F04 Bus Route Dubai
The F04 bus is an RTA feeder service linking GGICO Metro Station in Al Garhoud with Sabkha Turnoff in Deira. The service follows a circular route, passing important locations such as DNATA, Clock Tower Roundabout, Maktoum Road, Etisalat Head Office, Union Metro Station, Al Nakhal, Burj Nahar, Naif, and Khaleej Road before returning toward GGICO.
The route has 24 listed stops, although some route overviews describe it as having around 25 stops. A typical journey is estimated at 30–40 minutes, while one detailed stop-by-stop schedule estimates approximately 63 minutes for the complete circular journey.
F04 Bus Route at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Bus Number | F04 |
| Route Type | Circular / feeder service |
| Main Route | GGICO Metro → Sabkha Turnoff → GGICO Metro |
| Starting Area | Al Garhoud / GGICO |
| Destination | Sabkha Turnoff |
| Main Areas | Al Garhoud, Deira, Naif, Sabkha |
| Stops | 24 detailed stops |
| Route Overview | Around 24–25 stops |
| Approx. Distance | 8.2–10 km |
| Typical Journey | 30–40 minutes |
| Detailed Circular Estimate | About 63 minutes |
| Peak Frequency | 7–20 minutes, depending on the schedule cited |
| Off-Peak Frequency | 12–30 minutes |
| Standard Fare Examples | AED 3, AED 5, AED 7.50 |
| Payment | NOL Card / accepted tickets |
| Metro Connections | GGICO and Union |
F04 Bus Route and Major Stops
The F04 route serves both Al Garhoud and Deira, making it useful for passengers travelling between the metro area and locations around Sabkha, Naif, and Burj Nahar.
The detailed route includes 24 stops:
- GGICO Bus Stop
- DNATA 2
- Clock Tower Roundabout
- Maktoum Road
- Etisalat Head Office
- Union Bus Stop 1-1
- Al Nakhal
- Burj Nahar, Intersection
- Naif Intersection
- Sabkha, Turnoff
- Khaleej Road
- Naif Intersection
- Burj Nahar, Intersection
- Al Nakhal 1-2
- Union Bus Stop 1-2
- Etisalat Head Office
- Maktoum Road
- Clock Tower Roundabout
- DNATA 1
- Flame Intersection
- Garhoud, Intersection
- Bustan Rotana Hotel
- Indian High School, Al Garhoud
- GGICO Bus Stop
Because F04 operates as a loop, several locations appear again on the return section of the route.
 F04 Bus Route Map
Important Stops for Passengers
If you do not need every stop, these are some of the most useful points to remember:
- GGICO Metro Station – the main starting point and a connection with the Red Line.
- Union Metro Station – connects with both the Red and Green Lines.
- Burj Nahar Intersection – serves the Burj Nahar area.
- Naif Intersection – useful for reaching the Naif area.
- Sabkha Turnoff – the main destination mentioned for the route.
- Bustan Rotana Hotel – appears on the return section.
- Indian High School, Al Garhoud – one of the final stops before returning to GGICO.
F04 Bus Timetable
The timetable information provided by the four sources shows slightly different times for certain days, particularly Friday, Sunday, public holidays, and Ramadan. The most consistently mentioned weekday schedule starts at approximately 5:30 AM.
Monday to Friday
| Timetable Detail | Time |
|---|---|
| First bus from GGICO | 5:20–5:30 AM |
| Last bus from GGICO | Around 11:30 PM |
| First bus from Sabkha | 5:40 AM |
| Last bus from Sabkha | Around 11:45 PM |
| Peak frequency | 15–20 minutes |
| Peak morning | 7:00–9:00 AM |
| Peak evening | 5:00–7:00 PM |
One detailed timetable gives the first GGICO departure as 5:30 AM and the final departure as 11:30 PM, while another source gives an approximate starting range of 5:20–5:30 AM.
Saturday and Sunday
Weekend service generally begins around 6:00 AM and continues until approximately midnight.
| Day | First Bus | Last Bus |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 6:00 AM | Around 12:00 midnight |
| Sunday | 6:00 AM | Around 12:03–12:07 AM |
The reported weekend frequency is generally 20–30 minutes.
