Abu Dhabi Airport offers direct buses to both Abu Dhabi city centre and Dubai, 130 km away. Of course, you can also take advantage of car rental services.
Bus to Abu Dhabi
There are several bus routes to Abu Dhabi from the airport. The stops are marked with red and white line numbers in front of each terminal. For information about public transport in Abu Dhabi, visit the city's official website at darbi.itc.gov.ae.
10 best hotels in Abu Dhabi city centre
Tickets
Fares can only be paid using the Hafilat Card, cash or direct card payment at the driver/vending machine is not possible, nor can tickets be purchased via the mobile app for now. The Hafilat Card can be purchased at the ticket counter in the arrivals hall of both Terminal 1 and 3, and can only be paid for with cash.
Tourists can get a free temporary Hafilat Card valid for 1 month.
This card will be loaded with any amount of money you wish directly at the counter or at the green-and-white Hafilat Card machines, which will then be debited each time you travel. You must top up the card to a minimum of 5 dirhams.
Fares to downtown Abu Dhabi for all lines are 4 aed. Fares are paid by attaching the Hafilat card to the reader when boarding the bus (it's at the front and back doors).
Bus routes
- Line A1 - express service to Abu Dhabi Mall
- Travel time to the bus station approximately 45 minutes
- Runs 24/7 every 30 minutes, only once an hour between approx. 19:30-5:30
- Beach Rotana ***** - Luxury hotel right at the final stop
- Line A2 - complementary express service to the city centre and Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station
- Travel time to the bus station approx. 45 minutes
- Runs 24/7 every 60 minutes
- Grand Millennium Al Wahda ***** - Good value hotel next to the bus station
- A10 line - heading from the airport directly to Sheikh Zayed Mosque
- Travel time to the mosque approx. 25 minutes
- Runs from approx. 5:30am to 11:30pm every 60 minutes
Timetables and other information can be found at admobility.gov.ae/bus-service.
Lines A15, A40 and K4 also stop at the airport, but these only serve the surrounding residential areas and mainly serve airport staff.
Taxi to Abu Dhabi
Taxis offer a convenient yet still affordable alternative. The boarding fee at the airport is 25 aed and is also calculated per kilometre travelled 1,60 aed.
The mosque can therefore be reached in about 60 aed, and the city centre in about 80 aed.
There is also an alternative taxi service in Abu Dhabi, Uber, but it will offer similar prices to taxis.
Bus to Dubai
Abu Dhabi Airport is connected to Dubai by direct buses from Dubai Bus (line E102), the Zayed International Airport Shuttle, or Etihad Airways' passenger-only buses.
Book your Dubai hotel in advance
Bus E102
The regular all-passenger E102 line connects the main Terminal A with Al Jafiliya Bus Station, where you can transfer to the Red Line's "MAX" metro station.
Al Jafiliya Station is located near the famous Dubai Frame building.
You can transfer to the Red Line Metro at Ibn Battuta Station on the southern edge of Dubai, which you can use to get to the Dubai Marina area or the Burj Khalifa.
- Price
- 25 aed - to Ibn Battuta station
- 30 aed - to Al Jafiliya station
- Journey time - 75 minutes to Ibn Battuta station
- Frequency - 35-40 minutes
- Operating hours - 24/7
Zayed International Airport Shuttle (AUH Express)
The Zayed International Airport Shuttle express buses (formerly called AUH Express) only connect the airport to the Ibn Battuta Bus Station shopping mall in Dubai, where you can easily transfer to the Dubai Metro.
The bus departs once an hour. Buses run non-stop 24 hours a day. For a detailed timetable, visit zayedinternationalairport.ae/Airport-shuttle.
- Price - 35 aed
- Travel time - 75 minutes
- Frequency - 60 minutes
- Operating Hours - 24/7
Etihad Airways buses
For its passengers only, Etihad Airways offers special buses running from Abu Dhabi Airport Terminal A directly to Dubai's Al Wasl Center stop.
Transportation on these buses is free or included in the price of the flight.
This station is located approximately 200 metres from the "Business Bay" Red Line metro station and approximately 800 metres from the Burj Khalifa.
Detailed departure times can be found on this website: etihad.com/etihad-coach.
Currently, the buses can only be used if you buy a direct ticket to Dubai from Etihad Airways. You will always arrive in Abu Dhabi and be taken to Dubai by this bus.
The bus cannot be booked retrospectively after you have purchased your ticket or on the spot.
Bus to Al Ain
Long distance bus number 490 to Al Ain departs from the airport every 2 hours, schedule here.
Car rental
Explore the UAE beyond the major cities, hire a car directly from the airport and head out into the desert and mountains on the border with Oman.
Many well-known car rental companies have counters at the airport, with weekly rental rates starting at 200 eur.
Hafilat card-temporary use, we got at the airport free of charge at the counter-see photo (terminal A). You can go to the city by A1 and A2. Expect a bus to come and not take you. You have to sit on the bus, so as many seats are available, so many people will take them. To get to the mosque, take line A 10. On the website https://admobility.gov.ae/en/pb-bus-service you can find individual timetables for lines A1,A2,A10 etc.