Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) is the UAE’s third-largest airport and the home base of Air Arabia, the region’s leading budget airline. Dozens of Air Arabia routes connect Sharjah to destinations across the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and Central Asia - meaning many passengers arrive here with no immediate plan to stay in Sharjah itself, and need a transfer directly to Dubai or another emirate.
There is no Metro in Sharjah. Your options from SHJ are: Sharjah Transport taxi, pre-booked private transfer, rideshare apps, or inter-emirate bus. Here is how each option works.
Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) Overview
SHJ operates a single main terminal handling both international and domestic traffic. The arrivals hall is compact and exits quickly onto the taxi rank and pick-up area. There is no dedicated Metro or tram link - transport connections here rely on road, which means the Sharjah–Dubai highway corridor is a critical variable in your journey time.
Important: Sharjah and Dubai share a long border. Most travellers arriving at SHJ are actually heading to Dubai rather than Sharjah city. Factor in peak-hour traffic on the E11 (Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road) and E611 corridors - travel times can vary enormously between off-peak and rush hour.
Sharjah Transport Taxis from SHJ
Sharjah Transport (cream/orange taxis) operate the official taxi rank outside the arrivals terminal. These are the most readily available option from SHJ.
Key differences from Dubai RTA taxis:
- Sharjah Transport meters run at a lower base rate than Dubai taxis
- For cross-emirate journeys (Sharjah → Dubai), the fare is typically negotiated rather than metered, as Sharjah meters technically don’t apply in Dubai
- Always agree the fare before departure for any Dubai-bound journey
| Destination | Approx. Fare (AED) | Journey Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sharjah city centre (Al Majaz / Corniche) | 20–35 | 15–25 min |
| Sharjah Corniche / Al Khan | 25–40 | 20–30 min |
| Ajman city centre | 35–55 | 20–35 min |
| Deira / Bur Dubai (Dubai) | 70–110 | 30–60 min |
| Downtown Dubai / Burj Khalifa | 90–130 | 40–70 min |
| Dubai Airport (DXB) | 80–120 | 30–55 min |
| Dubai Marina / JBR | 120–180 | 55–90 min |
| Abu Dhabi city centre | 270–340 | 90–120 min |
All fares approximate as of 2026. Dubai-bound journeys are subject to significant variation at peak hours. Late-night surcharges may apply after midnight.
Private Transfers from SHJ
A pre-booked private transfer is the most stress-free option from SHJ, particularly for Air Arabia passengers who have been travelling long-haul. You arrive to a driver holding your name in arrivals, with a fixed price agreed in advance - no taxi queue, no negotiation, no meter watching.
This is especially useful if you are heading to a hotel in a part of Dubai that taxis from Sharjah are reluctant to serve at peak rates.
- Kiwitaxi - Book a private transfer from SHJ: Fixed-fare transfers with meet-and-greet in arrivals, available for destinations across the UAE.
- Welcome Pickups - Pre-booked airport transfers: English-speaking drivers with real-time flight tracking and free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup.
Private sedan transfers from SHJ to central Dubai typically run AED 90–150, depending on destination and time of booking. Group travellers benefit most - splitting a people carrier is often cheaper per person than individual taxis.
Uber and Careem from SHJ
Both Uber and Careem are available from SHJ. Pick-up zones are designated in the departures/arrivals area - check the app for the current pin location. Fares are broadly comparable to negotiated taxi prices for Dubai journeys, with the advantage of upfront pricing in the app. Surge pricing applies during peak periods and late nights.
Careem is especially well-established in Sharjah and is often slightly cheaper than Uber for cross-emirate trips.
Inter-Emirate Bus to Dubai
Sharjah’s Al Jubail Bus Station (approximately 6 km from SHJ - a AED 15–20 taxi ride from the terminal) is the hub for RTA inter-emirate bus services to Dubai.
- Route E307: Al Jubail Bus Station → Gold Souk Bus Station (Deira, Dubai) - AED 10 as of 2026
- Route E303, E306: Al Jubail → various Dubai bus terminals
Journey times to Deira via bus are typically 40–70 minutes including stops and potential border delays. The bus is practical for budget travellers headed to Deira with light luggage - not ideal directly from the airport with large bags.
Transfer Option Comparison
| Option | Cost | Speed | Convenience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharjah Transport Taxi (Sharjah) | AED 20–40 | Fast | High |
| Sharjah Transport Taxi (to Dubai) | AED 70–180 negotiated | Moderate (traffic) | Medium |
| Uber / Careem | AED 70–180 | Moderate (traffic) | High |
| Pre-booked Private Transfer | AED 90–180 fixed | Moderate (traffic) | Very high |
| Inter-emirate bus (via Al Jubail) | AED 10–15 | Slow | Low |
Peak Hour Warning: Sharjah–Dubai Corridor
The Sharjah–Dubai border is one of the most congested road corridors in the region. During weekday morning rush (06:30–09:00) and evening rush (16:30–20:00), any ground journey from SHJ to Dubai can take twice as long as the baseline estimate. Air Arabia’s schedule includes early-morning arrivals that land right into rush hour.
If you need to catch a connecting flight from DXB or be at a meeting in Dubai by a specific time, build in a generous buffer or consider departing the airport before 06:15 or after 09:30.
Staying in Sharjah
Not heading straight to Dubai? Sharjah itself offers excellent value accommodation - typically 30–50% cheaper than equivalent Dubai hotels - with easy access to Al Majaz Waterfront, the Blue Souk, and the emirate’s world-class museum strip. From the airport, most Sharjah hotels are 20–35 minutes by taxi.
Browse hotels in Sharjah for options across all budgets, from budget guesthouses near Rolla Square to mid-range properties on the Corniche.
For getting around Sharjah once you arrive, see our Sharjah getting-around guide.
Our list of the best restaurants in Sharjah goes into more detail. With more time, our day trips from Sharjah guide covers the best excursions nearby.