How to save on travel costs: All the on-demand bus shuttle services in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ajman

Dubai: Making a short trip to a nearby location? If you don’t drive, you don’t necessarily have to pay for a taxi or wait for a bus – the UAE offers various on-demand transport options, that allow residents and visitors to book a bus-pooling service that helps you travel short distances on a budget. Here are all the bus pooling services you can avail of in the UAE. Dubai 1. Bus on Demand You can travel within 20 different localities in Dubai through the Bus on Demand service, which operates in neighbourhoods like Satwa, Dubai Investments Park, Al Qusais and Oud Metha. The mini-bus service can be ordered online, through the ‘Bus on Demand’ app , which is available for Apple and Android devices, with standard tickets priced at AED 5. Service zones: 1. Al Barsha 1, 2 & 3 2. Al Nahda 3. Al Karama 4. Al Mankhool 5. Al Rigga 6. Business Bay 7. Barsha Heights 8. Dubai Downtown 9. Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) 10. Dubai Academic City 11. Dubai Silicon Oasis 12. Oud Metha 13. Port Saeed 14. Al Qusais 15. JVC 16. Al Warqa 1,2,3 & 4 17. DIP 1 & 2 18. Al Satwa 19. Al Qouz 20. Mirdif While the bus service is typically available for rides within each zone, there are a few interzone services that are also offered by Bus on Demand, which allow passengers to travel to an adjacent zone: Al Barsha – Barsha Heights (Both directions) Al Rigga – Port Saeed (Both directions) Al Nahda – Al Qusais (Both directions) Dubai Silicon Oasis – Dubai Academic City (Both directions) Business Bay – Downtown Dubai (Both directions) Al Karama – Oud Mehta – Al Mankhool (Both directions) DIP 1- DIP 2 (Both directions) 2. Citylink Shuttle Another on demand bus service that you can avail of is the Citylink Shuttle, which can also be booked through their app – ‘Citylink Shuttle’, available for Apple and Android devices. Ticket prices can vary, depending on the route you choose, and you will be informed of the ticket amount before making the booking on the app. The Citylink Shuttle serves the following areas: 1. Deira 2. Karama 3. Al Nahda 4. Al Rigga 5. Al Qusais 6. Zaabeel 7. Al Garhoud 8. Al Twar 9. Abu Hail 10. Al Jaffaliya 11. DIFC 12. Dubai Downtown 13. World Trade Centre 14. Business Bay 15. Al Satwa 16. Al Safa 17. Al Quoz 18. Dubai Frame 19. Jaddaf 20. Al Wasl 21. Al Raffa 22. Al Souq Alkabeer 23. Al Ghurair 24. Al Rashidiya 25. Al Muteena 3. DrivenBus The DrivenBus service offers a slightly different method of pooling ride service, focusing on daily work commutes, and making them easier for workers. Through the ‘DrivenBus’ app, which is available for Apple and Android devices, you can choose from operational routes, which connect popular residential areas to places of work. Once you select the route and the pick-up and drop-off location on the route, you can then choose from monthly, weekly or one-off rides. If your preferred route is not available on the app, you can suggest it through the app as well, and if it gets enough votes, the route will be launched by the service provider. Abu Dhabi - Abu Dhabi Link The on-demand bus service in Abu Dhabi is operated by Q Mobility, and offers rides for AED 2, which can be booked using the ‘Abu Dhabi Link’ app, available for Apple and Android devices. The Abu Dhabi Link service operates in the following areas: Al Shahama Al Rahba Al Sadar Al Bahia Al Samha Yas Island Area Saadiyat Island Area Khalifa City Area You can take the bus within any of these zones, by selecting your pick-up and drop-off points. Bus rides can be paid for using the Hafilat smart card . Sharjah - Bus on Demand Sharjah The Bus on Demand Sharjah service is operated by Mowasalat, the public transport system, supervised by the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority. You can book rides for as low as AED 7 for adults and AED4 for any additional passengers, with children under five years old riding for free. To book a ride, simply download the ‘Bus on Demand Sharjah’ app, which is available for Apple and Android devices and select your pick-up and drop-off routes, within the service zones. The app will then let you know of the estimated time of arrival of the bus, and the exact spot from where you will be picked up, and your drop-off point and time. The service can be used to travel to any of these areas within Sharjah City: Madar Al Jada Al Zahia Muweilah Commercial Area Muweilah Bus Terminal Sharjah University City - Main Streets Sharjah National Park Zero 6 Mall Al Juraina Al Noaf Al Qarayen Ajman - Vehicle on Demand You can also use a shuttle bus service in Ajman by downloading the Ajman Vehicle on Demand app – ‘Ajman VOD’, which is available for Apple and Android devices. With a standard fare of AED 5, you can use the service to travel anywhere in Ajman, by selecting your pick-up and drop-off location.