Transit Apps in United Arab Emirates

Public transportation apps, curated for travelers visiting United Arab Emirates.

Last updated: August 202612 sources

5 apps1 essential

What to know about Transit in United Arab Emirates

The UAE has no national urban-transit app or fare card.

Best Transit apps in United Arab Emirates (2026)

S'hailEssential

Dubai RTA's official planner for metro, tram, bus, marine transport and taxi connections.

Pro tip: Use guest mode if registration or a foreign OTP fails. Keep the route screenshot and confirm late-night service with RTA.

App Store Play Store Website

nol Pay

Dubai's official app for checking and topping up a physical nol card with a compatible NFC phone.

Pro tip: Tap the card to the phone after topping up. Manual card-number top-ups can take 45 minutes to four hours to activate.

App Store Play Store Website

Abu Dhabi Link

Abu Dhabi's AED 2 on-demand shared transit service as of August 2026 in zones such as Yas and Saadiyat islands.

Pro tip: Confirm the live service zone and allow extra time. Booking delays are reported, and it is not a general citywide taxi app.

App Store Play Store Website

Masaar Travel

Ajman's new official Android tool for bus routes, live tracking, schedules and Masaar card management.

Pro tip: Use it only for Ajman. No verified iPhone listing was found, so iPhone users should use the official timetable and station help.

Play Store Website

Sayr by RAKTA

Ras Al Khaimah's official journey tool for local and intercity buses, taxi booking and service information.

Pro tip: Install it only for Ras Al Khaimah. Check the exact route and last service because it does not cover the other emirates.

App Store Play Store Website

Dubai uses nol, Abu Dhabi uses Hafilat, Sharjah uses Sayer, Ajman uses Masaar and Ras Al Khaimah uses its own RAKTA services. They are not interchangeable. In Dubai, S'hail is the official multimodal planner for metro, tram, buses, marine transport and taxis, and guest mode is enough for most route checks. nol Pay can top up a physical nol card on an NFC-capable phone, but the documented activation delay can range from 45 minutes to four hours when the card number is entered manually.

Tapping the physical card to the phone after top-up is the faster method. Station machines and ticket offices are simpler fallbacks. In Abu Dhabi, buy a physical Hafilat card for ordinary buses. Abu Dhabi Link is a separate AED 2 on-demand shared service as of August 2026 in limited zones including Yas, Saadiyat, Khalifa City and Al Shahama; current app reviews report booking delays, so do not make it a time-critical airport plan.

Masaar Travel is Ajman's new Android bus planner and card tool, while Sayr covers Ras Al Khaimah buses, intercity services and taxis. Sharjah's Sayer is a physical card, and the official timetable remains more dependable than a generic app for some routes. Always check the named emirate operator for live hours, fares and event changes.