When we think of the United Arab Emirates, two automatically spring to mind: Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Although Dubai might be the one that attracts the most tourists, Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the UAE.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are neighbours and the distance between Dubai and Abu Dhabi City is about 160 km. It is very easy to go to Dubai or Abu Dhabi on a day trip.
There are no direct air links – and those that are operating are expensive. The best way to get to Abu Dhabi is by car, transfer or bus. In this article we explain the best and easiest routes from Dubai to Abu Dhabi or Abu Dhabi to Dubai.
Dubai to Abu Dhabi by bus
The bus is the cheapest way to travel between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The Road & Transport Authority of Dubai has set up three intercity bus lines which provide a link between the two cities.
Line E100: From Al Ghubaiba bus station in Dubai to Al Wahda central bus station in Abu Dhabi. Bus E100 runs between 5 a.m. and 11:40 p.m. Every 10 to 20 minutes.
Line E101: From Ibn Battuta bus station in Dubai to Al Wahda central bus station in Abu Dhabi. Bus E101 runs between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. Every 30 minutes.
Line E102: This line is very new. It was set up in July 2019, it leaves from Ibn Battuta bus station in Dubai to Mussafah Al Shaabiya bus station in Abu Dhabi. Bus E102 runs between 6.30am and 11.30pm Every 40 minutes.
Prepare your trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi in advance. Depending on the station of departure, the journey can take between 1 hour 50 minutes and 2 hours 15 minutes. This will also depend on the traffic.
How much does it cost to take a bus from Dubai to Abu Dhabi? The price of the trip with public buses is 25 AED per person. You can pay for it by buying a ticket at the counters on site or by using your Nol Card. A Nol card can be used on all Dubai busses, water busses and on the Dubai Metro.
Dubai to Abu Dhabi by Airline coaches
Did you book an economy class flight on Emirates or Etihad Airlines? These airlines offer free shuttle busses between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. All shuttle busses are comfortable and air-conditioned.
Emirates shuttles make six regular trips per day. These shuttles leave from Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport. They arrive in Abu Dhabi in front of the Emirates office. This office is located in Khalidiya near the Corniche, in the centre of the city.
The shuttle service schedules can be viewed directly on the Emirates Airways website.
The Etihad company shuttles make 10 regular trips per day. They leave from downtown Dubai at the Etihad Travel Mall for a direct arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport. The shuttle service schedules can be viewed directly on the Etihad Airways website.
The shuttles are only free when you show your ticket on boarding the shuttle. You can only use these free shuttles on the day of your flight.
To make sure you have a seat on the bus, book your seat at least 48 hours before. Also remember to have your number and have your flight reference with you.
By Private Transfer from Dubai to Abu Dhabi
If you want to go from Dubai to Abu Dhabi without hassle, the best way is still to hire a private transfer. Private transfers via Klook are half the price of a taxi from Dubai to Abu Dhabi.
Just fill in the departure time, where you want to go and the number of passengers! Klook will instantly show you the different transfers and their price.
Dubai to Abu Dhabi as part of an excursion
An organized excursion is without a doubt the best way to get to Abu Dhabi from Dubai. This is especially true if you don’t want to worry about the entire organization of your Day Trip to Abu Dhabi.
One of these tours is this full Day Abu Dhabi tour from Dubai that shows you the Qasr Al Watan Palace and the Grand Mosque. In addition you also head to the Marina mall where you can shop and have lunch.
Pick up from your Dubai city hotel, your Dubai apartment or the Cruise terminal at Port Rashid is included.
Another Dubai to Abu Dhabi day tour takes you past the Grand Mosque and the Abu Dhabi Heritage Village. The Heritage village is filled with replica souks, bedouin tents and craft workshops. You will also take a tour through the city. Here you can admire Abu Dhabi’s glass skyscrapers and palm-lined corniche. Later on you also drive past the Emirates Palace Hotel and go for lunch at the mall next to Ferrari World.
Activities in Abu Dhabi you should not miss out on!
Once there, of course if you do not go through a tour operator, there are the essential activities not to be missed:
- The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque; the most beautiful religious building in Abu Dhabi
- The Louvre in Abu Dhabi; huge collection of objects and works of art.
- Qasr Al Watan Palace: Abu Dhabi’s presidential complex.
- Yas Waterworld: voted best water park in the world at the World Travel Awards
- Visit of the Yas Marina Circuit; one of the most modern Formula 1 circuits in the world.
- The Etihad Towers observation deck; tallest building in Abu Dhabi
- Ferrari World center; the only Ferrari brand theme park outside of Europe
- Warner Bros amusement park;
- Emirates Palace; the most luxurious hotel in Abu Dhabi
- The classic Abu Dhabi hop-on hop-off bus tour.
These few activities are not all there is to do in Abu Dhabi. In order to discover the capital of the United Arab Emirates properly between traditions and modernity, there is still a multitude of things to do in Abu Dhabi. This list is only to give you a overview of the tourist activities that can be done when taking the time to organize a Day Trip to Abu Dhabi from Dubai.
