How to travel between Abu Dhabi and Dubai by bus

Quite often, both residents and tourists in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are facing with need to travel between these two major cities of UAE. It might be a required trip to one city after landing in another, or desire to visit one of many tourist attractions, or for a very special event – reasons might vary, and if you have no car, going by taxi might look like an only option. In reality, it’s not, as there is another great and affordable way to reach another city (until the long-awaited Etihad Rail is completed), which is traveling by bus.

Don’t be concerned – intercity buses used by the RTA in every emirate are modern and comfortable, with reclining seats and air-conditioning. They are perfect for 1-2 hours trip, with free WiFi, a USB port for charging your device, and seats cozy enough to have a quick nap along the way.

In this article, we will give you everything you need to know about going from Abu Dhabi to Dubai by bus.

From Abu Dhabi to Dubai by bus – a complete guide

Abu Dhabi – Dubai by bus: Route options

Right now, there are three active bus routes between Abu Dhabi and Dubai: E100, E101 and E102. Below are their details:

1) E100

• The E100 bus route operates between Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station and Dubai Al Ghubaiba Bus Station. This bus is perfect for those visiting such destinations, as Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Creek or Jumeirah.
• The journey takes roughly 2 hours and 20 minutes.
• Buses are going by this route approximately every 30 minutes, with the first bus starting at 4:30 AM, and the last at 2:00 AM.

2) E101

• The E101 bus route operates between Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station and Dubai Ibn Battuta Bus Station. It’s a great option for those going to Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, JBR or JLT areas.
• The journey takes roughly 1 hour and 40 minutes.
• Buses are going by this route approximately every 30 minutes, with the first bus starting at 4:30 AM, and the last at 2:00 AM.

3) E102

• The E102 bus route operates between Musaffah Community Bus Station and Dubai Al Jafiliya Bus Station, with stops at Abu Dhabi International Airport and Ibn Battuta Bus Station. It is also great option for those going to Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, JBR or JLT areas.
• Buses depart Mussafah Shabiya Bus Station every hour, and at 25 past the hour from Abu Dhabi International Airport, between 7:00 am and midnight from Monday to Friday. Between midnight and 7:00 am, there are three buses that run at 1:30 AM, 3:30 AM and 5:30 AM.
• On Saturdays and Sundays, buses run hourly between 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM, and then run every 40 minutes from 4:40 PM until 11:20 PM. There are also buses at midnight, 12:50 AM, 1:30AM, 3:30 AM, and 5:30 AM.
• The journey takes an hour and 40 minutes from Mussafah to Ibn Battuta, or 2 hours and 10 minutes to Al Jafiliya. The journey from Abu Dhabi International Airport to Ibn Battuta is around 1 hour and 15 minutes.

It is important to double-check the current schedule for your desired route on the RTA website, as it may be different due to various reasons (for example – during Ramadan, high season, or any major ongoing event in Dubai).

Abu Dhabi to Dubai bus ticket prices

A one-way bus ticket between Abu Dhabi and Dubai costs 25 AED.

Can I use my Hafilat card on the Abu Dhabi to Dubai bus?

Unfortunately, no. As intercity buses from Abu Dhabi to Dubai are operated by the RTA, you will need to have yout Nol Card to be able to pay for the bus. Don’t worry, you will be able to purchase your Nol card either at Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station or Mussafah Shabiya Bus Station.

You will also be able to top up your Nol Card on the station itself, or use the Nol Pay App, available on iOS and Android.

Traveling from Abu Dhabi International Airport to Dubai

If you have landed in Abu Dhabi International Airport and looking for ways to reach Dubai, you can also take the Abu Dhabi airport express to Ibn Battuta Bus Station. A single trip ticket costs 35 AED and you will be able to purchase it at the counter in the arrivals hall. It runs every hour and is around 1 hour and 15 minutes in length. The departure station is located directly outside the Airport’s arrivals hall.

Conclusion

As you can see, using public transport to travel between Abu Dhabi and Dubai is actually a modern, comfortable and affordable way to reach your destination, and can save you lots of time and money.

Happy traveling!