Satwa Bus Station is Dubai’s key bus interchange for the Satwa district, located on Al Satwa Road near the Satwa Roundabout. It serves over 20 RTA routes including city buses (7, 15, 28, 88), 24-hour airport route C01, express X-series, and metro feeders connecting to World Trade Centre and other Red Line stations.
Related: Al Satwa area guide, Al Satwa Big Mosque, Satwa Masjid guide, Satwa Roundabout, and Ravi Restaurant.
Looking for the terminal itself — facilities, full route list, and station timings? See our pillar guide: Al Satwa Bus Station: routes, timings & fares.
Satwa bus network at a glance
- 20+ routes serve the Satwa area: city routes (7, 15, 28, 32C, 55, 88, 93, 98E), CBD routes (C01 24/7, C09), express (X02, X13, X28), and feeders (F11, F12, F27, F28)
- Metro links: feeders connect Satwa to World Trade Centre, Emirates Towers, Financial Centre, and Al Jafiliya (Max) stations — Dubai Metro map
- Payment: Nol card only — AED 3 / 5 / 7.50 by zones, daily cap AED 14
- Plan live: use the RTA S’hail app for real-time arrivals — frequencies drop off-peak
Bus routes serving Satwa — the full list
City routes (regular)
| Route | From Satwa to | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Al Quoz Bus Station | Business Bay, Al Quoz commute |
| 15 | Al Khail Gate 2 | Jumeirah corridor |
| 28 | Lamcy Plaza / Oud Metha | Dubai Mall direction |
| 32C | Al Qusais Bus Station | Airport T1, Festival City, Deira |
| 55 | International City | Long cross-city link |
| 88 | Deira City Centre | Deira commute (+ peak-hour 88A/88B to Jumeirah 3) |
| 93 | Al Ghubaiba Bus Station | Bur Dubai, intercity terminal (+ peak-hour 93A/93B to Al Wasl) |
| 98E | Al Quoz Bus Station | Trade Centre Metro, Business Bay |
CBD & airport routes
| Route | From Satwa to | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| C01 | Airport Terminal 3 | 24-hour airport link via Deira & Bur Dubai |
| C09 | Hor Al Anz East / Qiyadah Metro | Deira cross-city |
Express routes (X-series — fewer stops)
| Route | From Satwa to | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| X02 | Union Square Bus Station, Deira | Fast Deira link via metro stations |
| X13 | Lulu Village | Express southbound |
| X28 | Dubai Internet City | Express via Sheikh Zayed Road / Media City |
Metro feeder routes (F-series)
| Route | Connects Satwa with |
|---|---|
| F11 | Financial Centre Metro (Seaside) |
| F12 | Wasl Park Terminus (local loop) |
| F27 | Al Jafiliya Bus Station / Max Metro |
| F28 | Emirates Towers Metro via World Trade Centre Metro |
First bus & last bus from Satwa
- Station operating hours: 5:00 AM – 12:00 midnight (Sun–Thu); extended to 1:00 AM Fri & Sat
- Earliest: F55A starts around 3:00–3:09 AM from Satwa Square area stops
- Latest regular: most city routes wind down by midnight; C01 to the airport runs 24/7
- Frequency: every 8–12 min Sun–Thu, 7–12 min Sat, 9–16 min Fri — peak hours are most frequent
Night owl? After midnight your options narrow to the C01 airport route and taxis — plan accordingly. Full fare details: Dubai Metro & bus fares guide.
RTA city buses on the Satwa corridor — tap in and out with a Nol card.
Nearby bus stops around Satwa
The main terminal is only part of the picture. These stops put you on the same network without walking to the station:
- Satwa, Mosque / Satwa, Masjid — served by 7, 15, 28, F12, F28, X02
- Satwa, Square — 7, 28, 55, 93, 98E, C1, C9, C26, X13, F55A
- Satwa, Etisalat — 21, 98E, F11, F28, C01, X02, X13, 88
- Bada’a / Bada’a – 01 — a 2-minute walk from the terminal stops
- 2nd of December Street — busy retail strip with multiple stops
- Satwa, Bus Station 2–13 — numbered bays around the terminal, each served by specific routes (check the bay boards)
Metro connections from Satwa
Satwa has no metro station of its own, but it’s tightly wired into the Red Line:
- World Trade Centre Metro — ~1.7 km from the terminal; just a 5-minute walk from the Satwa, Etisalat stop. The nearest metro to Satwa overall.
