Abu Dhabi is an amazing destination for tourism with numerous places you could visit, but it is still extremely common for the visitors of this emirate to want to visit Dubai and enjoy its iconic attractions. Today, we will discuss all the ways you can travel from Abu Dhabi to Dubai to help you find the best option for your needs and preferences.
All Means of Traveling from Abu Dhabi to Dubai
Thanks to the well-developed infrastructure of the UAE, you have a wide range of ways to travel between the emirates. We will discuss each option separately, highlighting both its advantages and drawbacks.
Rented Car
Renting a car in Abu Dhabi is perhaps the most well-balanced option for any person who intends to travel to Dubai. It offers a great combination of adequate pricing, convenience, and flexibility.
Despite the popular misconception, renting cars in the UAE is not always about expensive and luxury vehicles, as you can find many affordable options according to your preferences.
Needless to say, the benefits of having a car do not end with the trip between the emirates. You will be able to explore Dubai and its outskirts without any limitations, and, thanks to the city’s infrastructure, you won’t have to worry about finding a parking spot.
Bus
The United Arab Emirates have a sophisticated network of public transport, and there are several bus itineraries that will get you from Abu Dhabi to Dubai:
- E100 – This itinerary sets off from the Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station twice per hour, taking a bit longer than two hours to reach the Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Dubai.
- E101 – This route has the same starting point and the same schedule as E100, but it will take you to the Ibn Battuta Bus Station in Dubai within around one hour and forty-five minutes.
- E102 – This bus also takes off two times every hour from the Musaffah Community Bus Station in Abu Dhabi, arriving at the Al Jafiliya Bus Station in Dubai within around two hours.
- Zayed Airport Shuttle Bus – A special shuttle that will take you from the Zayed International Airport to the Ibn Battuta Bus Station. It’s a great option if your flight lands in Abu Dhabi and your final destination is Dubai. The bus takes off every hour with a 24/7 schedule.
The obvious advantage of using a bus for the trip is related to its low price, as it is the cheapest means of travel you can find at the moment. Of course, the main downside is that it’s fairly inconvenient, and you won’t be able to get directly to the destination you intend to reach in Dubai.
Train
Etihad Rail is a monumental project that is set to change the entire landscape of traveling between the main cities of the United Arab Emirates. The railroad network is already in use for freight trains, and it is scheduled to open for passengers in the near future.
It definitely deserves an article of its own that would cover all the possible traveling opportunities it would open, but, for now, we are only interested in getting from Abu Dhabi to Dubai. It has already been announced that such a trip would take only around 50 minutes, making it by far the most efficient option you could take.
These undeniable advantages come with the only drawback of having fixed schedules and points of arrival and departure. The time you save on the trip will be enough to cover reaching virtually any place in the city, but it still won’t be as flexible as renting a car.
Taxi
Getting a cab is an option that grants you the flexibility we have just mentioned, as you will be able to drive from your place in Abu Dhabi to the exact location in Dubai you’re interested in visiting.
There are both local cabs and apps like Uber available in the UAE, so finding a taxi won’t be an issue, and the entire process will only take several minutes.
Considering Etihad Rail is not in operation for passengers yet, taxis are the most flexible and time-efficient means of travel between the emirates, as you won’t need to match the bus schedules or park the vehicle.
As you could have already guessed, the main pitfall here relates to the prices, as it is surely much more expensive to get around in a cab than it is to rent a car or take a bus from Abu Dhabi to Dubai.
Helicopter
If you’re visiting the UAE to try out the luxurious lifestyle the country is known for and money is not an issue, you could get a helicopter trip to have an interesting experience and enjoy the stunning bird’s eye views of Dubai’s skyline.
On average, the flight itself takes around 30 minutes, but you should take into account the preparation time as well. It is also important to note that helicopter rides are not available on demand, meaning you will need to make a booking in advance.
Boat
In a similar fashion, you can get a boat that will take you from Abu Dhabi to Dubai. Depending on the configuration of your trip, it might take anywhere from two hours to multiple days, as there are both short rides and long cruises available.
Plane
Even though both Dubai and Abu Dhabi have their own airports, there are no domestic flights connecting them. The distance between the emirates is shorter than 150 kilometers, so the boarding time and pre-flight preparations would diminish any edge you could potentially get in terms of speed. Needless to say, domestic flights would also be much more expensive than most other means of travel we have covered so far.
How Much Does It Cost to Travel from Abu Dhabi to Dubai?
There are numerous factors affecting the total costs you would face with most of the traveling options we have discussed today. A rough estimate on the prices would be as follows:
- Renting a car – depending on the model and rental company, renting a car would cost anywhere between 100 AED to 10,000 AED per day;
- Taking a bus – the standard price for a one-way bus ticket is 25 AED;
- Ordering a cab – depending on the company and the vehicle class, a cab might cost you from 300 AED to 600 AED;
- Riding a helicopter – the prices for helicopter rides vary wildly, ranging from 15,000 AED to 55,000 AED per person or group;
- Taking a boat – simple boat trips usually go for around 300 AED per person, while multi-day cruises are much more expensive.
FAQ
What is the fastest way to get from Abu Dhabi to Dubai?
At the time of writing, Etihad Rail is not yet operational for passengers, so the fastest option to travel from Abu Dhabi to Dubai is by car, whether it is a personal vehicle, a rented car, or a cab.
What is the cheapest way to travel from Abu Dhabi to Dubai?
The cheapest way to get from Abu Dhabi to Dubai is to take a bus. The itineraries you can use are E100, E101, and E102, where the standard ticket price is 25 AED.
What is the most comfortable means of travel between Abu Dhabi and Dubai?
The definition of comfort is individual, but renting a car would objectively be the most flexible option, as you won’t need to adapt to bus schedules or order a cab every time you need to get from point A to point B.