X23 Bus Route Dubai 2026: Al Ghubaiba to International City – Timings, Stops, Fare & Map

X23 Bus Route Dubai connects Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Bur Dubai to International City, one of Dubai’s largest residential communities, passing through Oud Metha and Ras Al Khor along the way. This is one of the more heavily documented routes in the network, though – worth being upfront – also one with the most disagreement between sources on the specifics.

Before relying on any single figure below, know that fare estimates range from AED 3 to AED 7.50 across different guides, and journey time estimates span from as little as 32 minutes to over an hour and twenty minutes depending on the source. This spread likely reflects genuine variation by direction, time of day, and which specific stop pair is being measured – but it means you should treat these as approximate rather than fixed.

Quick Highlights of the X23 Bus Route

X23 Bus Stops

X23 Bus Timings in 2026

The general operating window is roughly 5:00 AM to 11:00-11:30 PM, with buses every 15-20 minutes. Given the significant variance in journey time estimates between sources, build extra buffer time into your plans, especially if you have a fixed appointment at your destination.

X23 Bus Fare and Nol Card

Fare figures genuinely vary across sources – some cite a flat AED 3, others AED 5, and others the full AED 3-7.50 zone-based range. Given this inconsistency, the safest approach is to keep at least AED 10-15 on your Nol card and let the tap-in/tap-out system calculate your actual fare, rather than assuming a specific figure in advance.

Best Places Along the X23 Bus Route

Ras Al Khor: Home to the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, a notable flamingo-watching spot along this corridor.

International City: One of Dubai’s largest and most diverse residential communities, organized into country-themed clusters (Greece Cluster, France Cluster, and others) – a genuinely distinctive part of the city.

X23 Bus Travel Tips

Given the real disagreement in published fare and timing figures for this specific route, don’t plan a tight connection around any single source’s numbers – check the RTA S’hail app immediately before travelling for the most accurate current information. If you’re heading to a specific International City cluster, confirm which stop (Greece Cluster, Civil Defence, Trafalgar Tower, or Post Office Cluster) is closest to your destination, since the community is large and spread across multiple zones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the X23 bus go?
From Al Ghubaiba Bus Station to International City, via Bur Dubai, Oud Metha, and Ras Al Khor.

Why do fare and timing figures vary so much for this route?
Sources genuinely disagree – likely reflecting different measurement points, directions, or times of day. Confirm current figures via RTA before an important trip.

Does X23 stop at Ras Al Khor?
Yes, it’s a confirmed stop along the route, near the wildlife sanctuary.

How many International City clusters does X23 serve?
At least four confirmed: Greece Cluster, Civil Defence, Trafalgar Tower, and Post Office Cluster.

What time does the first X23 bus run?
Generally around 5:00-6:00 AM, though exact times vary by source.

X23 Bus Route Dubai 2026: Al Ghubaiba to International City – Timings, Stops, Fare & Map

X23 is a well-used connector between central Dubai and International City, though it’s genuinely one of the routes where you should trust live RTA data over any single published guide, given how much the fare and timing figures vary across sources.

Nearby Routes and Connections

See the Dubai bus routes hub for other routes serving Bur Dubai and Oud Metha. For live updates, check the RTA official website or S’hail app. X23 Bus Route Dubai 2026: Al Ghubaiba to International City – Timings, Stops, Fare & Map

Also known locally as خط الباص إكس 23 دبي – the route to المدينة العالمية (International City) via رأس الخور (Ras Al Khor). X23 Bus Route Dubai 2026: Al Ghubaiba to International City – Timings, Stops, Fare & Map