Most buses leaving Union Bus Station don’t use a ticket counter at all — Sharjah (E303), Ajman (E400), and Fujairah (E700) routes are Nol Card only, no cash, no paper ticket. The one genuine cash ticket counter at Union is run by RAKTA for the Ras Al Khaimah service, and that’s almost certainly the counter people mean when they search this term. We confirmed this against RTA’s own route data and RAKTA’s published schedule, because a lot of what’s online about this station mixes up two completely different operators — or skips the ticketing mechanics entirely in favor of generic “modern amenities” filler.
- Where Union Bus Station Actually Is
- Which Routes Actually Leave From Union Bus Station
- Ticket Prices: The Full Breakdown
- The RAKTA Ticket Counter: What It's For and How to Use It
- Buying an RTA Ticket (Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah): No Counter Needed
- Operating Hours by Route
- Station Facilities: What's Actually There
- Common Mistakes We Found Repeated Online
- Our Team's Practical Tips
- Union Bus Station Ticket Counter FAQs
Where Union Bus Station Actually Is
Union Bus Station sits directly beside Union Metro Station in Deira, at the interchange between the Red and Green metro lines. It’s a different terminal from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Bur Dubai — the two get confused constantly because both serve inter-emirate routes, but they’re roughly 25-30 minutes apart by road.
- Address: Union Square, Al Rigga area, Deira, Dubai
- Nearest metro: Union Station (Red & Green Line interchange)
- Landmark: Close to Al Ghurair Centre and Deira Gold Souk
If a route planner or an old blog post tells you to catch an Abu Dhabi bus from Union, don’t trust it. The E100 and E101 depart from Al Ghubaiba and Ibn Battuta bus stations, not Union. This is one of the most repeated errors we found across UAE travel sites while checking this guide.
Which Routes Actually Leave From Union Bus Station
| Route | Destination | Operator | Payment | Approx. Fare |
| E303 | Al Jubail Bus Station, Sharjah | RTA | Nol Card only | AED 10–12 |
| E400 | Al Musallah Bus Station, Ajman | RTA | Nol Card only | AED 12–15 |
| E700 | Fujairah Bus Station | RTA | Nol Card only | AED 25 |
| RAKTA Intercity | Al Hamra / RAK Bus Station, Ras Al Khaimah | RAKTA (with Al Hamra) | Cash at counter or online | AED 22–27 |
Notice the split. Three of the four routes are strictly Nol-only — there’s nothing to buy at a counter for them, and cash gets you nowhere. The Ras Al Khaimah service is the odd one out because RAKTA is a different transport authority from Dubai’s RTA, and it runs its own ticketing system, including a staffed counter that sells physical tickets for cash.
Ticket Prices: The Full Breakdown
Fares from Union Bus Station aren’t a single flat number — they depend on the route, which Nol card type you’re using, and whether you qualify for a concession. We pulled this together from RTA’s published route data, RAKTA’s fare information, and cross-checked the Nol discount structure against RTA’s own Nol program page, since this is the part most guides oversimplify into one misleading figure.
Standard Adult Fares by Route
| Route | Destination | Standard Adult Fare (Silver Nol / Cash) | Gold Nol (Premium Cabin) |
| E303 | Sharjah (Al Jubail) | AED 10–12 | AED 20–24 |
| E400 | Ajman (Al Musallah) | AED 12–15 | AED 24–30 |
| E700 | Fujairah | AED 25 | AED 50 |
| RAKTA Intercity | Ras Al Khaimah (Al Nakheel main station) | AED 27 | Not applicable — RAKTA doesn’t run a Gold-class tier |
| RAKTA Intercity | Ras Al Khaimah (Al Hamra Mall stop) | AED 22–25 | Not applicable |
Gold Nol roughly doubles the standard fare in exchange for a Gold Class cabin — most travelers on these routes use Silver, since intercity buses don’t have the same premium-seating draw as the metro’s Gold cabin.
