Route 3: Al Rolla to Safari Mall Terminal

Industrial Neighborhoods Meet Family Shopping

Route 3 connects downtown Al Rolla with Safari Mall, tracing through Sharjah's industrial neighborhoods while delivering shoppers to one of the emirate's largest family shopping destinations. Operating 6:20 AM–9:50 PM on weekdays (with return service at slightly different intervals), this 30-35 minute route serves dual purposes—industrial worker commuting paired with recreational shopping access. The AED 8 standard fare (AED 6 with Sayer card) represents manageable expense for both regular workers and weekend leisure travelers.

Industrial Corridor to Family Destination

Route 3's journey progresses through distinctly utilitarian territory:

• Al Wahda Road (mixed commercial-residential)
• The historic Central Souq
• Professional King Faisal Street
• The residential presence Jamal Abdul Naser Street
• The mixed-use Al Khan Street
• The functional Second Industrial Street
• The warehouse-dominated Maliha Road (primary industrial corridor)
• The emerging Muwaileh Road

The route concludes at Safari Mall. The progression from downtown commerce through industrial zones reflects Sharjah's economic foundation—manufacturing and distribution centers supporting retail activity.

Route 3's character shifts noticeably mid-journey—beginning with urban commercial density, transitioning toward industrial functionality, ending at family-shopping leisure. Morning crowds bring industrial workers; evening brings shoppers.

Worker Commuting and Leisure Travel Combined

Route 3 serves industrial sector employees accessing employment across the 18 industrial areas that contribute 48% of UAE's total industrial output. Simultaneously, weekend and evening passengers are families heading toward Safari Mall's family-oriented retail focus.

The dual-purpose character means vehicle crowding patterns reflect time—morning industrial-worker-focused density, evening family-shopping-focused populations, midday lighter traffic. AC reliability becomes critical for industrial workers physically active in manufacturing environments, appreciating cool transit relief. Seating reflects pragmatic first-come allocation rather than formal segregation.

Affordability for Working-Class Commuting

Private transport from Al Rolla through industrial zones to Safari Mall costs substantially more; Route 3 at AED 6 (Sayer card) enables daily industrial-worker commuting at manageable cost. Many Sharjah manufacturing employees depend on routes like 3 for workplace accessibility.

The mall itself offers diverse retail (fashion, electronics, home goods) plus entertainment and dining—justifying weekend recreational trips. Route 3 represents transit serving multiple social purposes simultaneously—work enabling, shopping enabling, economic accessibility. The route validates industrial workers as central to transit planning—infrastructure investment reflecting their importance to Sharjah's functioning.

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Route Information Summary

Key Areas Along Route 3

Downtown Commercial Zones

• Al Wahda Road: Mixed commercial-residential corridor
• Central Souq: Historic traditional marketplace
• King Faisal Street: Professional business district

Residential & Mixed-Use Areas

• Jamal Abdul Naser Street: Residential corridor
• Al Khan Street: Mixed-use development zone

Industrial Corridor

• Second Industrial Street: Light manufacturing and workshops
• Maliha Road: Primary industrial corridor with warehouses and distribution centers

Emerging Districts

• Muwaileh Road: Developing commercial and residential area

Destination

• Safari Mall: Family-oriented shopping destination with diverse retail, entertainment, and dining options