Friday and Holiday Timings
The supplied route information indicates that Friday and holiday schedules can differ from the standard weekday timetable. One schedule mentions a Friday first departure around 5:40 AM, with the last service sometimes extending to approximately 1:07 AM.
Timings can also change during public holidays and Ramadan, so passengers should allow for possible variations.
F04 Bus Frequency
The frequency depends on the time of day and which timetable is being followed.
| Period | Reported Frequency |
|---|---|
| Morning peak | 7–8 minutes in one detailed schedule |
| Evening peak | 7–8 minutes in one detailed schedule |
| General peak | 15–20 minutes |
| Off-peak | 12–15 minutes in one detailed schedule |
| General off-peak | 20–30 minutes |
| Weekend | 20–30 minutes |
The difference between these figures reflects the different timetable details reported by the supplied sources. For planning purposes, the route information indicates that buses may arrive more frequently during busy periods.
F04 Bus Fare
The F04 fare depends on the number of zones travelled through and the type of ticket or card used.
| Fare Category | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 Zone | AED 3 |
| 2 Zones | AED 5 |
| 3+ Zones | AED 7.50 |
| Children under 5 | Free |
| People of Determination | Free with permit |
| Gold Card | AED 6–15 |
| Red Ticket | AED 4–8.50 |
One of the supplied sources notes that many F04 journeys remain within 1 zone, making AED 3 the relevant fare for those trips.
How to Pay for F04
The route information states that passengers should use an NOL Card or accepted ticket rather than paying cash directly on the bus.
The mentioned payment options include:
- Silver NOL Card
- Gold NOL Card
- Blue NOL Card
- Personal NOL Card
- Red Ticket
The detailed fare information also states that a metro-to-feeder transfer may be free within 30 minutes of tapping out at the metro station when using eligible NOL cards.
F04 Route Distance and Journey Time
The reported route distance ranges from approximately 8.2 km to 10 km.
A detailed route listing gives the distance as 8.2 km, while broader route descriptions place it around 8–10 km or 10–20 km.
For journey duration, the most common estimate is 30–40 minutes, depending on traffic and route conditions. A detailed stop-by-stop schedule, however, estimates approximately 63 minutes for the full circular journey.
This difference is important because the 30–40 minute figure describes a typical journey estimate, while the 63-minute figure represents a detailed complete loop with estimated timing across all 24 stops.
F04 Stop-by-Stop Estimated Times
The detailed route schedule provides estimated arrival times at each stop. These are useful for understanding how the circular journey progresses.
| # | Stop | Estimated Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GGICO Bus Stop | 0 min |
| 2 | DNATA 2 | 5 min |
| 3 | Clock Tower Roundabout | 7 min |
| 4 | Maktoum Road | 10 min |
| 5 | Etisalat Head Office | 12 min |
| 6 | Union Bus Stop 1-1 | 15 min |
| 7 | Al Nakhal | 18 min |
| 8 | Burj Nahar, Intersection | 22 min |
| 9 | Naif Intersection | 23 min |
| 10 | Sabkha, Turnoff | 27 min |
| 11 | Khaleej Road | 31 min |
| 12 | Naif Intersection | 36 min |
| 13 | Burj Nahar, Intersection | 37 min |
| 14 | Al Nakhal 1-2 | 39 min |
| 15 | Union Bus Stop 1-2 | 44 min |
| 16 | Etisalat Head Office | 47 min |
| 17 | Maktoum Road | 48 min |
| 18 | Clock Tower Roundabout | 49 min |
| 19 | DNATA 1 | 52 min |
| 20 | Flame Intersection | 54 min |
| 21 | Garhoud, Intersection | 57 min |
| 22 | Bustan Rotana Hotel | 59 min |
| 23 | Indian High School, Al Garhoud | 60 min |
| 24 | GGICO Bus Stop | 63 min |
These times are estimated rather than guaranteed arrival times, as traffic and operational conditions can affect the actual journey.
F04 and Metro Connections
F04 is particularly useful for passengers connecting with Dubai Metro.
GGICO Metro Station
GGICO Metro Station is associated with the Red Line and serves as the main starting point of the F04 route in the supplied information.
