Sharjah city center makes a day trip from Dubai possible by intercity bus or ferry, with routes linking Dubai to Sharjah’s Al Jubail station and the Aquarium marine station. Build the day around Sharjah Aquarium, then add Al Qasba or City Centre Sharjah as a separate stop rather than trying to fit everything in.
- Bus links include Union Square and Al Ghubaiba in Dubai, with Al Jubail in Sharjah.
- The E303 route map includes stops at Al Qasba and City Centre on Al Wahda Road.
- The FR5 ferry connects Al Ghubaiba Marine Station with Sharjah Aquarium Marine Station.
- Sharjah Aquarium is next to Sharjah Maritime Museum in the Al Khan Old area.
How do you get from Dubai to Sharjah?
RTA intercity buses and the FR5 ferry offer public-transport connections between Dubai and Sharjah. Choose your departure point and destination stop first, since the routes serve different parts of the two cities.
The E303 runs between Union Square Bus Station in Dubai and Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah. Its route map also shows stops at Al Qasba and City Centre on Al Wahda Road. The E306 connects Al Ghubaiba Bus Station with Al Jubail Bus Station and is labelled as a daily service.
For a waterfront arrival, the FR5 ferry runs between Al Ghubaiba Marine Station and Sharjah Aquarium Marine Station. The RTA flyer lists one-way fares of AED 15 for Adult Silver and AED 25 for Adult Gold; children under 5 and People of Determination travel free.
Arrive 15 minutes before departure. The flyer warns that timings may change, and vessels do not operate during Friday prayer from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.
RTA says intercity buses on Dubai–Sharjah routes do not pick up or drop off passengers within the same emirate. You board in the emirate where your trip starts and get off in the destination emirate.
If you are arranging your first leg from the hotel, Dubai metro connections via Sharaf DG and BurJuman may help you plan how to reach a Dubai departure point.
Planning a Sharjah day without overpacking it
A manageable plan is to choose one main attraction and one additional area, with your route determining the order. Sharjah Aquarium pairs naturally with a ferry arrival at its marine station; the E303 route map provides a bus option for Al Qasba or City Centre.
Al Qasba brings together restaurants, cultural events, art and design museums, Maraya Art Centre and Masrah Al Qasba Theatre, according to Sharjah’s tourism board. Use it as a distinct stop rather than assuming it is part of an aquarium visit.
One practical sequence is to arrive by ferry, visit the aquarium and nearby maritime museum, then decide whether to continue elsewhere. If you travel by bus, check which E303 stop best fits the area you intend to visit. Tulip Apartments is an aparthotel in Dubai; Tulip Apartments is the starting point for this outing.
What can you see at Sharjah Aquarium?
Sharjah Aquarium sits in the Al Khan Old area next to Sharjah Maritime Museum, making the two museums an easy pairing for a waterfront-focused visit. The aquarium opened on June 6, 2008, and spans two floors with 21 aquariums.
Across 6,500 square metres, its tanks hold 1.8 million litres of water. Exhibits feature nearly 100 marine species, including clownfish, seahorses, moray eels, rays and reef sharks.
Sharjah Museums Authority says aquarium hours are Saturday to Thursday, 8:00 AM–8:00 PM, and Friday, 2:00 PM–8:00 PM; Sunday is closed. Hours may change on public holidays and during Ramadan.
A joint ticket for the aquarium and Sharjah Maritime Museum costs AED 15 for children aged 2–12 and AED 25 for adults aged 13 and older; children under 2 enter free. Seniors aged 60 and older, plus one companion, and people with disabilities, plus one companion, enter free.
Ordinary museum visits do not require advance booking. VIP groups, school visits, tourist groups and organization visits do require advance booking. Hours and fares can change, so check the official site before you go, including Sharjah Museums Authority for museum details and RTA for transport information.
Can you combine Sharjah Aquarium with City Centre Sharjah?
City Centre Sharjah is a separate shopping stop, and the E303 route map includes a City Centre stop on Al Wahda Road. Customer-service hours at City Centre Sharjah are weekdays, 10:00 AM–10:00 PM, and weekends, 10:00 AM–12:00 AM; these are not necessarily mall-wide opening hours.
For access needs, family and expecting-mother parking is near Gate A on the ground and first floors, and manual wheelchairs are available at Entrance B. Baby-feeding rooms are near Entrance D on the ground floor; prayer rooms are near Entrance C on the first floor. Tesla charging stations are also on the first floor at Gate A.
What should you check before the return trip?
Check the current route and departure information before setting out, especially if you are relying on a ferry or planning a late return. RTA cautions that FR5 timings may change, and its intercity bus rule means you cannot use a Dubai–Sharjah bus for a ride that begins and ends within the same emirate.
If your Dubai arrival or departure arrangements still need planning, transport between Dubai International Airport and Tulip Hotel Apartments covers that separate leg.
FAQs
Does the E303 stop at Al Qasba?
Yes. RTA’s E303 route map includes an Al Qasba stop, as well as a City Centre stop on Al Wahda Road.
Can you visit Sharjah Maritime Museum with an aquarium ticket?
A joint ticket covers Sharjah Aquarium and Sharjah Maritime Museum. Prices vary by age group.
Does the FR5 ferry arrive at Sharjah Aquarium?
Yes. The FR5 connects Al Ghubaiba Marine Station in Dubai with Sharjah Aquarium Marine Station.