Dubai Bus Route 81: Dubai Mall to Mall of The Emirates

Dubai Mall ↔ Mall of The Emirates

📅 Editorial review: October 2026 | ℹī¸ Independent planning guide | đŸŽ¯ Route 81 stops, fares & timing overview

✅ Official RTA Dubai service: Route 81 is an RTA Dubai bus route connecting Dubai Mall with Mall of The Emirates. Buses run daily from 06:00 to 22:30. Payment is by Nol card only.

📋 Route 81 Essential Information

  • Route: 81 — Dubai Mall ↔ Mall of The Emirates
  • Operator: RTA Dubai
  • Stops: 24 towards Mall of The Emirates; 26 towards Dubai Mall
  • First bus: 06:00 | Last bus: 22:30
  • Service: Daily, including weekends
  • Fare: Standard zone-based Nol fare (AED 3 within one zone, AED 5 across two zones, AED 8.50 across three or more zones)
  • Metro connections: no direct metro interchange on this route

📖 About Route 81

Route 81 links Dubai Mall and Mall of The Emirates across Dubai, passing Majlis Al Ghoreifa 1 and Saeed Bin Huzeim Masjid 1 along the way. The stop list below is the complete, current RTA pattern, so you can plan boarding and alighting stops with confidence.

Heading towards Mall of The Emirates, the bus calls at 24 stops; towards Dubai Mall it calls at 26. If you are connecting to the Dubai Metro, the interchange stops on this route are: no direct metro interchange on this route.

🚏 Route 81 Complete Stop List

Towards Mall of The Emirates (from Dubai Mall)

  1. Dubai Mall
  2. City Walk 2
  3. Wasl, Emirates Bank 1
  4. Police Training School
  5. Jumeirah, Post Office 1
  6. Al Arouba Street 1
  7. Rashid Al Hadees Masjid 1
  8. Rashid Bin Bakhait Masjid 1
  9. Majlis Al Ghoreifa 1
  10. Saeed Majid Bil Yoha Masjid 1
  11. Jumeirah 3, Masjid 1
  12. Dubai Offshore Sailing Club 1
  13. Manara, Enoc 1
  14. Abu Manara Masjid
  15. Umm Suqeim 1-1
  16. Umm Suqeim, Dubai Municipality Center 1
  17. Saeed Bin Huzeim Masjid 1
  18. Umm Suqeim, Library 1
  19. Umm Suqeim, Park 1
  20. Maharba Masjid 1
  21. Wild Wadi 1
  22. Burj Al Arab Hotel 1
  23. Dubai Police Academy 1
  24. Mall of The Emirates

Towards Dubai Mall (from Mall of The Emirates)

  1. Mall of The Emirates
  2. Sheikh Zayed Service Rd, Coral Boutique Hotel 1
  3. Insurance Market Bus Stop Landside 1
  4. Dubai Police Academy 2
  5. Burj Al Arab Hotel 2
  6. Wild Wadi 2
  7. Maharba Masjid 2
  8. Umm Suqeim, Park 2
  9. Umm Suqeim, Library 2
  10. Saeed Bin Huzeim Masjid 2
  11. Umm Suqeim, Dubai Municipality Center 2
  12. Umm Suqeim 1-2
  13. Abdallah Mleih Masjid
  14. Manara, Enoc 2
  15. Dubai Offshore Sailing Club 2
  16. Jumeirah 3, Masjid 2
  17. Saeed Majid Bil Yoha Masjid 2
  18. Majlis Al Ghoreifa 2
  19. Hilton Beach Club 2
  20. Rashid Bin Bakhait Masjid 2
  21. Rashid Al Hadees Masjid 2
  22. Al Arouba Street 2
  23. Jumeirah, Post Office 2
  24. Wasl, Emirates Bank 2
  25. City Walk 1
  26. Dubai Mall

⏰ Route 81 Timetable & Service Hours

Scheduled departures from the terminus (RTA timetable, verified October 2026):

From Dubai Mall towards Mall of The Emirates

Day First bus Last bus Departures Average interval
Saturday 06:00 22:51 46 ~20 min
Monday 06:00 22:29 47 ~20 min

From Mall of The Emirates towards Dubai Mall

Day First bus Last bus Departures Average interval
Saturday 06:02 22:55 46 ~25 min
Monday 06:00 22:30 47 ~20 min

đŸ’ŗ Nol Card Fare Information

Route 81 uses Dubai’s standard zone-based Nol fares: AED 3 within a single zone, AED 5 across two zones and AED 8.50 across three or more zones with a Silver Nol card. Always tap in when boarding and keep a minimum balance on the card; RTA buses do not accept cash.

🛍ī¸ Key Destinations on Route 81

  • Umm Suqeim, Park 1 — park
  • Umm Suqeim, Park 2 — park
  • Hilton Beach Club 2 — beach access

🧭 How to Ride Route 81 — Step by Step

  1. Buy or top up a Nol card at any metro station, bus station or authorized retailer.
  2. At the stop, check the sign for route 81 towards your direction’s terminus.
  3. Tap your Nol card on the reader as you board.
  4. Press the stop button before your stop and exit through the rear doors.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What time is the first Route 81 bus?
The first scheduled departures from the termini are at 06:00 from Dubai Mall and 06:00 from Mall of The Emirates.

What time is the last Route 81 bus?
The last scheduled departures are at 22:29 from Dubai Mall and 22:30 from Mall of The Emirates.

Does Route 81 run on weekends?
Yes. The route operates daily, including Saturdays and Sundays.

How do I pay on Route 81?
By Nol card only — tap in when you board. Cash is not accepted on RTA buses.

Route and timetable data: RTA Dubai via Transit. Independently compiled by the BusUpdate editorial team; confirm time-sensitive details with RTA (800 9090, rta.ae) before travelling. Schedule verified October 2026.

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