Union Metro Station
Union Metro Station is another important connection. It provides access to both the Red Line and Green Line.
This makes the F04 useful for passengers travelling between the GGICO/Al Garhoud area and central parts of Deira.
F04 Route Areas
The service passes through or near several important Dubai areas and landmarks, including:
- Al Garhoud
- Deira
- Sabkha
- Naif
- Burj Nahar
- Khaleej Road
- Al Nakhal
- Union
- Maktoum Road
- Garhoud
The route therefore connects a metro-accessible area around Al Garhoud with commercial and residential locations around Deira and Sabkha.
F04 Bus Travel Tips
Keep Your NOL Card Ready
Cash is not listed as the standard payment method in the supplied route information. Keep an appropriate NOL Card or accepted ticket ready before boarding.
Check Your Zone
The fare changes according to the number of zones travelled. The supplied figures are AED 3 for 1 zone, AED 5 for 2 zones, and AED 7.50 for 3 or more zones.
Allow Extra Time During Peak Hours
The main peak periods mentioned are 7:00–9:00 AM and 5:00–7:00 PM. Traffic during these periods can affect the actual journey.
Remember the Circular Route
F04 is described as a circular service, so passengers should check the direction and destination displayed on the bus before boarding.
Allow for Timetable Changes
The supplied information indicates that Friday, public holiday, and Ramadan schedules may differ from the regular timetable.
F04 Bus Route: Quick Numbers
| Information | Number |
|---|---|
| Bus route | F04 |
| Detailed stops | 24 |
| Route overview | 24–25 stops |
| Distance | 8.2–10 km |
| Typical journey | 30–40 minutes |
| Detailed full-loop estimate | 63 minutes |
| Weekday first bus | 5:20–5:30 AM |
| Weekday last GGICO bus | 11:30 PM |
| First Sabkha bus | 5:40 AM |
| Last Sabkha bus | 11:45 PM |
| Weekend start | 6:00 AM |
| Weekend end | Around midnight |
| Peak period | 7:00–9:00 AM / 5:00–7:00 PM |
| Peak frequency | 7–20 minutes |
| Off-peak frequency | 12–30 minutes |
| 1-zone fare | AED 3 |
| 2-zone fare | AED 5 |
| 3+ zone fare | AED 7.50 |
| Transfer window mentioned | 30 minutes |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the F04 bus route in Dubai?
F04 is a circular RTA feeder service connecting GGICO Metro Station in Al Garhoud with Sabkha Turnoff in Deira and returning to GGICO.
How many stops does F04 have?
The detailed route contains 24 stops. Some route overviews describe the service as having approximately 25 stops.
What time does F04 start?
The weekday first bus is reported around 5:20–5:30 AM, while the weekend service generally starts at 6:00 AM.
What time is the last F04 bus?
The last GGICO departure on weekdays is around 11:30 PM, while the last Sabkha service is around 11:45 PM. Weekend service can continue until around midnight.
How much is the F04 bus fare?
The supplied fare information lists AED 3 for 1 zone, AED 5 for 2 zones, and AED 7.50 for 3 or more zones.
Does F04 accept NOL Card?
Yes. The supplied information identifies NOL Cards and accepted tickets as the payment methods for the route.
Does F04 connect with Dubai Metro?
Yes. The route connects with GGICO Metro Station and Union Metro Station. GGICO is associated with the Red Line, while Union provides Red and Green Line connections.
How long does F04 take?
A typical journey is estimated at 30–40 minutes, while a detailed schedule estimates approximately 63 minutes for the complete circular route.
What is the F04 route distance?
The detailed route information gives 8.2 km, while broader estimates place the distance around 8–10 km.
Conclusion
F04 is a useful Dubai feeder route for travelling between GGICO/Al Garhoud and Sabkha in Deira, with connections to GGICO and Union Metro Stations. The detailed route contains 24 stops, covers approximately 8.2–10 km, and commonly takes around 30–40 minutes, although the full circular schedule can reach approximately 63 minutes. Fares start at AED 3 for 1 zone, and passengers should use an NOL Card or accepted ticket. For the most accurate trip planning, allow extra time during peak periods and account for timetable changes on Fridays, holidays, and Ramadan.
