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Dubai Roads & Transport owned Neoplan Solaris bus which is part of the Dubai to Sharjah bus service takes a breather in the bus station in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates ©s. shankar 
An Indian built Eicher mini bus in Sharjah, UAE. Eicher is now attempting to give other Indian bus builders a run for their money by introducing several new models of buses, including full sized large buses. ©s. shankar 
An ancient Nissan Diesel bus provides a local service in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Owned by the Al Ain Municipality, some of the Nissan Diesels of that era had extended front bumpers, as seen here. ©s. shankar 
The Big Bus Co. of the UK operates a similar hop on hop off service in Dubai. The fleet consists mostly of obsolete London double decker buses. Here is one on its rounds on the Al Seef Road in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. ©s. shankar 
ome of the recent additions to Dubai\’s Big Bus fleet have been Chinese built buses. Here is one of the new Chinese buses, displayed in the Arabian Travel Market travel exhibition in Dubai in 2007. This bus had not yet entered service at that time, but is very much operational now.
©s. shankar 
A Chinese built local city bus in Sharjah, UAE waits by the roadside at night as the driver has made an unscheduled and impromptu halt to fetch his dinner from a nearby restaurant. ©s. shankar 
The Abu Dhabi Municipality introduced a free city bus service in July 2008, using a fleet of brand new Chinese Ankai HFF6100GK83 buses.
©s. shankar
A Trans Mk.2 bus on sale in the second hand car market in Sharjah. Belhasa Engg. in Sharjah assembles Trans buses using a mix of parts from Ashok Leyland (India) and Chinese bus makers. ©s. shankar 
A Tata 608 bus on sale in the used car market in Sharjah. This bus had been used to transport staff for one of the local companies in this town. ©s. shankar 
Having finished its duties for the day, an ancient Leyland of the Big Bus Co. in Dubai prepares to leave for the depot for its well earned rest for the night. ©s. shankar 
A well turned out Iveco bus in the Al Ain bus station in the UAE. Operated by the Al Ain Municipality, this bus has apparently been taken on lease from a private company, as the sign under the windshield shows. ©s. shankar 
A new Mercedes bus which is part of the Dubai to Sharjah inter emirate bus service crawls through the notorious Sharjah peak hour traffic as it nears its destination. ©s. shankar 
Still looking fairly new, a Hyundai mini bus is put up for sale in the Sharjah used car market. The only tell tale signs of the state of the bus are the missing licence plates and the junk on its inside. ©s. shankar 
Exhibiting typical Indian style bodywork, a well worn Ashok Leyland bus used formerly for staff transport is offered for sale in the Sharjah used cars market. ©s. shankar
Still bearing its Abu Dhabi licence plate, an old Iveco bus stands abandoned in the used cars market in 2007 in Sharjah. I had seen this bus brand new around 1994 when it was brought in to transport oil company staff in Abu Dhabi. ©s. shankar 
Its rare to see American built buses in the UAE. Here, an \’International\’ is caked is dust as it waits for a customer in the Sharjah used cars market. The bus was probably used for staff transport in its better days. ©s. shankar 
Bearing Dubai licence plates, a pair of aircon luxury Daewoo coaches look rather abandoned in an open ground in Sharjah. ©s. shankar 
An abandoned Nissan Civilian mini bus, formerly owned by the Dubai Police awaits a customer in the Sharjah used cars market in the UAE.
©s. shankar 
Nearly fifteen years old, an ancient Nissan Diesel bus owned by the Al Ain Municipality in the UAE provides a local service. A few buses of that era had extended front bumpers, a seen here. This pic was shot in 2008. ©s. shankar 
Full front view of a brand new Hyundai city bus in Abu Dhabi. The service was introduced in July 2008 and is free (no fares) till end 2008. Soon after the buses were introduced however, the Abu Dhabi Municipality thought it fit to remove the large \’H\’ Hyundai logo from the front end of the buses. ©s. shankar 
Dubao\’s Roads & Transport Authority is perking up its fleet by inducting a number of new buses for the city bus service. Here a new Solaris Neoplan integral bus prepares to leave the terminus at an impossible location at the Dubai International Airport. (2008) ©s. shankar
Several private and Govt. buses leave from Sharjah several times a week to other destinations in the Middle East such as Saudi, Syria, Bahrain etc. This grey Mercedes bus seen in Sharjah bears Saudi licence plates and will leave for that country shortly. Note impossible purple marker lamps. ©s. shankar 
Here is another Mercedes O 303 coach in Sharjah readying to leave for another Middle Eastern destination. The bus bears Sharjah licence plates, but advertises for a travel company based in Greece! ©s. shankar 
The emirate of Sharjah in the UAE has been faltering off and on about starting a comprehensive bus network in the emirate, but has not made much headway. One does spot Sharjah Transport vehicles on the roads sporting a poorly finished orange- white livery. A Chinese built Higer bus of the Sharjah Trasnport is seen here parked outside the main bus station in Dec. 2008. ©s. shankar 
The UAE\’s Roads & Transport Authority runs buses between Dubai and other Emirates. These buses bear the \’Emirates Express\’ logo, probably to distinguish them from the city buses which bear an identical livery. While most of these inter city buses are Mercedes or Neoplan/ Solaris, there are a few stray Daewoos, of which this is one. This one is seen in the bus station in Sharjah in Dec. 2008, about to leave on its return journey to Dubai. ©s. shankar 
The UAE\’s Roads & Transport has acquired several Neoplan double decker buses, which which have been pressed into service on the Dubai to Sharjah route. One of these units is seen here leaving the bus station in Sharjah in Dec.2008 on its journey to Dubai. The buses are rather glassy, and being brand new, are gleaming, so the distracting reflections on the glass was inevitable. In fact, I had deleted one image as there was just too much backgroung clutter on the windshield in the foreground. ©s. shankar 
This is a rear view of another Neoplan double decker bus in Sharjah. I had described the service aspect in the previous photo. ©s. shankar 
Sharjah is trying to set up a comprehensive bus network in the emirate, for which it has acquired a motley collection of Chinese buses of various makes, in addition to Nissan Civilians and a few rather poorly finished Mercedes Benz Elba buses, two of which are seen here. The dark glasses are a real pain as one cannot see where one is going, especially in the evenings. Sharjah Transport has installed these hideous dark glasses on its city buses too, rendering it impossible for the uninitiated to travel by bus, unless one is pretty darned sure as to where he should disembark.