- Emirates Towers Metro — ~3.8 km; direct via feeder F28
- Financial Centre Metro — ~2.7 km; direct via feeder F11
- Al Jafiliya (Max) Metro — ~2.4 km; direct via feeder F27
Typical pattern: feeder bus to the Red Line, then metro for the long leg. A bus→metro transfer within 30 minutes counts as one journey for fare purposes (within the 180-minute trip window).
Popular journeys from Satwa
| Trip | Best option | Typical time | Fare (Silver) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Satwa → Dubai Airport (T3) | C01 direct, 24/7 | 50–55 min | AED 7.50 |
| Satwa → Dubai Mall / Burj Khalifa | 28, or feeder to WTC Metro + Red Line | 20–30 min | AED 3–5 |
| Satwa → Dubai Internet City | 88 or express X28 | 45–55 min | AED 7.50 |
| Satwa → Deira / Gold Souq | 88 or express X02 | 35–45 min | AED 7.50 |
| Satwa → Mall of the Emirates | 93 family / metro combo | 35–40 min | AED 5 |
| Satwa → Global Village | Route 108 (Fri–Sun & holidays, 2 PM–1 AM) | 50–60 min | AED 7.50 |
Times depend on traffic — Sheikh Zayed Road peak hours can add 15+ minutes.
Tips for riding the Satwa bus network
- Always tap out. Forgetting costs you the maximum zone fare.
- Keep balance topped up: Silver cards need enough for the longest possible leg — check yours with our Nol balance check guide.
- Board at the front, exit at the rear. Front rows are reserved for women.
- No eating, drinking, or smoking on board — fines apply.
- January 2026 network changes: new peak-hour routes 88A/88B and 93A/93B serve Satwa/Al Wasl — the S’hail app has the final word on the day’s schedule.
Watch: how to ride Dubai’s public buses (video)
New to the RTA network? This guide covers boarding, tapping, and bus etiquette basics:
Frequently Asked Questions
Which buses go through Satwa, Dubai?
Over 20 RTA routes serve Satwa, including city routes 7, 15, 28, 32C, 55, 88, 93 and 98E; CBD routes C01 (24-hour airport link) and C09; express routes X02, X13 and X28; and metro feeders F11, F12, F27 and F28.
What is the first and last bus from Satwa?
The station opens at 5:00 AM (midnight close Sun–Thu, 1:00 AM Fri–Sat). The earliest route, F55A, starts around 3:00 AM, and route C01 to the airport runs 24/7.
How do I get to Satwa by metro?
Take the Red Line to World Trade Centre Metro Station — it’s about 1.7 km from the bus terminal and a 5-minute walk from the Satwa, Etisalat bus stop. Feeder buses F11 and F28 also connect Satwa with World Trade Centre, Emirates Towers, and Financial Centre stations.
Which bus goes from Satwa to Dubai Mall?
Route 28 heads toward the Dubai Mall corridor, or take a feeder bus to World Trade Centre Metro and ride the Red Line one stop to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. The trip takes 20–30 minutes and costs AED 3–5.
Can I pay cash on Satwa buses?
No — all RTA buses are Nol card only. Buy or top up a card at the station’s vending machines before boarding. Fares are AED 3 (1 zone), AED 5 (2 zones), or AED 7.50 (3+ zones) on a Silver card.
What are the bus stops near Satwa Bus Station?
Nearby stops include Satwa Mosque/Masjid, Satwa Square, Satwa Etisalat, Bada’a, 2nd of December Street, and numbered bays Satwa Bus Station 2–13. Each stop is served by a different set of routes — check the bay boards or the S’hail app.
Is there a direct bus from Satwa to Dubai Internet City?
Yes — route 88 runs from Deira City Centre through Satwa to Dubai Internet City, and express route X28 offers a faster link via Sheikh Zayed Road and Media City. The journey takes 45–55 minutes.