Dubai to Abu Dhabi taxi cost.
What it costs to travel between Dubai and Abu Dhabi by metered taxi, app ride, intercity bus or private car, with approximate fares, journey times and the details that change the price.
Dubai to Abu Dhabi taxi cost at a glance
A Dubai to Abu Dhabi taxi is the obvious way to cover the 130 to 150 km between the two cities, but it is not the only one, and it is not always the cheapest or the most comfortable. The table compares the four main options for a one-way trip between central Dubai and central Abu Dhabi. Taxi, app and bus fares are approximate, they change with tariffs, distance and demand, and you should check the current fare before you travel.
| Option | Approximate one-way cost | Door to door | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metered taxi | AED 250 to 350, plus tolls | Around 1 hr 30 min | One to four people at short notice |
| Uber or Careem | AED 300 to 500, varies with demand | Around 1 hr 30 min | An upfront price in an app |
| Intercity bus | Around AED 25 per person | 2 hrs or more, plus getting to the bus station | Solo travellers with light luggage |
| Private car with driver | From AED 300 one way to Abu Dhabi Airport (sedan, whole vehicle) | Around 1 hr to 1 hr 30 min | Families, luggage, flights and groups |
The rest of this guide explains what sits behind each figure, the tolls on the way, and how to choose. For the reverse journey, the figures are broadly the same.
Planning this trip? Tell us the date and group size for a fixed price.
Get a quoteTaking a metered taxi from Dubai to Abu Dhabi
Dubai’s regulated taxis will take you to Abu Dhabi on the meter. The fare is made up of a starting charge, which is higher when you book by phone or app or set off from the airport, a rate per kilometre, and any tolls on the way. Over the distance between the two city centres, that usually comes to roughly AED 250 to 350, and more from DXB or from the far side of either city.
A few practical points before you hail one:
- Taxis generally cannot pick up new passengers outside their home emirate, so book your return journey separately
- Salik and Darb tolls are added to the fare, not included in the rate per kilometre
- A standard taxi carries up to four passengers, so a larger family may need two
- A saloon boot takes two or three large suitcases; with more luggage, ask for a larger vehicle when you book
For one or two people travelling light at short notice, a metered taxi is simple and fairly priced. It becomes less attractive when the group grows, the luggage piles up or a flight time is at stake.
Taxi from Abu Dhabi to Dubai: price and tips
In the other direction, Abu Dhabi’s regulated taxis will take you to Dubai on the meter at a similar overall cost: roughly AED 250 to 350 from Abu Dhabi city to central Dubai, plus any Salik gates once you are on Dubai’s roads. The fare depends heavily on where in Dubai you are going. Dubai Marina and Jebel Ali are at the near end of the city, while Downtown, Deira and the airport are a good deal further.
From Zayed International Airport, airport taxis start with a higher charge than street taxis, but the airport sits on the mainland, closer to Dubai than Abu Dhabi island is. Dubai Marina is around 100 km away, and Downtown Dubai further. If you are heading for a flight from Dubai International, allow around 1 hour 45 minutes from Abu Dhabi city outside the rush hours, plus the check-in time your airline recommends.
Uber and Careem between Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Both apps operate in both cities and show an upfront price before you confirm, which is their main advantage over hailing a taxi. For a standard car between the two cities, expect roughly AED 300 to 500, depending on the category you choose, the exact addresses and demand at the time. Premium categories cost more, and prices rise at busy times such as the weekday rush hours and after large events.
Two things are worth checking in the app before you book: whether the category you have picked can take your luggage, and whether tolls are included in the upfront price or added afterwards. On this route a metered taxi is often the cheaper of the two, but app prices move through the day, so compare both at the time you plan to travel. If you are a group, compare two app rides with one larger vehicle booked in advance.
The intercity bus: the cheapest way
The cheapest way from Dubai to Abu Dhabi is the public intercity bus. At the time of writing, RTA’s E100 route runs from Al Ghubaiba bus station in Bur Dubai and the E101 from the bus station at Ibn Battuta, both to Abu Dhabi’s central bus station, for around AED 25 one way. The ride takes around two hours or a little more, and in Dubai you pay with a Nol card.
The bus is good value for a solo traveller with light luggage and a flexible schedule. It is less practical with children, several suitcases or a flight to catch, because you also need to get to the bus station at one end and away from it at the other, often by taxi. Routes, timetables and fares change, so check RTA’s journey planner before you travel.
Is there a train?
Etihad Rail has announced a passenger service linking Abu Dhabi and Dubai. If it is running when you travel, check the timetable, fares and station locations on Etihad Rail’s own channels. We have not quoted rail fares here because we could not confirm them for this guide, and, as with the bus, you will need to add the journey to and from each station.
Private car with driver: a fixed price, door to door
A pre-booked private transfer costs more than the bus, and for one person it can cost about the same as a taxi or a little more. The difference is what you get for it: the price is fixed in writing before you travel, the tolls are listed on the quote, the driver meets you at your door or in the arrivals hall, and the price covers the whole vehicle rather than each seat.
Our Dubai to Abu Dhabi Airport transfer starts from AED 300 one way in an executive sedan for up to four passengers. Two travellers sharing pay about AED 150 each, and three about AED 100 each. Journeys to Abu Dhabi city, Yas Island, Saadiyat or the Grand Mosque are quoted in the same way, with the vehicle, the driver, fuel, Salik and Darb tolls and the waiting allowance listed on the quote. Nothing is charged until you confirm, and changes and cancellations follow the terms on your written quote.