©s. shankar
Another of the Mercedes Elba buses with the hideous dark glasses all round. The finish of these buses is also not upto much, as the paint is turned out in matt finish, unlike the gleaming red and white buses of Dubai. Some of these buses are spotted running all the way to Abu Dhabi, although there have been no official announcements of such services. This Merc Elba is seen parked outside the main bus station in Sharjah in Dec. 2008. ©s. shankar 
One more of those buses that ply from Sharjah to other Middle Eastern destinations (Syria, Jordan, Saudi etc.). This time its a Setra in a brown-purple livery. The bus is parked nearby the departure area and would probably leave in a couple of days time. Several of these buses are bought second hand from Europe (notably Greece or Germany), and carry the markings of the original owner. ©s. shankar 
This bus has been around for a while now, and plies regularly between Sharjah in the UAE and other Middle Eastern destinations. This is a high deck bus. There was also a double decker version of this same model of Neoplan, but it appears to have been scrapped last year. ©s. shankar 
The Mercedes O303 seems to be choice numero uno in most of the Middle East. Here, a Sharjah registered D303 plying to other Middle Eastern destinations is parked awaiting its eventual departure. Despite its dreadful baby pink livery, the bus still bears some of its original European markings. ©s. shankar 
Another Mercedes O303 is being readied for departure in Sharjah. (Dec. 2008). Although the bus is open, there was no crew, who have probably gone off to fetch the luggage, which will be stuffed into the below floor hold. These buses carry quite a lot of cargo as well. ©s. shankar 
Another Neoplan which is part of the service from Sharjah to Middle Eastern destinations is parked quite far from its departure point. Neoplan buses are comparatively rare in Dubai, but the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai have recently acquired a fleet of new Neoplans (some Solaris) single and double deckers, with more to come by the 1st quarter of 2009. ©s. shankar 
One of the Roads & Transport Authority\’s new Neoplan double deckers prepares to depart from Sharjah bus station to Dubai. (Dec. 2008)
©s. shankar
A new Solaris Neoplan bendy bus glistens in the early morning sun opposite the Lamcy mall in Dubai. (Jan.2009). The bendys route numbers are preceded by the letter ‘C’ in Dubai. ©s. shankar 
An Duck Tours Dubai owned amphibious bus of unknown make awaits riders at the Bur Juman Mall in Dubai. (march 2009) ©s. shankar 
Another view of the Duck Tours amphibious bus in Dubai. I have actually witnessed this bus in the water. (March 2009). ©s. shankar 
Rear end of amphibious bus. Note the high ground clearance and the ladder to get passengers on board. The rear of the bus was stacked with life jackets. (March 2009). ©s. shankar 
A Dubai RTA run bendy bus (left) has just arrived at its destination (Lamcy Plaza mall) while another (right) leaves for Qusais,the destination at the other end. Most of these buses are brand new due to which the shine and glitter result in a lot of distracting reflectons. All bendy bus routes in Dubai are preceded by the ‘C\ letter, and buses run with headlights on all day. ©s. shankar 
The driver answers a query from a passenger before starting off his brand new Merc. bus on Route 88 from Sharjah\’s Rolla Square. (Apr. 2009). Sharjah has recently put out several new bus routes and has acquired a new fleet, mostly Chinese built vehicles, but with some Mercedes vehicles thrown in as well. The routes have received very little publicity, yet are well popularized by heresay, due to which most routes are well patronized. ©s. shankar 
Full load for a Scania bus (bodywork by Marco Polo), of the Dubai public transport network. The bus is seen here in the old livery, which has now been changed to blood red on the face, minus the weight. Since this photo was shot in 2007, many of these Scania vehicles have been replaced by a mixture of Mercedes, Solaris and Neoplan vehicles. ©s. shankar
Seen here is an elderly Nissan Diesel on pit stop on the Abu Dhabi to Al Ain service in the UAE. This pic was shot by me in 1993. These vehicles have since been replaced, but a few can still be seen under private ownership and bearing different liveries, used for staff transport by the many construction companies in the UAE. ©s. shankar 