Concession Fares (Blue Nol Card Holders)
These discounts apply to RTA-operated routes (E303, E400, E700) and are tied to a registered Blue Nol Card, not cash or a Red Nol ticket.
| Passenger Type | Discount | Effective Fare on E303 | Effective Fare on E400 | Effective Fare on E700 |
| Students (with valid ID) | 50% off | ~AED 5–6 | ~AED 6–7.5 | ~AED 12.5 |
| Senior citizens (UAE nationals, 60+) | 50% off | ~AED 5–6 | ~AED 6–7.5 | ~AED 12.5 |
| People of Determination | 100% free | AED 0 | AED 0 | AED 0 |
| Children under 5 | Free (with paying adult) | AED 0 | AED 0 | AED 0 |
| Children 5–10 | 50% off | ~AED 5–6 | ~AED 6–7.5 | ~AED 12.5 |
RAKTA’s Ras Al Khaimah service runs its own fare desk and generally doesn’t participate in the Blue Nol discount structure — if you’re traveling with a student, senior, or POD companion on the RAK route, ask the counter staff directly, since concessions there are handled case by case rather than through Dubai’s Nol system.
What a Nol Card Itself Costs
You need one before any fare calculation matters, since three of the four routes won’t move you without it.
| Nol Card Type | Purchase Cost | Included Credit | Who It’s For |
| Red Ticket (paper, single/multi-use) | AED 2 | None — pay per trip | Tourists, one-off riders |
| Silver Nol Card | AED 25 | AED 19 | Most travelers, reusable up to 5 years |
| Gold Nol Card | AED 25 | AED 19 (fares run double) | Premium cabin seating |
| Blue Nol Card (personalized) | AED 70 | AED 20 | Students, seniors, People of Determination — registration required |
A practical note on totals: if you’re new to the system and only need the E303 to Sharjah, buying a Silver Nol Card (AED 25) to make a single AED 10–12 trip isn’t a great deal — the Red Ticket (AED 2 + fare) is cheaper for a one-off trip. Silver only pays off if you’ll reuse the card.
RAKTA Fare Notes
Unlike the RTA routes, RAKTA’s Ras Al Khaimah fare isn’t zone-based on a Nol system — it’s a fixed price that varies slightly by which stop you board or alight at:
- Union Bus Station → Al Nakheel (main RAK terminal): AED 27
- Union Bus Station → Al Hamra Mall stop: AED 22–25 (shorter distance, boards before the main terminal on the return leg)
- Payment: cash at the counter, or advance booking through the RAKTA Sayr app
- We found conflicting published figures (AED 22, 25, and 27 all appear across different route guides) — treat AED 27 as the safe number to budget for the full route, and confirm the exact figure at the counter for your specific stop.
The RAKTA Ticket Counter: What It’s For and How to Use It
- Locate the RAKTA counter or kiosk inside the Union terminal — it’s separate from the general RTA intercity gates and is usually signed for Ras Al Khaimah.
- Tell staff your destination stop. RAK-bound buses drop at either the main Al Nakheel bus station or the Al Hamra Mall stop — say which one you need, since fares differ slightly by distance.
- Pay in cash (AED, small notes preferred) or ask about booking through RAKTA’s Sayr app if you’d rather skip the queue.
- Confirm your departure time. From Dubai, RAKTA buses run roughly 7:30 AM to 11:00 PM; there is no fixed short interval like the RTA routes, so check the board rather than assuming a bus is minutes away.
- Board at the marked RAK gate, not the general RTA platform — the two operators use separate loading areas.
Buying an RTA Ticket (Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah): No Counter Needed
Because these three routes don’t take cash, “buying a ticket” really means having enough balance on a Nol Card before you tap the gate reader.
- Get a Nol Card first if you don’t have one — from the self-service machine at Union Metro Station, not the RAKTA counter.
- Top up in advance. The E700 fare alone is AED 25; check your balance covers the trip plus your return.
- Head to the correct gate for your route (E303, E400, or E700 — signage is posted overhead).
- Tap your card at the gate reader, not on the bus itself, before boarding.
- Keep the card on you — some routes spot-check balance or validation on exit.
