Dubai and Abu Dhabi are about 140 km apart, and most visitors cover the distance in somewhere between one and two hours. The right option depends on your budget, how many bags you carry, and where in each city you start and finish. This page compares every realistic way to make the trip, in both directions, so you can pick one before you leave your hotel.
Prices below are approximate and current as of October 2026. Always check the operator’s own app or site before travelling.
Dubai to Abu Dhabi: comparison at a glance
| Option | Approx. cost (one way) | Journey time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTA bus (E100 / E101) | AED 25 per person | 1h 45 to 2h+ | Solo travellers and tight budgets |
| Etihad Rail | From AED 39 per person | About 1 hour plus transfers | Avoiding traffic, light luggage |
| Metered taxi / Careem / Uber | AED 300 to 400 per car | 1h 30 to 2h | Door to door, 1 to 3 people |
| Pre-booked private transfer | Fixed price, varies by car | 1h 30 to 2h | Airport arrivals, families, luggage |
| Hire car | From about AED 100 to 150 per day plus fuel | 1h 30 to 2h | Combining Abu Dhabi with Yas and Al Ain |
| Guided day tour | Priced per person, all-in | Full day | Seeing the highlights with no planning |
RTA intercity bus (E100 and E101)
The bus is the cheapest option by a wide margin. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority runs two express routes: the E101 leaves from Ibn Battuta Bus Station (next to Ibn Battuta Mall, on the Metro Red Line) and the E100 leaves from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Bur Dubai. Both run to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station and cost approximately AED 25 one way. You pay with a Nol card, so buy one at any Metro station first. Our Dubai Metro guide explains how to top up.
Expect about 1 hour 45 minutes on the E101 and longer on the E100, which makes more stops. Services start early in the morning and run until late evening, but timetables change, so confirm departures on the official RTA website. The downside is that Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station is not near the main sights, so you will need a local bus or taxi onward to the Corniche or Grand Mosque.
Etihad Rail
Etihad Rail’s passenger service reached Dubai on 30 September 2026, linking it with Abu Dhabi and Fujairah. Fares are reported from approximately AED 39 for standard class, with the Abu Dhabi to Dubai run taking roughly an hour, noticeably faster than the bus. Officials have quoted slightly different journey times, so treat “about an hour” as the planning figure.
The catch is station location. Neither the Dubai nor the Abu Dhabi station is in the middle of a city, so budget extra time for a Metro ride or taxi at each end, and the door-to-door gap to a bus or car is smaller than the headline time suggests. Tickets are sold through the Etihad Rail app and website. Our Etihad Rail UAE guide covers stations, booking and luggage, and the launch news has the network background. For the operator’s own information, see Visit Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Rail page.
Taxi, Careem and Uber
A metered taxi between the two cities generally costs approximately AED 300 to 400 for the car, depending on where you start and how heavy the traffic is. Careem and Uber quotes can run higher at peak times, so check the in-app estimate before confirming. Airport pick-ups carry a surcharge. For two or three people sharing, the per-head cost starts to approach other options, and you get door-to-door service. If you are stepping off a flight, our Dubai airport guide covers the taxi ranks and what to expect.
Private transfer
A pre-booked transfer is the least stressful option when you arrive tired or travel with children and suitcases. The driver tracks your flight, meets you at arrivals and the price is fixed when you book, so traffic does not change the bill. You can compare and book a UAE transfer in advance, including Dubai to Abu Dhabi and airport to hotel routes. This is also the better choice for early-morning departures when buses and trains may not suit your schedule.
Hire car
Driving suits anyone who plans to go beyond the city: Yas Island, Al Ain, or the desert to the south. The E11 and E10 highways are wide and well signed, but speed cameras are everywhere and fines are heavy, so stick to posted limits. Abu Dhabi city parking is paid by zone, and hotels usually charge for overnight parking. If you want the freedom, compare car hire prices and read our guide to renting a car in the UAE for licence, insurance and deposit rules. Returning the car in a different emirate usually incurs a one-way fee, so confirm that before booking.
Abu Dhabi day trip from Dubai
If you only have a single day, the simplest plan is a guided tour that bundles transport and the main sights. The Abu Dhabi full-day tour from Dubai typically includes hotel pick-up, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a drive past the Corniche and Emirates Palace, and a stop at one more landmark. You can also browse other Abu Dhabi tours if you want a specific focus such as food or the Louvre.
Travelling independently works well if you start early. A realistic timeline:
- 07:30 leave Dubai by car or transfer, or catch the first convenient train.
- 09:30 Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, ideally before the midday crowds. Our Grand Mosque guide covers dress code and opening times.
- 12:30 lunch on the Corniche or at Marina Mall.
- 14:00 Louvre Abu Dhabi, allowing at least two hours.
- 17:30 head back to Dubai, avoiding the worst of the evening traffic where you can.
That is a full day with little slack. If you would rather not rush, our Abu Dhabi 3-day itinerary spreads the highlights out, and the 5 days in Dubai and Abu Dhabi itinerary shows how to split a longer trip between both cities. If you can’t decide where to base yourself, our Dubai vs Abu Dhabi comparison weighs the two.
Abu Dhabi to Dubai: the return trip
Everything above works in reverse. The E101 and E100 depart Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station for Dubai, taxis and transfers cost about the same, and trains run both directions. The main point to plan around is timing: the Friday evening and Sunday afternoon drives are the busiest of the week, and weekday evening rush hour in both cities can add 30 minutes or more. If you have a flight out of Dubai, leave at least four hours before departure, and consider Zayed International Airport as an alternative if you are already in Abu Dhabi.
Which option should you choose?
- Lowest cost, one traveller: the bus.
- Fast and traffic-proof: Etihad Rail, if your hotels are near the stations or the Metro.
- Two or three people with bags: a taxi or fixed-price transfer.
- Flexibility and extra stops: a hire car.
- One day, no planning: the guided tour.
If you are still choosing where to sleep, you can search Abu Dhabi hotels or Dubai hotels once you know which transport option suits you.