From Abu Dhabi airport to Dubai, a taxi takes about 1.5 hours and costs about AED 250-350; the airport shuttle bus is about AED 35 and the RTA E102 bus about AED 25, both taking 1.5-2 hours. Dubai is 130-150 km down the E11, and there is no border or second immigration check on the way. This guide compares the taxi, the two buses, the Etihad Rail train and a rental car, says where each one drops you, and suggests when to fly into Dubai instead.
By SB Excursions · Published 29 October 2026 · Updated 29 October 2026
Tour on this route: Abu Dhabi City Tour from Dubai — From $45 per person, 9 hours.
How much is a taxi from Abu Dhabi airport to Dubai?
About AED 250-350 to central Dubai, taking about 1.5 hours; the Marina, JBR and the Palm cost more. Check the fare in the app or with the driver before you set off. Taxis take cards, and rounding up is the usual tip.
This guide also answers:
- Is there a bus from Abu Dhabi airport to Dubai?
- How long does it take to get from Abu Dhabi airport to Dubai?
- Is there a train from Abu Dhabi airport to Dubai?
Four ways from Abu Dhabi airport to Dubai
#1
Taxi or app car
The only door-to-door option and the sensible one for a group, because the fare is split. Take a taxi from the rank or an app car, ask for the price before you set off and check that the hotel address is in the app. Fares to the Marina and the Palm run higher than to Downtown. Cards are accepted.
#2
The airport shuttle bus
The airport runs a shuttle bus to and from Ibn Battuta Bus Station in Dubai, reported as hourly around the clock, and tickets are booked on the airport's website or bought at the airport. Ibn Battuta is on the Red Line, a few stops from the Marina, so it suits a Marina or JBR hotel. Check the current timetable.
#3
RTA bus E102
The E102 is the public bus between Dubai and the airport, serving Al Jafiliya Bus Station in Bur Dubai and Ibn Battuta. It is the cheapest option, but it keeps to a timetable and runs for most of the day rather than all night, as reported. Fares are paid with a Nol card or an advance ticket from the RTA website, as reported, so check S'hail for the current times.
#4
A rental car
Collect at the airport and drive down the E11 to Dubai. It makes sense only if you want a car for several days; city parking and Salik tolls add up in Dubai. Ask about the one-way fee for returning the car in another emirate, and read the rules in our guide to renting a car in Dubai.
Abu Dhabi airport to Dubai: the short answer
A taxi takes about 1.5 hours and costs about AED 250-350; the airport shuttle (about AED 35) and the RTA E102 bus (about AED 25) take 1.5-2 hours. Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport is 130-150 km from most Dubai hotels, depending on the district, down the E11. There is no border between the two emirates, so you clear immigration once, at Abu Dhabi, and drive on.
A solo traveller on a budget takes the bus. Two to four people usually take a taxi, because the fare splits to roughly AED 60-175 each and saves two hours of buses and changes. The Etihad Rail train to Dubai exists but neither station is at an airport, so it needs a taxi at each end and rarely beats the others for an airport arrival. If you have not booked your flight yet, compare Dubai arrivals too, as the last section explains.
Every option compared
Times and fares are typical and some come from published reports; check the current timetable and fare on the airport's website, the RTA S'hail app or your ride app before you travel.
| Option | Time | Cost (about) | Drops you at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi or app car | About 1.5 h | AED 250-350 to central Dubai, more further out | Your hotel door |
| Airport shuttle bus | About 1.5 h, hourly | About AED 35 | Ibn Battuta Bus Station, Red Line |
| RTA bus E102 | About 1.5-2 h | About AED 25 with a Nol card | Al Jafiliya Bus Station or Ibn Battuta |
| Etihad Rail plus taxis | About 57 min on the train, plus both taxis | From AED 39 online, plus two taxis | Al Yalayis Station, Jumeirah Golf Estates |
| Rental car | 1.5-2 h | Rental, fuel, one-way fee, parking | Wherever you park |
Approximate figures; check the airport website, S'hail and etihadrail.ae for the current fare and timetable.