Day trips with the driver waiting are popular too. See our Grand Mosque day trip from Dubai, or Abu Dhabi and intercity transfers for every route from Dubai.
Families and groups
The cost per person falls quickly when a group shares one vehicle. Before booking two taxis or two app rides, compare the price of one larger vehicle booked in advance: the family travels together, the luggage stays in one place, and nobody waits at the other end for the second car.
Seven travellers fit in a Mercedes V-Class with room for six bags; up to thirteen fit in a Toyota HiAce and up to sixteen in a Mercedes Sprinter. Our van with driver and minibus rental pages explain the options, and for larger parties a mini coach or a 50-seater coach keeps everyone on one timetable.
Groups heading to an event in Abu Dhabi, such as a concert, a sports weekend or an exhibition, often book the vehicle with the driver waiting, so there is no scramble for taxis when thousands of people leave at the same time.
Tolls on the Dubai to Abu Dhabi road
Leaving or entering Dubai you may pass one or more Salik gates, depending on the route. In Abu Dhabi, Darb gates charge at peak times under the current rules. In a taxi or an app ride, tolls are usually added to the fare. With a private transfer from us, they are already on the fixed quote, so the price you confirm is the price you pay. Our guide to Salik and Darb tolls explains when each system charges.
Timing the journey
Outside the rush hours, the drive from central Dubai to Abu Dhabi city takes around 1 hour 30 minutes, and from Dubai Marina to Zayed International Airport around an hour. Weekday mornings and late afternoons on Sheikh Zayed Road can add half an hour or more. When E11 is slow around Jebel Ali, drivers often switch to E311, which runs parallel further inland.
For a flight from Zayed International, allow for the drive, a margin for traffic and the three hours most airlines recommend for an international departure. From Downtown Dubai, a pick-up about four and a half hours before departure is a sensible starting point, and a little later from Dubai Marina.
Which option should you choose?
- Travelling alone, light luggage, no rush: the intercity bus
- One to four people at short notice: a metered taxi or an app ride
- Catching a flight, carrying luggage or travelling with children: a pre-booked car with a fixed price
- Seven or more people: one van or minibus instead of several cars
- A day out with the car waiting: a private car or van booked for the day
If you would like a fixed price for your own journey, send us the details: a written quote follows by email, usually within the hour.
Keep reading
- Same-day Abu Dhabi business trip: Meetings in Abu Dhabi and back in Dubai by evening: how to time the day, what to ask of the driver, and why a car with a driver beats a rental for this trip.
- Dubai to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): From any Dubai address to Zayed International, timed back from your flight and quoted in writing.
- Uber vs taxi vs transfer at DXB: The taxi rank, Uber or Careem, or a driver waiting in arrivals: what each costs from DXB and when it’s worth it.
- Taxi fares vs private car: Rough Dubai taxi fares for the trips people take most, what makes the meter jump, and the trips where a fixed-price private car costs less.
- Dubai transport costs: What it costs to get around Dubai by Metro, bus, taxi, app, private car, van or coach, with per-person sums for families and groups.
- School trip bus cost: What a field trip bus costs a Dubai school, what pushes the price up, and how to turn it into a cost per pupil for the parents’ letter.
Frequently asked.
Quick answers for this trip.
How much is a taxi from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
Roughly AED 250 to 350 on the meter between central Dubai and central Abu Dhabi, plus any Salik or Darb tolls, and more from DXB or the far side of either city. Fares change with tariffs and traffic, so treat this as an estimate and check the current rates before you travel.
How much is an Uber from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
Usually around AED 300 to 500 for a standard car, depending on the category, the exact addresses and demand at the time; premium categories cost more. The app shows an upfront price before you confirm, so check it at the time you plan to travel.
What is the cheapest way to get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
The public intercity bus, at around AED 25 per person one way at the time of writing, from Al Ghubaiba or Ibn Battuta in Dubai to Abu Dhabi’s central bus station. It takes around two hours, plus the journey to and from each bus station.
Can a Dubai taxi take me to Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Dubai taxis will take you to Abu Dhabi on the meter, and Abu Dhabi taxis will take you to Dubai. Taxis generally cannot pick up new passengers outside their own emirate, so if you need to come back the same day, book the return separately or book a car with the driver waiting.
How much is a taxi from Abu Dhabi Airport to Dubai?
It depends on where in Dubai you are going: Dubai Marina is around 100 km from Zayed International, and Downtown and Deira are further. Airport taxis start with a higher charge than street taxis. A pre-booked transfer with a fixed price is the alternative; send us the flight and address for a written quote.
Is there a shared taxi between Abu Dhabi and Dubai?
You will see shared-ride offers online and in social media groups, but these are not the regulated taxi service. If you want to share the cost, the simplest safe option is one vehicle for your whole group, booked in advance, with the price split between you.
Is there a free shuttle from Abu Dhabi Airport to Dubai?
Not a public one that we know of. Some airlines have offered coach connections for their own passengers, so ask your airline whether one runs for your flight. Otherwise the options are a taxi, an app ride, the bus from Abu Dhabi’s central bus station or a pre-booked transfer.
How long does it take to drive from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
Around 1 hour 30 minutes between central Dubai and Abu Dhabi city outside the rush hours, and around an hour from Dubai Marina to Zayed International Airport. Weekday mornings and late afternoons on Sheikh Zayed Road can add half an hour or more.
Abu Dhabi, at a fixed price.
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