Beyond Dubai: Transport Around the United Arab Emirates

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Getting around the UAE – Dubai and beyond transport advice for tourists

Many visitors to Dubai are excited to see beyond the big smoke and learn more about the rest of the country, the United Arab Emirates – and we wholeheartedly agree!

But how exactly do you get beyond the city of Dubai? And what is there to experience in the 7 Emirates of the UAE? We cover what to see and do in the 7 Emirates of the UAE over here, but read on if you would like to know more about the HOW of getting around the United Arab Emirates.

Let’s take a look at all the different transport options.

Transport around the United Arab Emirates

Public Bus

The country runs a relatively comprehensive network of intercity buses. These are good quality, air-conditioned services with comfortable seats, wifi and toilets on board.

There’s a detailed guide here on the Abu Dhabi to Dubai intercity bus and current operating schedules.

For other regional centres:

• Dubai to Ajman – serviced by Intercity bus route E400.
• Dubai to Al Ain – serviced by Intercity bus route E201.
• Dubai to Fujairah – serviced by Intercity bus route E700.
• Dubai to Hatta – serviced by Dubai bus route E16 – see a more detailed guide here.
• Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah – serviced by Intercity bus route E601, or staying at one of the resort hotels, use the RAK Shuttle.
• Dubai to Sharjah – serviced by multiple bus routes, including the E301, E303, E303A, E304, E306, E307, E307A, and E311. You’ll find a detailed guide on Dubai to Sharjah buses here.
• Dubai to Umm Al Quwain – serviced by Intercity bus route E601 (shared with Ras Al Khaimah service).

Most buses depart from either Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Deira or Union Square Bus Station. You can use the RTA planning tool Wohjati to plan your exact journey by bus.

Airline Coach Service

In addition to the government-run coach services, there are also luxury coach services operated by both Emirates and Etihad to get their respective passengers between DXB and AUH, respectively. 

The coaches run 24/7; however, it’s not a regular hourly service. They operate around peak fight times.

You can find out more about how the free airport coach services work here.

In addition, a new paid luxury airport coach option, the AUH Express Shuttle, has commenced from AUH to Ibn Battuta. This can make for a more attractive option than paying for a taxi or transfer service from Abu Dhabi to Dubai.

Private Car – Self-driving in the UAE

There’s no denying the UAE is a heavily car-centric country.  The locals love their cars, and with cheap fuel, it’s easy to see why there are so many gas-guzzling 4WD. 

As a tourist, if you want to get beyond the city and see a lot more of the country’s off-the-beaten-path attractions, absolutely having your own vehicle is the easiest way.

Plentiful hire car options are available from the airport and many pick-up locations around the city.

Key facts to know about driving in the UAE

• Drive on the right-hand side of the road (the steering wheel is on the left).
• Most cars have an automatic transmission.
• Fuel costs around AED 2.30 – to 2.70 a litre.
• Speed limits are marked in kilometres/hr – and they are high!
• All emirates except Abu Dhabi have a 20km/hr “buffer” on the speed limit before you’re fined.
• Speed cameras are everywhere; go too fast, you will be fined!
• Be mindful with Dubai driving, there are tolls called “Salik” on major roads that run 24 hours a day. In Abu Dhabi, there are DARB toll gates in peak driving times only. Your rental car company will pass on these charges.
• Fog can be prevalent, particularly in the winter months, overnight and early morning driving.
• Driver’s licenses from your own country are required, plus an International Driver’s Permit if you are not from a designated list of countries.
• You can learn more about self-driving in Dubai & the UAE, and which driver’s licenses are transferable over here.

Will I need a 4WD in the UAE? For the most part, no. Unless you plan on doing some series exploring deep into the desert, you’ll be fine with a 2WD. If you are heading off-road it’s highly recommended to go with local desert tour operators who know the dunes well.

Hiring a Driver or Joining a Tour Group

If you are not a confident driver, we strongly recommend you jump in with an organised tour group or driver. 

The roads in the UAE are of good quality, and driving conditions are normally good; it’s the driving habits of many others that are not! Traffic moves fast, and the roads can be unforgiving if you make a mistake or miss an exit. Besides, it’s your holiday, right?

Group tours are the obvious first choice as they are much cheaper, but your itinerary is quite fixed. They make perfect sense, though, if you are new to the country and are only interested in seeing the major tourist highlights.

With a private driver, you can sit back and enjoy the ride, and have some control over the itinerary. We cover this in much more detail in our guide to the best day trips from Dubai.

Top Tip: Some good sources to look for driving services in the UAE with reputable providers include Get Your Guide and Viator. These are third-party booking tools but come with a money-back guarantee if you need to cancel up to 24 hours beforehand.

Cycling in the UAE

Although cycling is an increasingly popular sport in the country with a number of purpose-built tracks available to enthusiasts, cycling on the roads and highways is not encouraged and, in many instances quite dangerous.

With the searing daytime heat for much of the year, we do not recommend you attempt cycling around the UAE unless you are a highly experienced road rider.

Cycling within the city of Dubai, though, is encouraged in designated areas. We share here our complete guide to cycling in Dubai, as well as our guide to eScooters in Dubai for easy city transportation.

Rail Connections in the UAE

At present, Dubai is the only Emirate to have any rail systems with its Metro network and Dubai Marina tram. There is no metro from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, nor any other parts of the country. 

You can complete much of your journey within Dubai on the Metro but then would need to connect to a bus at the large intercity bus stations  – Ibn Battuta if you are heading to Abu Dhabi or Al Ghurbabia if you are heading to the Northern Emirates.

Etihad Rail, covering over 1200 kilometres across the UAE, has finally got Stage 2 approval but don’t expect to see this for some years to come. When complete, it will see 11 cities in the UAE connected by high-speed rail.

Water transport in the UAE

There is a comprehensive ferry network within Dubai. However, this does not extend to most of the Emirates.

The only other way by water between the major ports of the UAE is by Gulf cruise ships. There are many Dubai cruise options that run over the cooler winter months, including stops in Abu Dhabi, and some even stop at the remote and beautiful Sir Bani Yas Island, in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region.

Air Transport in the UAE

There are no commercial airline services that run between the Emirates. However, there are some private charter tours that can take you between Dubai and Abu Dhabi; this not only gets you from point A to B but a spectacular journey along the way as you take in the views along the UAE’s Gulf Coast.

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We hope this guide to UAE transport helps you set your sites beyond just Dubai and confidently explore the 7 Emirates of the UAE.

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Please note we are not a travel agency. This site is a travel blog to help newcomers to the UAE and transit passengers self plan their trip, we cannot book your flights, hotels, visas or connections for you. We may make a small commission if you click on any of our recommendation links.

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