Public Bus from Dubai to Abu Dhabi: All Intercity Routes Return [100, 101 and 102]

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With so many exciting places to visit in Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s capital, it’s no wonder one of the most popular questions we get is, “how do I get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?”

As we discussed in this article, there is no Metro between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.  If you are seeking a public transport option between the UAE’s two largest cities, then you need the Intercity Bus from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. This is by far the cheapest option, although not the quickest!

You can read everything you need to know about Dubai’s public transport here

Public Bus from Dubai to Abu Dhabi

Intercity public bus services between Dubai and Abu Dhabi were suspended during COVID; however, we’ve finally seen all routes return in August 2022.

What should I expect on board the Dubai to Abu Dhabi Bus?

These public buses are pretty luxurious in the scheme of things. They are air-conditioned and have information screens, priority seating for women, children, and the disabled, and priority boarding lines.

The buses also make two stops en route along the E11 at Shahama Village and Samha.

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Bus from Abu Dhabi to Dubai

All these routes also run in reverse from Abu Dhabi back to Dubai.

• Route 100 – Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station (Al Wadha) to Al Ghubaiba Bus Station (connects to Dubai Metro Green Line) in Bur Dubai. Leaves every 10-20 minutes and stops in Sahama Village and Samha. Approximately a 2.15-hour journey.

• Route 101 – Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station (Al Wadha) to Ibn Battuta Mall (connects to Ibn Battuta Metro Red Line). Leaves every 15 to 20 minutes, approximately a 1.5-hour journey.

• Route 102 – Mussafah Shabiya Bus Station to Ibn Battuta Mall (Ibn Battuta Metro Red Line), leaves approximately every 40 minutes, a 1.45-hour journey every hour. (Currently suspended)

What does the bus from Abu Dhabi to Dubai cost?

All bus fares are 25 AED one way.  Customers can use a NOL card or pay cash at the bus station in Al Wadha.

There is no pre-booking, you turn up on the day and pay as you board.

For further inquiries on how the public buses work, please contact the RTA 800 90 90.

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Alternative ways to get between Dubai and Abu Dhabi

If you don’t fancy the long bus journey or it doesn’t fit your timings, then you can also consider these options to get between Dubai and Abu Dhabi:

Free airline buses

Emirates, Etihad, and AirArabia offer services to get their customers between the major cities and their home airports. Inconveniently, no airline runs an airport-to-airport service, but they do take you from the airport to a fairly central spot in the neighbouring city.

You can see our complete guide here on how the FREE airline buses work, including which codes to use when booking your flights and the pickup points.

Paid AUH Shuttle

A new Abu Dhabi Airport shuttle service – AUH Express – was launched in September 2022 for passengers travelling between AUH and Dubai. Again, it’s not an airport-to-airport service but will get passengers as far as Ibn Battuta.

It costs 35 AED one way – learn more about this Abu Dhabi to Dubai service here.

Bus from Dubai to Yas Island theme parks in Abu Dhabi

Whilst there are no direct buses from Dubai to Yas Island, the Yas Island theme parks DO offer their own transit services to get passengers from popular pickup points in Dubai to the entrance of Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld.

You can read a complete review of how these transit services work here.

Alternatively, you could use a shared or private transit service to take you door to door from Dubai to Yas Island theme parks.

• Check out this shared van service pick-up points & prices here.
• Try GetTransfer – think of it like an online auction where drivers bid for your ride. You can then compare quotes and pick the one you like best.
• Check out more private driver Dubai to Yas Island theme parks options here.

Dubai to Abu Dhabi by Taxi

Travelling by public taxi is actually surprisingly more cost-effective than you might think, compared to a booked car service. You can expect a public taxi from Dubai to Abu Dhabi to cost you around 350 AED to central Abu Dhabi (including airport flag fall).

Depending on the drop-off point, a taxi from Abu Dhabi back to Dubai can cost between 250 AED to 350AED.

In our experience, Uber and Careem cost more from Dubai to Abu Dhabi than a standard taxi, but it is always worth checking out pricing on these apps to see if you can get a better deal or don’t want to chance the meter running too high.

You should note, though, that there are absolutely no problems using a metered taxi in Dubai. Taxis are heavily regulated, and correct use of the meter is a must. If you want to lock your price in though, go with Uber or Careem.

Airport transfer service from Dubai DXB or Abu Dhabi AUH airport

Pre-booked transfer services are handy if you land in one city but need to be in the other. They work really well when you are travelling in a group and can split the cost and provide you with surety and door-to-door service. Why not try:

• Welcome Pickups – a world-renowned airport pick-up service operates from DXB
• This private transfer service offered via Viator – door-to-door DXB pick-up and drop-off to any destination in Abu Dhabi
• One-way transfers offered by Orient Tours (via Get Your Guide) – pick your group size and cancellation possible up to 24 hours in advance

Note there is NO DIRECT public transport option between the UAE’s major airports, making transfer services all the more appealing but the most expensive of all your Dubai to Abu Dhabi transport options.

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