RTA Dubai X23 Bus Route: Timings Schedule And Fares
The X23 is an RTA express bus that links International City with Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Bur Dubai. It is one of the quickest public transport options for International City residents heading to Bur Dubai and the old souk areas.
From Al Ghubaiba you can walk to the Bur Dubai Souk or take an abra across the Creek to the Deira Gold Souk and Spice Souk.
Down in this post, we have provided complete details on the X23 bus route, its timings, and the complete fare with payment details.
X23 Bus Route and Map
The X23 runs between International City (Greece K12 Terminus) and Al Ghubaiba Bus Station. Older RTA lists name Gold Souq Bus Station as the city end, but current timetables use Al Ghubaiba Bus Station. In May 2024, RTA removed some short-distance stops from its express lines, including this route, to cut journey times. Check the current stop list in the S’hail app before you travel.
X23 Bus Stations and Route from International City
The number of bus stations from the International City to the Gold Souq is 25 in total. The name of these stations in sequenced way is given below:
- International City, Greece K12 Terminus 1
- International City, Greece K12 Terminus 2
- International City, Persia M03 2
- International City, Persia O02 2
- International City, Civil Defence 1
- International City, Greece 1
- Vegetable Market 2
- Used Car Exhibition
- Kibsons
- Twa Fouq Center 1
- Manama Street 5
- Latifa Hospital
- Oud Metha Road 2 2
- Oud Metha Road 1
- Oud Metha Metro Station 2
- Rashid Hospital Roundabout 1
- Oud Metha Bus Station 4
- Umm Hurair, Road 2
- BurJuman Metro Bus Stop C
- Four Point Sheraton Hotel 2
- Sharaf DG Metro Station C
- Sharaf DG Metro Bus Stop 2-1
- Nahda Street
- Raffa 2
- Al Ghubaiba Bus Station 29
X23 Bus Stations and Route from the Gold Souq Bus Station
The number of stations from the Gold Souq Bus station to the International city is around 32 in total. The name of these stations in a sequenced way is given below:
- Al Ghubaiba Bus Station 29
- Raffa 1
- Rolla
- Sharaf DG Metro Bus Stop 1-1
- Four Point Sheraton Hotel 1
- BurJuman Metro Bus Stop C
- Oud Metha Bus Station 4
- Umm Hurair, Road 2
- Oud Metha Metro Station 1
- Oud Metha Road 1
- Oud Metha Road 2 1
- Wafi City 1
- Aden Street 1
- Ras Al Khor, Terminus 1
- Used Car Exhibition
- Vegetable Market 1
- Dragon Mart 2 External
- Dubai Textile City Main Gate
- Dubai Textile City
- International City, Lake Entrance
- International City, Morocco
- International City, China 3
- International City, China 2
- International City, Dragon Mart 1 1
- International City, Post office 1
- International City, Central Business district 1
- International City, Central Business district 1
- International City, Rivera Dreams Apartments 1
- International City, CBD Buildings
- International City, Persia O02 1
- International City, Persia M03 1
- International City, Greece K12 Terminus 1
X23 Bus Timings and Schedule
X23 bus timings and frequency is different from the International city to the Gold Souq bus station and from the Gold Souq bus station to the International city.
In this section we have provided complete details for both of these stations.
X23 Bus Timings from International City
- The very first bus starts its travel from the very first station which is International City, Greece K12 Terminus 1 at 05:00AM and it reaches to the last station which is Al Ghubaiba Bus Station 29 at 05:59AM.
- The very last bus starts its travel from the very first station which is International City, Greece K12 Terminus 1 at 11:19PM and it reaches to the last station which is Al Ghubaiba Bus Station 29 at 12:20AM next day.
The bus timings are same from Monday to Friday and are different for Saturday and Sunday as given below:
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday | 05:00AM to 11:00PM |
| Tuesday | 05:00AM to 11:00PM |
| Wednesday | 05:00AM to 11:00PM |
| Thursday | 05:00AM to 11:00PM |
| Friday | 05:00AM to 11:00PM |
| Saturday | 05:00AM to 11:19PM |
| Sunday | 05:06AM to 11:15PM |
Frequency:
The frequency of the X23 bus from Internation City to the Gold Souq Station is 15 to 20 minutes.
X23 Bus Schedule from Gold Souq Bus Station
- The very first bus starts its journey from the Al Ghubaiba Bus Station 29 at 05:00AM and it reaches to the last station which is International City, Greece K12 Terminus 1 at 06:07AM.
- The very last bus starts its journey from the Al Ghubaiba Bus Station 29 at 11:00PM and it reaches to the last station which is International City, Greece K12 Terminus 1 at 12:08AM next day.
The timings are same for all days of the week as given below:
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday | 05:00AM to 11:00PM |
| Tuesday | 05:00AM to 11:00PM |
| Wednesday | 05:00AM to 11:00PM |
| Thursday | 05:00AM to 11:00PM |
| Friday | 05:00AM to 11:00PM |
| Saturday | 05:00AM to 11:00PM |
| Sunday | 05:00AM to 11:00PM |
Frequency:
The frequency of the bus from the Gold Souq Station to the International City is 15 to 25 minutes in total.
X23 Bus Fare and How to Pay
The X23 crosses several zones, so a full trip usually costs AED 5 to 7.50 one way with a Nol Silver card. Fares on Dubai buses are based on Nol zones: with a Nol Silver card, a trip within one zone costs AED 3, two zones cost AED 5 and more than two zones cost AED 7.50. Students and senior citizens with a personal Blue card pay less, and children aged 5 and under travel free.
- Tap your Nol card when you get on and again when you get off.
- Cash and bank cards are not accepted on board.
- Recharge your Nol card at any metro station or ticket machine before you travel.
X23 Bus Facilities
- Air-conditioned buses
- Seats reserved for women at the front of the bus
- Priority seats for senior citizens and people of determination
- Next-stop display screens on many buses
- Space for small bags and shopping
Facilities can vary from one bus to another. Check the RTA S’hail app for live timings.
Other RTA express routes include the X13 (Lulu Village to Satwa), X22 (Al Qusais to Business Bay), X25 (Al Karama to Silicon Oasis) and X28 (Lulu Village to Agora Mall). The N55 night bus also starts at Al Ghubaiba Bus Station.
RTA Customer Care contact
- Toll-Free (Within UAE): 800 90 90
- International Hotline: +971 4 605 1414
- WhatsApp Support: +971 58 800 9090
- Email Assistance: ASK@rta.ae
- Chat with Mahboub Chatbot: Click Here
Before boarding, recharge your Nol card online so you have enough balance for the trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the X23 bus fare?
A full X23 trip usually costs AED 5 to 7.50 one way with a Nol Silver card, depending on the zones crossed.
Are there any other ways to travel from International City to the Gold Souq Station?
Yes, there are some other ways including the taxi, uber, and the metro bus which you can travel from the International City to the Gold Souq Station.
Conclusion
The X23 is a quick and affordable link between International City and Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Bur Dubai. Buses run roughly every 15 to 25 minutes from early morning until late at night. Keep your Nol card topped up and check the S’hail app for live timings.