By taxi or app car: the door-to-door choice
A taxi from the rank or an app car is the simplest transfer and the best for two to four people with luggage. Allow about 1.5 hours in light traffic and more at rush hour, particularly on the Dubai side from 7 to 9:30 AM and 5 to 8 PM. The price is about AED 250-350 to central Dubai; the Marina, JBR and the Palm are further and cost more.
Agree the fare or check the app estimate before you set off, make sure the driver has your hotel's name and pin, and ask whether tolls are included. Taxis take cards and rounding up is the only tip anyone expects. For fares inside Dubai once you arrive, see the Dubai taxi and Careem guide, and for the whole road in both directions, Dubai to Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi to Dubai.
By bus: the airport shuttle and the E102
There are two buses. The airport's own shuttle runs to and from Ibn Battuta Bus Station in Dubai, reported as hourly, all day and night, at about AED 35 a seat, and you book on the airport's website or buy at the airport. The RTA E102 serves the airport from Al Jafiliya Bus Station in Bur Dubai and from Ibn Battuta, at about AED 25 with a Nol card, running for most of the day. Both take about 1.5-2 hours.
Where you end up matters. Ibn Battuta is on the Red Line, a few stops from the Marina, which makes it the right bus for the Marina, JBR and the Palm. Al Jafiliya Bus Station is in Bur Dubai, so it suits hotels there and in Deira. Neither goes to the front door, so add a Metro ride (AED 3-7.5) or a short taxi. Suitcases are fine on both. The Dubai Metro guide covers the Red Line, and the bus information here comes from reports of recent years, so confirm the timetable and fare before you rely on it.
By train: Etihad Rail and why it is not for most arrivals
Etihad Rail's Dubai service launched on Wednesday 30 September 2026, running between Al Yalayis Station in Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai and Mohammed Bin Zayed City Station in Abu Dhabi. Gulf News put the journey at about 57 minutes to just over an hour, with Comfort Class at AED 39 booked online (AED 60 at a station machine) and Premium from AED 109, as of 29 October 2026.
For an airport arrival it is a poor fit. Neither station is at an airport or in the centre of either city, so you need a taxi from the airport to the Abu Dhabi station and another from Al Yalayis to your hotel, and the total can pass the price of a direct taxi. It is better for travellers already in Abu Dhabi city or heading to Jumeirah Golf Estates. Our Etihad Rail guide has the details, and the official site is etihadrail.ae.
Which option for which Dubai hotel
Pick by where you are staying, not just by price.
| Staying in | Best option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Marina, JBR, the Palm | Airport shuttle to Ibn Battuta, then the Red Line, or a taxi | Ibn Battuta is a few stops from the Marina |
| Downtown, Business Bay | Taxi | Door to door; the buses end in Bur Dubai or on the Marina side |
| Deira, Bur Dubai | E102 to Al Jafiliya, or a taxi | Al Jafiliya is on the Bur Dubai side |
| Anywhere, with 3-4 people | Taxi | The fare is divided between you |
| Anywhere, alone on a budget | E102 or the shuttle | AED 25-35 instead of AED 250-350 |
For onward fares inside Dubai see the Metro and taxi guides.
For the other end of the trip, Dubai airport to Downtown and Dubai airport to Dubai Marina show how short the transfer is from DXB, which brings us to the last point.
Fly into Dubai instead? And the capital as a day trip
If you are spending all your days in Dubai, check the Dubai flights first. A taxi from DXB to Downtown is about AED 40-60 and to the Marina about AED 80-110, and the Metro from the terminals is AED 5-7.5. An Abu Dhabi fare that saves you less than the AED 250-350 taxi, or the AED 25-35 bus and its two hours, is not a saving.
If you do land in Abu Dhabi and sleep in Dubai, you have skipped the capital, and that is easily put right with a day trip. Our Abu Dhabi city tour from Dubai picks up at 8:00 AM from hotels in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman and runs for 9 hours: the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque with registration assistance, the BAPS Hindu Mandir, the Corniche and Emirates Palace, Heritage Village and a Ferrari World photo stop. The shared tour is from $45 per person, a private car for up to 7 people is $245, and there is no prepayment.
