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 on public transport in Abu Dhabi, visit the city's official website at darbi.itc.gov.ae.
Cheap hotels in Abu Dhabi city centre
Fares can only be paid using the Hafilat Card, paying cash or directly by card 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 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 can be loaded directly onto the Hafilat Card at the ticket counter or at the green and white Hafilat Card machines, and will 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 by the front and back doors).
- Line A1 - express service to the city centre and Sultan bin Zayed main bus station
- Travel time to the bus station approx. 45 minutes
- Runs 24/7 every 30 minutes, only once an hour between approx. 19:30-5:30
- Line A2 - complementary express service to the city centre and Sultan bin Zayed main bus station
- Travel time to the bus station approx. 45 minutes
- Runs 24/7 every 60 minutes
- Line A10 - 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 A10, A20, A40 and K4 also stop at the airport, but they 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 calculated per kilometre travelled 1,60 aed. The mosque can be reached in about 60 aed, 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 by AUH Express buses to the Ibn Battuta Bus Station in Dubai Mall, where you can easily transfer to the Dubai Metro.
Boarding stations can be found at Terminal 2 as well as Terminal 1 and 3. Departures are always at all hours, and every hour throughout the day. Buses run non-stop 24 hours a day. A detailed timetable can be found at abudhabiairport.ae/en.
The journey time between the airport and Dubai is 75 minutes.
Tickets cost 35 aed and can be purchased locally.
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.