35 minutes in the afternoon and early evening, and every 45 minutes again at night.
| Departs Abu Dhabi Central | Arrives Al Jubail, Sharjah (approx.) | Time band |
| 6:30 AM | 9:20 AM | Morning |
| 7:30 AM | 10:20 AM | Morning |
| 8:15 AM | 11:05 AM | Morning |
| 9:00 AM | 11:50 AM | Morning |
| 9:45 AM | 12:35 PM | Morning |
| 10:30 AM | 1:20 PM | Morning |
| 11:15 AM | 2:05 PM | Midday |
| 12:00 PM | 2:50 PM | Midday |
| 12:45 PM | 3:35 PM | Midday |
| 1:30 PM | 4:20 PM | Midday |
| 2:15 PM | 5:05 PM | Midday |
| 3:00 PM | 5:50 PM | Afternoon |
| 3:35 PM | 6:25 PM | Afternoon |
| 4:10 PM | 7:00 PM | Afternoon |
| 4:45 PM | 7:35 PM | Afternoon |
| 5:20 PM | 8:10 PM | Afternoon |
| 5:55 PM | 8:45 PM | Evening |
| 6:30 PM | 9:20 PM | Evening |
| 7:05 PM | 9:55 PM | Evening |
| 7:40 PM | 10:30 PM | Evening |
| 8:15 PM | 11:05 PM | Evening |
| 9:00 PM | 11:50 PM | Night |
| 9:45 PM | 12:35 AM (next day) | Night |
| 10:30 PM | 1:20 AM (next day) | Night |
| 11:15 PM | 2:05 AM (next day) | Last bus |
Arrival times assume normal traffic. Several published timetables also list a 6:00 AM departure, so if you need the earliest possible start, ask at the ticket counter the evening before.
What time is the last bus from Abu Dhabi to Sharjah?
The last scheduled Route 117 bus leaves Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station at about 11:15 PM and reaches Al Jubail at around 2:05 AM. If you miss it, the next departure is the first bus the following morning. Al Jubail sits in central Sharjah, so you can find a taxi at the station even after 2 AM.
Best departure times for a smooth ride
- For a morning appointment in Sharjah: take the 6:30 AM or 7:30 AM bus. Both arrive before about 10:30 AM, though the 7:30 AM bus meets the Dubai morning rush.
- For the quietest ride: choose a late-morning or early-afternoon bus (10:30 AM to 1:30 PM). Traffic through Dubai is usually lighter, and seats are easier to find.
- For evening travel: the 35-minute gaps between 3:00 PM and 8:15 PM give you the most flexibility if you run late.
- Avoid if you can: Friday evening and Sunday evening departures, which tend to fill up with weekend travellers and commuters returning home.
Sharjah to Abu Dhabi Bus Timings (Al Jubail to Abu Dhabi)
The return route for Route 117 leaves Al Jubail Bus Station from about 3:45 AM to 11:30 PM. Buses run every 45 minutes until mid-afternoon and then roughly every hour in the evening. The Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) operates in this direction, so it runs on a different timetable from the Abu Dhabi side.
| Departs Al Jubail, Sharjah | Arrives Abu Dhabi Central (approx.) |
| 3:45 AM | 6:25 AM |
| 4:30 AM | 7:10 AM |
| 5:15 AM | 7:55 AM |
| 6:00 AM | 8:40 AM |
| 6:45 AM | 9:25 AM |
| 7:30 AM | 10:10 AM |
| 8:15 AM | 10:55 AM |
| 9:00 AM | 11:40 AM |
| 9:45 AM | 12:25 PM |
| 10:30 AM | 1:10 PM |
| 11:15 AM | 1:55 PM |
| 12:00 PM | 2:40 PM |
| 12:45 PM | 3:25 PM |
| 1:30 PM | 4:10 PM |
| 2:15 PM | 4:55 PM |
| 3:00 PM | 5:40 PM |
| 3:45 PM | 6:25 PM |
| 4:30 PM | 7:10 PM |
| 5:30 PM | 8:10 PM |
| 6:30 PM | 9:10 PM |
| 7:30 PM | 10:10 PM |
| 8:30 PM | 11:10 PM |
| 9:30 PM | 12:10 AM (next day) |
| 10:30 PM | 1:10 AM (next day) |
| 11:30 PM | 2:10 AM (next day) |
The 3:45 AM to 5:15 AM buses suit people who work an early shift in Abu Dhabi or need to reach Abu Dhabi International Airport for a morning flight. From Abu Dhabi Central, you then take a city bus or taxi onward.
Planning tomorrow’s trip from Sharjah
The Sharjah side publishes one daily timetable, so tomorrow’s timings normally match today’s. The exceptions are Ramadan, Eid, and other public holidays, when schedules shift. If you are travelling the day after a holiday announcement, check the SRTA timetable or call 600 525252 the evening before.
