From Abu Dhabi Airport, you can take direct buses to both the centre of Abu Dhabi itself and to Dubai, 130 km away. Of course, you can also hire a car.

What’s the best way to get there?

• Abu Dhabi city centre – the cheapest option is the A1 or A2 bus for 4 aed
• Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – direct bus A10 4 aed
• Dubai Marina – the E102 bus + the metro via Ibn Battuta
• Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai – the E102 bus to Al Jafiliya or the Etihad bus
• More stops across the Emirates – the best option is to hire a car directly at the airport

Bus to Abu Dhabi

You can get to Abu Dhabi from the airport on several bus routes. The stops are located in front of Terminal A and are marked with red and white route numbers. Information on public transport in Abu Dhabi can be found on the city’s official website,darbi.itc.gov.ae.

The 10 best hotels in central Abu Dhabi

Tickets

Fares can only be paid using a Hafilat Card; payment in cash or by card directly to the driver or at a ticket machine is not possible, nor is it currently possible to purchase tickets via the mobile app.

You can purchase a Hafilat Card at the counter in the arrivals hall; you can pay by cash or card. You can buy a temporary card here for 10 aed, and the full balance can be used to pay for fares. You can pay by card or cash at the kiosk.

Next to it is also a ticket machine for standard Hafilat cards. The price is 20 aed, of which 10 aed can already be used to pay for fares.

You can top up this card with any amount at the green-and-white Hafilat Card machines; the amount will then be deducted each time you travel. You must top up the card with a minimum of 5 dirhams.

The fare to the centre of Abu Dhabi is 4 aed for all routes. You paythe fareby tapping your Hafilat Card on the reader when boarding and alighting from the bus (readers are located at both the front and rear doors).

Bus routes

• Route A1 – express route to the city centre and Abu Dhabi Mall
  • Journey time to the bus station is approximately 45 minutes
  • Runs 24/7 every 30 minutes; between approximately 19:30 and 5:30, it runs only once an hour
  • Beach Rotana ***** – a luxury hotel right next to the terminus
• Line A2 – supplementary express service to the city centre and Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station
  • Journey time to the bus station: approx. 45 minutes
  • Runs 24/7 every 60 minutes
  • Grand Millennium Al Wahda ***** – a hotel offering good value for money near the bus station
• Line A10– runs directly from the airport to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
  • Journey time to the mosque: approx. 25 minutes
  • Runs approximately from 5.30 am to 11.30 pm every 60 minutes

Timetables and further information can be found atadmobility.gov.ae/bus-service.

Bus routes A15, A40 and K4 also stop at the airport, but these only serve the surrounding residential areas and are primarily intended for airport staff.

Taxis, Uber and Careem to Abu Dhabi

Taxis offer a convenient and still affordable alternative. The initial fare at the airport is 25 aed, and the rate per kilometre is 1,60 aed.

The journey to the mosque will therefore cost around 60 aed, and to the city centre 80 aed.

The Uber and Careem mobile apps are also available in Abu Dhabi and work without any issues at the airport. Prices are similar to those of taxis.

To use taxi apps, you’ll need internet access, which I personally sort out by buying an eSIM from Airalo.com.

Where to stay in Abu Dhabi?

If you arrive late in the evening or, conversely, are flying out early in the morning, it’s often worth spending your first night in Abu Dhabi itself.

The most convenient locations:

• the area around Abu Dhabi Mall (direct connection via the A1 bus route)
• the area around the bus station (easy to travel on to other Emirates)
• The Corniche and city centre

The 10 best hotels in Abu Dhabi

Bus to Dubai

Abu Dhabi Airport is connected to Dubai by direct buses operated by the Zayed International Airport Shuttle or by buses reserved exclusively for Etihad Airways passengers.

Book your hotel in Dubai in advance

Zayed International Airport Shuttle (AUH Express)

The Zayed International Airport Shuttle express buses (formerly known as AUH Express) connect the airport only with theIbn Battuta Bus Station shopping centre in Dubai, where you can easily change to the Dubai Metro.

Buses depart once an hour. They run non-stop 24 hours a day. You can find a detailed timetable atzayedinternationalairport.ae/Airport-shuttle.

• Price – 35 aed
• Journey time –75 minutes
• Frequency – every60 minutes
• Operating hours –24/7

Etihad Airways buses

Etihad Airways offers special buses exclusively for its passengers, running from Terminal A at Abu Dhabi Airport directly to the Al Wasl Centre in Dubai.

Travel on these buses is free of charge, or included in the price of the flight.

This stop is located approximately 200 metres from the ‘Business Bay’ station on the red metro line and about 800 metres fromthe Burj Khalifa.

You can find detailed departure times on this page:etihad.com/etihad-coach.

Currently, you can only use the buses if you book a direct flight to Dubai with Etihad Airways. You will always arrive in Abu Dhabi and be taken to Dubai by this bus.

You cannot book the coach journey retrospectively after purchasing your flight ticket, nor can you book it on the spot.

Book a flight on etihad.com

Bus E102

The regular E102service, available to all passengers, connects Terminal A with Al Jafiliya Bus Station, where you can change to the ‘MAX’ metro station on the red line.

Route E102 was permanently discontinued on 29 June 2026.

Bus to Al Ain

Long-distance bus number 490 to Al Ain departs from the airport every 2 hours; see the timetable here.

Car hire

Discover the United Arab Emirates beyond its major cities – hire a car directly at the airport and set off for the desert and the mountains on the border with Oman.

There are counters for many well-known car hire companies at the airport; prices for a week’s hire start at 200 eur.

Compare prices and book a car