Sharjah Airport to Dubai Marina

Sharjah Airport (SHJ) and Dubai Marina are in different emirates, so this is an inter-emirate trip of around 45 km across the Sharjah–Dubai corridor. By road it takes roughly 45–70 minutes, depending on traffic and the time of day.

That corridor is heavy at peak, so if you land then, plan for the longer end of the range, and avoid peak if you can. There are three ways to make the journey: a taxi, a Sharjah–Dubai bus to a Metro station and onward, or a pre-booked private transfer. The costs and times in this guide are rough and given at the time of writing, so check a live quote before you travel.

• Sharjah Airport to Dubai
• Buses from Dubai Airport

Dubai's metered taxi tariff works roughly like this: a flag-fall of around AED 5 by day (around AED 5.50 at night) plus around AED 2.26 per km, with an airport pickup surcharge of around AED 20–25 where one applies and any Salik toll gates (around AED 4–6 each) on top. The RTA (rta.ae) publishes the current tariff. A trip that starts in Sharjah is inter-emirate, so treat this as a guide to how fares are built, not a promise of what the meter will show.

For this route a taxi is roughly AED 110–160 at the time of writing. Over around 45 km the per-kilometre charge adds up and the extras sit on top, which is why this is a range and not a single figure. Because the trip crosses from Sharjah into Dubai, ask about a possible return or inter-emirate surcharge. The real fare varies with traffic and time of day.

Peak matters here. The Sharjah–Dubai corridor is heavy at peak, so a ride that is quick at a quiet time can take noticeably longer at peak, and the fare can rise with it. If you can choose your time, travel outside the rush.

If you book through a ride-hailing app instead of using the taxi queue, the fare is priced differently from the meter and can surge at peak, so read the live quote before you confirm. At the airport, use the official taxi point rather than accepting offers from drivers who approach you in the hall. For how Dubai airport taxi fares work more generally, see our airport taxi fare guide.

Before you set off, ask how the fare will be charged and whether tolls and any inter-emirate or return surcharge are included.

• Dubai Airport Taxi Fares

Sharjah has no Metro, so there is no Metro link from the airport to Dubai Marina. The public-transport route is a Sharjah–Dubai bus to a Metro station, then onward from there to the Marina.

That makes it a multi-leg journey: a bus, a switch to the Metro, then a final stretch. It is typically the cheapest way across, but it is slower and less predictable than a taxi or a transfer, awkward with luggage or children, and it shares the same busy corridor at peak. Which bus and Metro station suit you best depends on where in the Marina you are staying, so plan the connection on a live journey planner, and confirm bus times and fares with the operator before you rely on it.

The Metro leg is paid with a Nol card, and the RTA (rta.ae) has the current Metro details. If you have bags, children or a late arrival, a taxi or a pre-booked transfer is the more realistic choice.

• Airport to Dubai Marina
• Nol Card in Dubai

A pre-booked private transfer is worth it for the distance: around 45 km, across an emirate border. You agree the price before you fly and a driver is arranged for your arrival, so you are not choosing between a taxi queue, an app surge and a bus-and-Metro connection after a flight. Some transfers include a meet-and-greet, with the driver waiting at arrivals, so confirm that when you book.

It makes most sense for late flights, families, groups and heavy luggage, and when you would rather not handle the peak-time corridor yourself. You can browse pre-booked options on our airport transfer page. Travelling with children? Our guide to child seats for transfers goes into more detail.

Because a transfer is priced in advance, check what the figure covers before you confirm:

• The total price, and whether tolls, any inter-emirate charge and waiting time are included.
• Child seats: say how many children you have and how old they are, and ask for the right seats to be fitted.
• Luggage and group size: give the number of people and bags so the right vehicle is sent.
• Flight delays: ask whether the driver follows your flight and how long they will wait if it lands late.
• The meeting point, and how to reach the driver if you cannot find them.

• Meet and Greet at Dubai Airport
• Airport transfers in Dubai
• Child Seats on Dubai Airport Transfers and Taxis

The figures below are rough and given at the time of writing. Check a live quote and confirm with the provider.

• Avoid peak if you can. The Sharjah–Dubai corridor is heavy at peak, and ride-hailing fares can surge then.
• Check a live quote. A range in a guide is only a starting point, so compare the quote in your app or from your provider, and ask what it includes.
• Give the exact address. Name the tower, hotel or street in the Marina so the driver, or your bus-and-Metro connection, ends in the right place.
• Luggage and child seats. Large bags or a big group may not fit a standard taxi, and a taxi from the queue may not have a child seat. Tell a transfer provider the numbers when you book.
• Late arrivals. If you land late, check that the bus and Metro are still running before you plan on them, or book a transfer that waits for your flight.
• Meeting up. Check your arrival terminal with your airline or the airport's website, give your flight number to a transfer provider, and agree where you will meet in the arrivals area.
• Paying. A Nol card pays for the Metro leg. For a taxi or a transfer, agree how you will pay before you set off.
• Official sources. The RTA (rta.ae) covers the taxi tariff and the Metro, the airport's own website covers arrivals information, and u.ae is a starting point for official guidance.