Abu Dhabi to Sharjah Bus Ticket Price and How to Pay
A one-way ticket from Abu Dhabi to Sharjah costs AED 30. The return trip from Sharjah to Abu Dhabi costs more, with recent sources reporting AED 33 to AED 35. Each emirate sets the fare for buses leaving its own station, which explains the difference.
| Direction | One-way fare | How to pay | Where to buy |
| Abu Dhabi to Sharjah | AED 30 | Hafilat card or cash | Ticket counter at Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station |
| Sharjah to Abu Dhabi | AED 33 to 35 | Cash or Sayer card (check at counter) | Ticket counter at Al Jubail Bus Station |
A round trip therefore costs about AED 63 to 65 per person.
Payment tips that save time
- Abu Dhabi side: top up your Hafilat card before you reach the counter, or carry AED 30 in cash. Do not count on paying by bank card.
- Sharjah side: carry cash. SRTA’s Sayer card works on Sharjah buses, but payment rules for this intercity route have changed over the years, so cash is the safe choice.
- All cards work. The Dubai Nol card only covers Dubai RTA buses, even though Route 117 drives through Dubai.
- Carry small notes. Counters at both stations get busy, and exact change speeds things up.
- Buy your ticket first, then queue. At both stations, you pay at the counter before boarding, not with the driver.
Discounts
SRTA offers a white Sayer card that gives free travel to senior citizens and people of determination on Sharjah buses and a blue card with a fare discount. Ask at the Al Jubail customer service desk whether these apply to Route 117 on the day you travel.
117 Bus Route: Stations and Stops
Route 117 is a limited-stop intercity service. It starts at Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station, passes Al Shahama on the way out of Abu Dhabi, drives through Dubai without picking up passengers, and finishes at Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah.
Published stop lists usually show these points, in this order from Abu Dhabi:
- Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station (start, ticket counter)
- Al Shahama (Shahama Village area, northern edge of Abu Dhabi)
- Ansar Mall area, Sharjah (drop-off on some trips)
- Al Jubail Bus Station, Sharjah (final stop)
In the opposite direction, some SRTA trips end at Al Shahama rather than Abu Dhabi Central. Read the destination board on the bus, or ask the driver, before you board at Al Jubail.
Can I get off in Dubai?
No. Route 117 does not serve passengers inside Dubai. If Dubai is your destination, take a Dubai-bound intercity bus from Abu Dhabi Central instead.
Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station
This is Abu Dhabi’s main city and intercity bus hub, in the Al Wahda area of central Abu Dhabi. Many city bus routes stop here, so you can usually reach it by local bus with your Hafilat card. Look for the intercity ticket counter and ask staff which bays the Sharjah bus uses that day.
Al Jubail Bus Station, Sharjah
Al Jubail is Sharjah’s main intercity terminal, on the corniche beside Al Jubail Souq and the Blue Souk in downtown Sharjah. Buses to Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, and Dubai all leave from here. Journey apps sometimes split it into “Al Jubail Bus Station 1” and “Al Jubail Bus Station 2”. Both names refer to boarding points around the same terminal.
Abu Dhabi to Rolla (Sharjah)
Many people search for an “Abu Dhabi to Sharjah Rolla bus.” No, Route 117 bus stops at Al Rolla, because Rolla Terminal mainly serves local Sharjah routes. Take Route 117 to Al Jubail, then walk or take a short taxi ride to Rolla Square, which sits close by in old Sharjah. Local SRTA buses also link the Rolla and Jubail terminals.
Abu Dhabi to Sharjah Distance and Travel Time by Bus
The road distance from Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station to Al Jubail Bus Station is about 160 to 165 km. Route 117 covers it in roughly 2 hours 50 minutes from Abu Dhabi and about 2 hours 40 minutes from Sharjah.
Many guides quote “2.5 hours,” but the published timetables themselves allow 2 hours 50 minutes per trip. Plan around the longer figure.
| Measure | Figure |
| Road distance, station to station | about 160 to 165 km |
| Scheduled time: Abu Dhabi to Sharjah | about 2 hr 50 min |
| Scheduled time: Sharjah to Abu Dhabi | about 2 hr 40 min |
| Time in heavy traffic | Add 20 to 45 minutes |
What makes the trip longer?
The bus crosses Dubai on its way to Sharjah, so Dubai traffic causes most delays. Expect slower trips when your bus reaches Dubai during the morning rush (about 7 AM to 9:30 AM), the evening rush (about 5 PM to 8 PM), and Sunday evenings, when weekend traffic returns to Sharjah and the northern emirates. Rain also slows the highways considerably.
If you have a fixed appointment, a flight, or a hotel check-in in Sharjah, take the bus before the one you think you need.
Route 117 vs Other Ways to Get from Abu Dhabi to Sharjah
Route 117 is the cheapest direct way between the two cities. A taxi saves time but costs around eight times more, and travelling through Dubai by two buses only makes sense when Route 117 is not running or is full.
| Option | Approx. cost (one way) | Approx. time | Best for |
| Bus 117 (direct) | AED 30 | 2 hr 50 min | Most travellers, budget trips |
| Two buses via Dubai | Two separate fares (Hafilat + Nol) | 3.5 to 4 hr | Missed the 117, or a stop in Dubai |
| Taxi or ride-hailing app | AED 250 to 300+ | 1 hr 45 min to 2 hr 15 min | Late nights, heavy luggage, groups of 3 to 4 |
| Own car | Fuel plus Salik and Darb tolls | 1 hr 45 min to 2 hr 15 min | Flexible plans, several stops |
Travelling via Dubai by bus
If you miss the last Route 117 or the bus is full, take a Dubai-bound intercity bus from Abu Dhabi Central (such as the E100 to Al Ghubaiba). From Al Ghubaiba or Union station in Dubai, Dubai RTA runs intercity buses to Al Jubail in Sharjah. You pay the Abu Dhabi leg with Hafilat or cash and the Dubai leg with a Nol card, so carry both or allow time to buy a Nol card at the station.
