Updated June 2026
Ninety minutes, several ways to get there, starting at AED 30. Whether you are chasing a Jebel Jais sunset, a beach day at Al Hamra, or a quiet weekend away from Dubai’s horn-honking madness, getting to Ras Al Khaimah is easier than most people think. No car, no driving licence, no problem.
Here is the fastest, cleanest comparison of every way to travel between Dubai and RAK, with current fares, timings, route details and the honest verdict on which one is actually worth your money.
Dubai to RAK at a Glance
| Option | Time | Cost (AED) | Best For | Booking |
| RAKTA Bus | ~2 hours | 30 | Budget travellers | Sayr App |
| Air Arabia Shuttle | 2.5-3 hrs | Free | Air Arabia flyers | At the bus stop |
| Taxi | 1-1.5 hrs | 200-300 | Groups, late night | Careem, Uber, Hala |
| Car Rental | 1-1.5 hrs | 45+/day | Flexible day trips | Any UAE agency |
| Seaplane | 45 mins | From 598 | Splurge, scenic | seawings.ae |
WOW-RAK Expert Tip: The RAKTA bus is the cheapest and runs nearly every hour. If you are flying in, Air Arabia passengers can use the airline’s free shuttle to RAK Airport. Everyone else landing at DXB is smoothest in a pre-booked car or taxi.
1. RAKTA Public Bus (Union Station to RAK)
This is the workhorse route and the one most locals use. RAK Transport Authority (RAKTA) operates the Union Bus Station to RAK service, with modern air-conditioned coaches, free WiFi and dedicated luggage space.
Fare and frequency
- One-way fare: AED 30 from Dubai to RAK (AED 27 on the return leg from RAK to Dubai)
- Frequency: roughly hourly, around 16 daily departures from Dubai Union
- Journey time: roughly 2 hours, longer on services that route via Sharjah or Ajman
Timings
- From Dubai (Union Station): first bus 7:30 AM, last bus 11:00 PM
- From RAK: first bus 5:30 AM, last bus 9:00 PM. Only the early-morning departures (5:30, 6:15 and 7:00 AM) are direct, later services route via Sharjah and Ajman
How to book
Tickets can be bought at the counter on the day, or through the Sayr App by RAKTA which lets you track your journey in real time. You can also call 800-1700 for live timings.
WOW-RAK Expert Tip: Weekend afternoons on the RAK-to-Dubai return leg fill up fast. If you are heading back on a Friday or Saturday evening, get to the station at least 30 minutes early or book through the app.
2. Air Arabia Airport Shuttle (Free for Flyers)
If you are flying Air Arabia, the airline runs a complimentary coach connecting Dubai and the Northern Emirates to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport. It is genuinely free. The only catch is that you need a valid Air Arabia boarding pass to ride.
- Cost: free with an Air Arabia boarding pass
- Dubai pickup points: Al Qouz Mall (Al Quoz Industrial Area 4), Union Bus Station (opposite the Post Office), and Muhaisna 2, Sonapur (Mango Supermarket parking)
- Route: via Deira, or via Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain depending on your pickup point
- Drop-off: Ras Al Khaimah International Airport
- Journey time: roughly 2.5 to 3 hours depending on the route
- Booking: turn up at the stop with your boarding pass, the full timetable is on the Air Arabia website
Worth knowing: this drops you at RAK Airport, not in the city or at the beach hotels, so factor in onward transport. There is also a paid Sharjah Airport to RAK coach (AED 30) from the Air Arabia sales shop on Oman Road if you are flying into Sharjah instead.
WOW-RAK Expert Tip: The free shuttle is timed around Air Arabia flights, not your convenience, so check the published schedule before you bank on it. Land outside the bus windows and you are back to a taxi from the airport.
3. Taxi and Ride-Hailing (Careem, Uber, Hala)
A regular taxi from Dubai to RAK costs roughly AED 200 to AED 300 depending on your start point and the time of day. It is the fastest door-to-door option after the seaplane and makes sense for groups, late-night travel or if you are carrying luggage.
Your options
- Arabia Taxi: 800-1700 for a metered ride
- Careem: works Dubai to RAK, and on the return Hala (the Careem-RAKTA partnership) gets you a RAK taxi back
- Uber: available on the route but pricing can surge during peak hours
- Yango: generally the cheapest ride-hailing option in the UAE
Split four ways, a taxi is actually competitive with the bus for groups. AED 250 divided among four friends is roughly AED 63 each, twice the bus fare but half the travel time.
WOW-RAK Expert Tip: For the return journey from RAK to Dubai, your best bet is booking through Careem or Hala rather than hailing on the street. Street taxis in RAK sometimes refuse Dubai trips or quote inflated off-meter rates.
4. Car Rental (The Flexible Option)
If you are planning multiple stops, a Jebel Jais run, or staying more than two days, renting a car is the most flexible choice. Daily rates start from around AED 45 for an economy car, with fuel costing around AED 50 to fill a small tank (UAE petrol prices are among the cheapest in the region).
What to know
- Route: E311 Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road is the fastest, E11 Sheikh Zayed Road is the scenic coastal drive
- Salik count: 1 to 2 gates depending on your Dubai starting point, AED 4 to AED 8 each way
- Speed limit: 120 km/h on highways, with radar cameras enforced strictly
- Parking in RAK: mostly free outside the city centre, paid meters in RAK City
International tourists can rent with a valid home driving licence plus passport. UAE residents need an Emirates ID. Many agencies offer weekend specials that work out cheaper than two-way bus tickets for a couple.