Our tours collect from hotels in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman, so message us on WhatsApp if your plan is different, and we will say what fits. Large suitcases are not allowed in the tour vehicles, so leave them at the hotel. For the rest of the stay, the full-day desert safari is from $45 with hotel pickup, and the shared yacht tour from $32 needs no pickup at all. The tour versus on your own guide helps you decide, and renting a car in Dubai covers the self-drive option.
FAQ
How much is a taxi from Abu Dhabi airport to Dubai?
About AED 250-350 to central Dubai, taking about 1.5 hours; the Marina, JBR and the Palm cost more. Check the fare in the app or with the driver before you set off. Taxis take cards, and rounding up is the usual tip.
Is there a bus from Abu Dhabi airport to Dubai?
Yes, two. The airport shuttle to Ibn Battuta Bus Station is about AED 35 and reported as hourly, and the RTA E102 runs to Al Jafiliya Bus Station and Ibn Battuta for about AED 25 with a Nol card. Both take about 1.5-2 hours; confirm the current timetable.
How long does it take to get from Abu Dhabi airport to Dubai?
About 1.5 hours by taxi in light traffic, and 1.5-2 hours by bus. The distance is 130-150 km down the E11, and it takes longer on the Dubai side at rush hour, from 7 to 9:30 AM and 5 to 8 PM.
Is there a train from Abu Dhabi airport to Dubai?
Not directly. Etihad Rail's Dubai service from 30 September 2026 runs between Mohammed Bin Zayed City Station in Abu Dhabi and Al Yalayis Station in Jumeirah Golf Estates in about 57 minutes, from AED 39 online. Neither station is at an airport, so you need a taxi at each end.
Do I go through immigration again when I reach Dubai?
No. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are both in the UAE, with no border between them. You clear immigration once, at the airport where you land, and you drive on to Dubai. Check the official sources for entry rules for your nationality.
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai instead?
Often, once you count the transfer. A DXB taxi to Downtown is about AED 40-60 and the Metro AED 5-7.5, against AED 250-350 by taxi from Abu Dhabi or AED 25-35 by bus plus 1.5-2 hours. Compare the total, not just the fare.
Can I rent a car at Abu Dhabi airport and leave it in Dubai?
Some companies allow it for a one-way fee, so ask when you book. The drive is about 1.5-2 hours on the E11. Parking and Salik tolls add to the cost in Dubai, and we have a separate guide to renting a car in Dubai.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
Abu Dhabi City Tour from Dubai
It is the classic capital day in one organised loop: the mosque before the midday heat and crowds, the newly opened BAPS Mandir, the skyline from the Corniche, Bedouin history at Heritage Village and a photo op at Ferrari World. Transport, a licensed guide, mosque registration assistance and bottled water are included; the $45 shared tour covers all free-entry sites, and a private VIP car for up to 7 people is $245.
- Duration
- 9 hours
- Area
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Format
- Full-day guided city tour (shared or private)
- Best for
- families, seniors and first-time visitors who want the capital's landmarks in one day
From $45 per person No prepayment
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Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai
It is the slow-travel version of the classic safari: more time on the dunes, sunset without the crowds and a full evening programme at a premium camp with air-conditioned tents, unlimited drinks and a large BBQ buffet with vegetarian and gluten-free options. Everything is arranged from the hotel door — a licensed English-speaking driver, the 4x4, the camp and the shows.
- Duration
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- Format
- Full-day desert safari
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- families, couples and first-time desert visitors who want the full evening programme
From $45 per person No prepayment
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Dubai Marina Shared Yacht Tour
It is the most stylish way to see the skyline without paying for a private charter: a premium yacht with spacious decks and 5-star hospitality, a red carpet at the pier and the crew helping with photos against JBR and Ain Dubai. Full pre-payment secures your slot — the hourly departures sell out — and the yacht leaves strictly on time.
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Area
- Dubai Marina
- Format
- Shared 1-hour sightseeing cruise
- Best for
- families, couples and anyone who wants the Marina skyline from the water without a private charter
From $32 per person Full prepayment
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