When a taxi makes sense
A taxi split between three or four people costs about AED 65 to 100 each, which is close to two bus tickets. It also takes you door to door, so it can win for groups heading somewhere far from Al Jubail, such as Al Nahda, Muwaileh, or University City.
How to Check Today’s Abu Dhabi to Sharjah Bus Timing
Schedules change for Ramadan, Eid, and national holidays, and websites (including this one) cannot update the minute an operator does. Use these official channels on the day you travel:
| Direction | Who runs it | Phone | Online |
| Abu Dhabi to Sharjah | Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), Abu Dhabi | 800850 (toll-free) | admobility.gov.ae, Darbi app, Google Maps |
| Sharjah to Abu Dhabi | Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) | 600 525252 | srta.gov.ae, RTA Sharjah app |
Older guides still list 800 88888 for Abu Dhabi bus enquiries. Abu Dhabi retired that number in August 2021 and replaced it with 800850.
During public holidays, Abu Dhabi’s ITC has in past years added extra trips between Abu Dhabi and the other emirates. During Ramadan, expect changed first and last bus times and possible gaps around Iftar.
Practical Tips for the Route 117 Journey
- Arrive 20 to 30 minutes early. You need time to buy a ticket and find the bay. On Friday and Sunday evenings, popular departures can fill up, and you would then wait for the next bus.
- Pack light, or keep it compact. The coach has a luggage hold for suitcases, but bulky items such as furniture or large cartons may be refused.
- Bring a jacket. The air conditioning runs cold on a nearly three-hour ride.
- Carry water and a snack. The bus does not stop for food, and eating rules vary by operator, so keep snacks simple and tidy.
- Charge your phone before you leave. Do not rely on charging points or Wi-Fi on board.
- Use the restroom first. There is no scheduled rest stop on the route.
- Keep your ticket until you get off. Inspectors may check it during the journey.
- Plan your onward trip. Taxis wait at Al Jubail day and night, and SRTA city buses connect the station to most Sharjah neighborhoods.
Final Word: Plan Your Route 117 Trip in Three Steps
Route 117 gets you from Abu Dhabi to Sharjah for AED 30 every day, from about 6:30 AM to 11:15 PM. To make the trip go smoothly:
- Pick your bus from the timetable above, and choose one departure earlier than you think you need if you have a fixed appointment.
- Check today’s timing with ITC on 800850 (from Abu Dhabi) or SRTA on 600 525252 (from Sharjah), especially during Ramadan or a public holiday.
- Arrive 20 to 30 minutes early with a topped-up Hafilat card or cash in Abu Dhabi, and cash in Sharjah for the trip back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a direct bus from Abu Dhabi to Sharjah?
Yes. Route 117 runs directly from Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station to Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah, with only a few stops and no change of bus.
What time is the first bus from Abu Dhabi to Sharjah?
The first bus leaves Abu Dhabi Central at about 6:30 AM and reaches Al Jubail at around 9:20 AM. Some timetables also show a 6:00 AM departure, so confirm at the counter if you need the earliest bus.
How often does the 117 bus run?
From Abu Dhabi, buses leave every 35 to 60 minutes, with the most frequent service between 3:00 PM and 8:15 PM. From Sharjah, buses leave every 45 minutes until about 4:30 PM, then hourly until 11:30 PM.
How much is the bus ticket from Abu Dhabi to Sharjah?
A one-way ticket costs AED 30. The return ticket from Sharjah to Abu Dhabi costs about AED 33 to 35.
Can I use my Nol card on the Abu Dhabi to Sharjah bus?
No. Use a Hafilat card or cash in Abu Dhabi, and cash (or a Sayer card where accepted) in Sharjah. The Nol card only works on Dubai RTA services.
Does the 117 bus run on Fridays and weekends?
Yes. Route 117 runs every day, including Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. Holiday and Ramadan timings can differ from the normal schedule.
How long does the bus from Abu Dhabi to Sharjah take?
The scheduled journey takes about 2 hours 50 minutes. Rush-hour traffic in Dubai can add 20 to 45 minutes.
Can I book a Route 117 ticket online?
Not in the usual way. You buy the ticket at the station counter on the day of travel. Seats are first come, first served.
Does the 117 bus stop at Rolla in Sharjah?
No. It ends at Al Jubail Bus Station. Rolla Square is a short taxi ride or walk from there.
Can children travel on the bus, and do they pay?
Children can travel with an adult. Fare rules for young children differ between Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, so ask at the ticket counter before you buy.