Abu Dhabi is now replacing most of its Chinese built city buses with brand new MAN Lion’s City low floor coaches. Two examples of this are awaiting departure for their destinations at the Abu Dhabi Marina Mall. Al Ain, a city some 160 km away but still in the Abu Dhabi emirate, also has similar MAN buses along with a few Mercs. Those buses have an orange- white livery. ©s. shankar 
Abu Dhabi Department of Transport bought 115 China-built Anhui Ankai HFF6100s and 8040 is shown at Breakwater. © Ian Lynas 
Dubai RTA 0344 is a Scania L94IB with Marcopolo bodywork photographed in October 2009 at the Al Ghubaiba Bus Station. © Ian Lynas 
Dubai RTA Emirates Express fleet includes many Volvo B12B with Sunsundegai Sideral coachwork. E6275 is shown arriving at Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Dubai. © Ian Lynas 
Dubai RTA 0837 a Neoplan approaching Gold Souk Bus Station in October 2009. © Ian Lynas 
Dubai RTA 1169 Al Neoplan 3-axle double-decker at Gold Souk Bus Station. © Ian Lynas
Abu Dhabi DoT 1007 a MAN NL313 leaving Breakwater Shopping Mall in October 2009. © Ian Lynas 
Abu Dhabi DoT operate some long-distance services within the Emirate and AD36822 is an Iveco with Marcopolo Andare coachwork photographed at Abu Dhabi Bus Station in October 2009. © Ian Lynas 
Emirates Express E6116 a Mercedes-Benz with Ghabbour bodywork photographed at Gold Souq Bus Station in Dubai. © Ian Lynas 
RTA Dubai 0417 a Scania with Marcopolo coachwork at Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in October 2009. © Ian Lynas 
RTA Dubai 0899 a Solaris Urbino 18 artic arriving at Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in October 2009. © Ian Lynas 
RTA Dubai 1303 a Mercedes-Benz Citaro photographed in October 2009 at the Mall of the Emirates. © Ian Lynas 
L159 is an Anhui Ankai open-top double-decker working for The Big Bus Co in Dubai. © Ian Lynas
RTA Dubai received 512 VDL Citeas buses in 2008-2009. This is 1546 leaving Gold Souq Bus Station. © Ian Lynas 
RTA Dubai D44753 (I forgot to get the fleet number) is a Scania with Marcopolo coachwork photographed at Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in October 2009. © Ian Lynas 
A Setra high-deck bus which is part of a service from Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) to another Middle Eastern country enjoys is break in Sharjah before commencing on its long trip a couple of days later. (May 2010). ©s. shankar 
The Chinese have invaded most countries in full force with a wide range of buses with attractive body work that can easily match that of Volvo and others. The performance of course is another matter altogether. Here is an attractively turned out Yutong coach waiting outside the GGICO train station in Dubai\’s Garhoud area. (Dec. 2010). ©s. shankar 
One of several hundred King Long LQ6950SQ urban buses whic entered service in the Syrian capital during 2008-09. The lack of air-conditioning is noteworthy given the sometimes ferocious heat of Damascan summers. I presume that cost was an influencing factor in the decision. © C W Davison 
A King Long KLQ6950SQ recently delivered to and operating in the Syrian capital, Damascus, seen in October 2009. © C W Davison 
Rear view of a King Long KLG6950 city bus loading at a busy stop in Damascus. Note the modern passenger shelter with advertising and the comprehensive route information (in Arabic) displayed on stainless steel poles. © C W Davison
HYUNDAI UNIVERSE AND DAEWOO WAITING FOR THE RUGBY PLAYERS IN DUBAI © AL SHULA 
HYUNDAI UNIVERSE IN DUBAI © AL SHULA 
HYUNDAI UNIVERSE AND DAEWOO PARKED SIDE BY SIDE IN DUBAI © AL SHULA 
A privately owned Hyundai Universe bus gleams in the afternoon sunlight, setting out unpleasant reflections. The bus is waiting for delegates nearby the Airport show 2011 in Dubai. © AL SHULA 
Hyundai Universe bus waiting for tourists at the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel Dubai – 2011. © Al Shula 
Tourists boarding a Hyundai Universe and Daewoo bus at Holiday Inn – Dubai © Al Shula 
Hyundai Universe at Hotel – Holiday Inn Express, Dubai. © Al Shula
Daewoo BH116 – at Hotel – Holiday Inn Express, Dubai. © Al Shula
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