Getting around Al Quoz is about to become easier, and for a limited time, it won’t cost a dirham.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has expanded its popular Bus On Demand service to Al Quoz, with free unlimited rides available for the first two weeks from July 20.
Once the promotional period ends, fares will return to the standard Dh5 within the zone and Dh7 for interzone trips.
The RTA also confirmed that the service will soon expand to Al Satwa and Mirdif, although launch dates have yet to be announced.
How does Bus On Demand work?
Unlike traditional buses, Bus On Demand doesn’t follow fixed routes or bus stops.
Using the Dubai Bus On Demand app, passengers simply enter their pick-up and drop-off locations. The app then dispatches a shared minibus to collect them, operating much like a ride-hailing service.
Each vehicle can carry up to 13 passengers, offering an affordable alternative to taxis while providing more flexibility than conventional bus routes.
Where is the service available?
With Al Quoz joining the network, Bus On Demand now serves these communities:
Al Barsha 1, 2 and 3
Al Karama
Al Mankhool
Al Nahda
Al Qusais
Al Quoz
Al Rigga
Al Warqa’a
Barsha Heights
Business Bay
DIFC
Downtown Dubai
Dubai Academic City
Dubai Investments Park
Dubai Silicon Oasis
Jumeirah Village Circle
Oud Metha
Port Saeed
Fares after the free period
After the introductory offer, fares will be:
Dh5 for trips within the same zone
Dh7 for travel between zones
Dh2 for trips within Business Bay
Dh4 for each additional passenger included in the same booking
Operating hours
The service operates:
Monday to Thursday & Saturday: 5am to midnight
Friday: 5am to 1am
Sunday: 8am to midnight
The Bus On Demand service forms part of the RTA’s efforts to provide more flexible first and last-mile public transport options across Dubai, particularly in residential communities not directly served by Metro or traditional bus routes.
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Dubai Police have warned residents not to fall for fake part-time job offers circulating on social media and messaging apps after uncovering a scam that tricked a young man into helping criminals move stolen money.
In a social media post, Dubai Police shared how the scam typically unfolds. The victim responded to an online advert promoting a work-from-home job with flexible hours and quick earnings. After being told he had been accepted, he was instructed to open a new bank account or use his existing one to receive and process what were described as customer payments.
Money was then deposited into his account, and he was instructed to transfer it to other bank accounts in exchange for a commission.
The scammers claimed he was working for an overseas financial services company, but investigators later discovered the transfers were linked to a criminal network.
The victim told police he believed the job was genuine and had no idea he was helping fraudsters.
How the scam works
Police said these scams usually begin with online job ads offering fast cash for simple tasks.
Victims may then be asked to:
Use their bank account to receive and transfer money.
Pay registration or activation fees.
Share personal or banking details.
Complete financial transactions for a commission.
Authorities warned that scammers often use unsuspecting people’s bank accounts to move illegally obtained funds, which could leave the account holder facing serious legal consequences.
How to stay safe
Dubai Police urged job seekers to:
Verify employers before accepting any job offer.
Never share bank details with unknown individuals or companies.
Avoid jobs that ask you to transfer money on behalf of others.
Ignore employers requesting upfront payments or registration fees.
Anyone who receives a suspicious job offer is encouraged to report it through Dubai Police’s eCrime platform or by calling 901 for non-emergency assistance.
Getting around Dubai without a car just became a little easier.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has expanded its Bus-On-Demand service to Al Satwa, Al Quoz and Mirdif, taking the total number of neighbourhoods covered across the city to 20.
The app-based service is designed to make short trips quicker and more convenient by connecting residential communities with nearby Metro stations and public transport hubs.
The expansion comes as more residents continue to use the service. During the first six months of 2026, Bus-On-Demand carried more than 527,000 passengers, a 25.1 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.
June was the busiest month so far, with 105,990 passengers using the service.
To meet growing demand, the RTA has increased the fleet to 55 buses while expanding the service area by 54 per cent.
How to book
Booking a ride is simple. Download the Dubai Bus-On-Demand app, create an account and choose your pick-up and drop-off locations.
Passengers can pay using credit cards, debit cards or nol cards directly through the app.
Areas covered
The service is now available in:
Al Barsha
Al Nahda
Dubai Silicon Oasis
Dubai Academic City
Al Rigga
Port Saeed
Business Bay
Downtown Dubai
Oud Metha
Al Karama
Barsha Heights
Al Mankhool
DIFC
Al Warqaa
Dubai Investment Park
Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC)
Al Qusais
Al Satwa
Al Quoz
Mirdif
The RTA says it will continue expanding the service as part of Dubai’s plan to make public transport smarter, more convenient and more sustainable.
Rain continued to sweep across parts of the UAE on Wednesday, with showers reported in Bada Zayed in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region in the afternoon and early evening in Siji, Fujairah, as unstable weather conditions persisted.
The rainfall comes as convective clouds continue to develop across several parts of the country, creating the potential for more showers through the evening.
The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) said unstable weather is expected until 10pm, with convective clouds likely to bring rainfall of varying intensity, strong winds and reduced visibility in some areas.
Residents in affected areas are advised to stay updated with the latest weather alerts and drive carefully, as sudden rain and blowing dust could impact road conditions.
Weather maps show the heaviest cloud cover over large parts of Al Dhafra, with additional cloud formations developing over parts of Al Ain and the Ras Al Khaimah-Fujairah border.
Videos shared on social media showed rain falling in the UAE on Wednesday afternoon, with local weather trackers reporting good rainfall across the area.
The NCM has advised residents in affected areas to stay updated with the latest weather alerts, as convective clouds can develop quickly and may bring sudden showers, gusty winds and blowing dust.
Forecasters continue to monitor the situation and are expected to issue further updates if weather conditions change.