“Dubai Airport and Sharjah Airport look so close on the map…” Many people have probably thought this way. Indeed, Dubai International Airport (DXB), known as the gateway to the Middle East, and Sharjah International Airport (SHJ), popular among budget airline users, are surprisingly close to each other. However, if you’re misled by this proximity and casually plan connections between these airports, you might fall into unexpected traps.
This time, we’ll provide detailed information about connections between these airports, including voices from people who actually know the area, covering the realities you should know and smarter choices.
The Actually Complex Relationship Between Airports and Emirates
Dubai International Airport is one of the world’s largest airports, handling over 87 million passengers annually. As Emirates Airlines’ home base, it has the strength of being able to fly anywhere in the world. Meanwhile, neighboring Sharjah International Airport is an important hub for budget airlines, boasting 13 million users annually. While it doesn’t match Dubai Airport in terms of recognition or passenger numbers, it attracts keen attention from cost-conscious travelers.
These two airports are located only about 15-20km apart. However, these airports actually have a complex background that can’t be explained by simple distance alone. This is because these airports belong to separate emirates.
Dubai Emirate and Sharjah Emirate are both constituent emirates of the UAE (United Arab Emirates), but they actually have a subtle rivalry. While Dubai attracts attention worldwide as a “future city,” Sharjah promotes cultural policies that value more traditional values. This relationship between the two affects airport access as well.
The Gap Between Appearance and Reality: Surprisingly Difficult Inter-Airport Travel
As mentioned above, on the map, both airports are only 15-20km apart. This is surprisingly close compared to the distance between Tokyo’s Haneda and Narita airports (about 60km). However, actual travel isn’t that simple.
Travel by public transportation, in particular, is more complex than expected. In fact, there’s no railway directly connecting the airports, let alone direct bus routes.
For example, if you want to go from Dubai Airport to Sharjah Airport, you first need to travel to downtown Dubai by metro or bus, then transfer to a bus bound for Sharjah city at a Dubai bus terminal – it’s a complicated route. Even if you somehow manage to reach Sharjah city, there are few public bus routes extending from there to Sharjah Airport, so you often end up having to use a taxi for the final leg. Total travel time is about 1.5 to 2 hours.
Incidentally, locals mainly use taxis, private cars, or acquaintances’ cars to get to Sharjah Airport. This is the local reality.
The Reality of Taxi Travel: Time and Money
This makes taxi the most realistic option. What’s the travel experience like in this case?
Travel time is 30-40 minutes under ideal conditions. However, this is only when conditions are truly good. During morning and evening rush hours, or during Friday prayer times, it can take more than twice as long.
The fare is about 70-100 AED (approximately $19-27). Since the distance is short, the fare isn’t exactly exorbitant, which is at least some consolation, but if you get caught in traffic, you might find yourself watching the meter climb higher and higher with growing anxiety.
Considering Actual Connection Times…
For those airports, if you still want to make connections despite knowing the risks, it’s good to simulate the required time.
For example, when connecting from Dubai Airport to Sharjah Airport by public transportation, calculating immigration (30 minutes to 1 hour), baggage claim (30 minutes), inter-airport travel (2 hours), check-in and security for the next flight (2 hours)… you’ll need at least 5 hours or more. It takes unimaginably longer than the “distance seen on the map.”
Moreover, unexpected troubles can actually require more time than planned. When allowing for buffer time, you need to estimate at least half a day or more.
For Cost-Effective Choices
The desire to take advantage of airfare price differences is understandable. However, considering the time and cost of inter-airport travel, plus the risk of unexpected troubles, it might not actually be that beneficial.
Rather, even if flights become somewhat more expensive, choosing connections within the same Dubai International Airport often becomes the wiser choice in the end. With comprehensive connection facilities and coordination between airlines, it’s much smoother.
Also, if you value cost-effectiveness, I recommend changing your perspective and planning to stay in Dubai & Sharjah for 1-2 days. If you allow a day or more, you can enjoy visiting the world’s tallest building “Burj Khalifa” and shopping in traditional souks while traveling between Dubai and Sharjah. As long as you don’t insist on a rushed itinerary, you can turn travel constraints into wonderful sightseeing opportunities.
Summary
Dubai International Airport and Sharjah International Airport may look close but are actually difficult to travel between. It’s important not to be misled by the distance on the map and to properly understand the actual situation. Especially for first-time visitors to the UAE or those who need to move on tight schedules, I strongly recommend connections within the same airport or using direct flights.
Considering not just simple airfare price differences, but the time and cost of travel, and above all the comfort of your journey, connections between the two airports are unfortunately not a recommendable option. To make your trip more enjoyable and less stressful, please use this article as a reference.