5. Seawings Seaplane (The Splurge)
At roughly AED 598 on promotion and up to AED 1,195 standard, the Seawings seaplane from Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah is a 45-minute scenic flight that doubles as a tour. You take off from Jebel Ali and land at the RAK waterfront with views of the Palm, the Burj Al Arab, the Arabian Gulf coastline and Al Marjan Island on the way.
- Duration: 45 minutes flight time
- Adult fare: AED 598 to AED 1,195 depending on promotion
- Child fare: AED 505 to AED 1,015
- Booking: seawings.ae or +971 4 807 0708
It is the fastest way to get there, but it is really a tourist experience rather than a commuter option. Worth it once for the views, especially if you are celebrating something.
Services That Have Closed
Two routes that used to run on this corridor are no longer operating. We are keeping them here because people still search for them, and we will update this section if either one returns.
Dubai Mall to RAK Bus (Discontinued)
The direct Dubai Mall to RAK bus that ran on weekends for a flat AED 30 is no longer operating. If you are starting near Downtown Dubai, your best options now are the RAKTA bus from Union Station, a taxi, or the Air Arabia shuttle above if you are flying in.
RAK Shuttle (Dubai Airport Bus, Discontinued)
The RAK Shuttle, RAKTDA’s airport transfer bus that took travellers from Dubai International Airport straight to RAK hotels, is no longer running. Until something replaces it, airport arrivals heading to RAK should plan on a taxi, a pre-booked car, or the RAKTA Union Station bus. Flying Air Arabia? Use the free airline shuttle covered above.
Which Option is Best for You?
Budget travellers
RAKTA Public Bus at AED 30. Reliable, frequent, air-conditioned. If you have time and not money, this is the answer. Flying Air Arabia? The free airline shuttle beats it.
Families with kids
Car rental. Kids, beach bags, baby seats and flexible stops make the bus and taxi options painful. A rental returns freedom for AED 45 a day.
DXB airport arrivals
A pre-booked car or taxi. You are exhausted, you have luggage, you want your hotel. If you flew in on Air Arabia, grab the free airline shuttle to RAK Airport first, then a short taxi onward.
Late night travel
Taxi via Careem or Uber. Buses stop at 11 PM from Dubai and around 9 PM from RAK, so a taxi is your only reliable option after those windows.
Groups of four
Taxi split four ways. AED 250 divided is AED 62 each, door to door, roughly half the time of the bus.
Business day trippers
Car rental or a pre-booked taxi. You need predictability and a specific drop-off, and the public bus does not give you either.
Getting Around Once You Arrive in RAK
RAK is spread out. Al Hamra Village, Mina Al Arab, RAK City Beachfront, Al Marjan Island and Jebel Jais are all in different directions from the bus station, so plan your onward travel before you arrive.
Your RAK options
- RAKTA city buses: AED 8 per trip on colour-coded lines (the Orange Line connects Al Nakheel to the RAK Bus Station), running roughly 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- RAK taxis: metered, affordable, can be hailed on the street or booked via Hala and Careem
- Hotel shuttles: most major resorts on Al Marjan Island and Al Hamra run free shuttles to key landmarks
- Car rental in RAK: available at RAK Airport and RAK City for onward flexibility
Frequently Asked Questions
By road, it takes roughly 90 minutes to 2 hours depending on traffic and your starting point in Dubai. The seaplane takes 45 minutes.
The RAKTA Public Bus from Union Station is the cheapest paid option at AED 30 one-way. If you are flying Air Arabia, the airline runs a free connecting shuttle to RAK Airport for passengers with a valid boarding pass.
Not anymore. The direct Dubai Mall to RAK bus has been discontinued. For Downtown Dubai pickups, use the RAKTA bus from Union Station, a taxi, or the Air Arabia shuttle if you are flying in.
Yes. Careem operates on the Dubai to RAK route. For the return journey, Careem’s Hala integration with RAKTA gets you a RAK taxi back to Dubai. Uber and Yango also work on the route.
A metered taxi costs roughly AED 200 to AED 300 depending on your Dubai pickup point and time of day. Surge pricing on Careem and Uber can push this higher during peak hours.
The first RAKTA bus from Union Station leaves at 7:30 AM and the last at 11:00 PM. From RAK, the first bus to Dubai leaves at 5:30 AM and the last at 9:00 PM, though only the early-morning departures are direct and later ones route via Sharjah.
No. Public bus services stop at 11 PM from Dubai and around 9 PM from RAK. For late-night travel, your only options are taxi, Careem or Uber.
No. Both Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah are emirates within the United Arab Emirates. There are no internal borders or checkpoints. Your UAE visa or residence permit covers travel between all seven emirates.
With the RAK Shuttle now discontinued, Air Arabia passengers should use the airline’s free connecting shuttle to RAK Airport. Everyone else landing at DXB is best off with a pre-booked car or taxi, or the RAKTA bus from Union Station if you are travelling light.
As a commuter option, no. As an experience, yes. At AED 598 to AED 1,195 it is expensive, but the 45-minute scenic flight over the Palm, Burj Al Arab, the Arabian Gulf coastline and Al Marjan Island is memorable and makes a strong anniversary or birthday gift.
Planning a Weekend in Ras Al Khaimah?
Now that you know how to get here, the real question is what to do once you arrive. RAK has the UAE’s highest mountain, longest zipline, white sand beaches, heritage villages and some of the best family resorts in the Emirates. Start with our guide to things to do in Ras Al Khaimah this week, explore the Live in RAK cluster if you are considering the move from Dubai, or see our complete Al Marjan Island guide for waterfront destinations.