Operating Hours by Route
| Route | First Departure (Union) | Last Departure (Union) | Frequency |
| E303 (Sharjah) | ~6:00–6:30 AM | ~11:30 PM–1:00 AM | Every 15–20 min (peak) |
| E400 (Ajman) | ~4:25 AM | ~11:30 PM | Every 20–30 min |
| E700 (Fujairah) | ~5:30–6:30 AM | ~10:30–11:00 PM | Roughly hourly |
| RAKTA (Ras Al Khaimah) | 7:30 AM | 11:00 PM | Around 12 trips a day |
Treat these as planning windows, not guarantees — RTA and RAKTA both adjust timings for holidays and Ramadan, and published times vary slightly between sources. Confirm same-day on the departure board or the RTA S’hail / RAKTA Sayr apps before you commit to a specific slot.
Station Facilities: What’s Actually There
Generic guides list “modern amenities” without saying what that means. Here’s what’s confirmed at Union Bus Station specifically:
| Facility | Confirmed Detail |
| Nol top-up | Self-service machines inside Union Metro Station, feeding directly into the bus terminal |
| Wheelchair access | Ramps and step-free routes between metro and bus platforms; RTA buses on all Union routes are low-floor with wheelchair space |
| Toilets | Available inside the terminal building, not at the open-air gates |
| Wi-Fi | Free Wi-Fi inside the terminal; onboard Wi-Fi is inconsistent and not guaranteed on every bus |
| Lost property | Report to RTA on 800-9090, or via the RTA Dubai app, with your route number, stop, and approximate time |
| Parking | Limited paid bays nearby on Al Rigga/Al Sabkha roads — most travelers arrive by metro rather than driving in |
We’re deliberately not listing things we couldn’t verify — no confirmed prayer room, retail kiosk lineup, or luggage storage service specific to Union’s RAKTA/RTA gates. If a source claims a long list of boutique amenities without naming which counter or platform they’re at, treat that as unverified filler rather than fact.
Common Mistakes We Found Repeated Online
- “Buy an Abu Dhabi ticket at Union.” Wrong terminal. E100/E101 leave from Al Ghubaiba and Ibn Battuta.
- “Pay cash for the Sharjah or Ajman bus.” Not accepted. These are Nol-only; a counter can’t sell you a paper ticket for them.
- Treating “Union Bus Station” and “Union Metro Station” ticket services as identical. The metro station sells Nol Cards and metro/tram tickets from its own machines and windows. The RAKTA counter is a separate, adjoining service for the RAK bus specifically.
- Assuming one set of hours applies to the whole terminal. Each operator runs its own schedule; there’s no single “station opening time” that covers all four routes.
Our Team’s Practical Tips
- If you only need a Sharjah, Ajman, or Fujairah bus, skip the counter entirely — load a Nol Card at the metro machines and go straight to the gate.
- If you’re headed to Ras Al Khaimah, arrive with cash. Card machines at the RAKTA counter aren’t guaranteed to be working, and drivers won’t sell tickets on board.
- Call RTA customer service on 800-9090 to confirm same-day E700 timings before a Fujairah trip — the hourly gaps mean a missed bus costs real time.
- For RAKTA queries or to check the Al Hamra Mall stop specifically, RAKTA’s helpline is 800-1700.
Union Bus Station Ticket Counter FAQs
Is there a cash ticket counter at Union Bus Station?
Yes, but it’s specifically for RAKTA’s Ras Al Khaimah service. The Dubai RTA routes from Union (Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah) don’t accept cash at all.
Can I buy a Nol Card at the Union Bus Station ticket counter?
No. Nol Cards and top-ups come from the machines and windows inside Union Metro Station, not the RAKTA bus counter.
Does Union Bus Station serve Abu Dhabi?
No. Abu Dhabi-bound buses (E100, E101) depart from Al Ghubaiba and Ibn Battuta bus stations.
What if the RAKTA counter’s card machine is down?
Carry cash as a backup — this has been reported often enough that it’s worth planning for rather than assuming.
Can I book Union Bus Station intercity tickets online in advance?
For RTA routes, tickets are tied to your Nol Card balance rather than advance booking. For RAKTA’s Ras Al Khaimah service, you can book ahead through the Sayr app.
