In Abu Dhabi a street taxi starts at AED 5 and costs AED 1.82 per km, a city bus costs AED 2 plus 5 fils per km and never more than AED 5, and a free shuttle bus links Yas Island, Saadiyat Island and the city centre. Uber and Careem also work. Drivers need to watch paid parking and the Darb toll. This guide gives the fares, the Hafilat card, the apps and the rules, with the best way to reach each main sight.
By SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
Tour on this route: Abu Dhabi City Tour from Dubai — From $45 per person, 9 hours.
How much is a taxi in Abu Dhabi?
Abu Dhabi Mobility lists a flag fall of AED 5 by day (6 AM to 10 PM) and AED 5.50 at night, AED 1.82 per km, AED 0.50 per minute of waiting and a minimum fare of AED 12. An airport taxi has a flag fall of AED 20. A 10 km ride by day costs about AED 23.
This guide also answers:
- Do Uber and Careem work in Abu Dhabi?
- What is the Hafilat card and how much is it?
- How much is the bus in Abu Dhabi?
Five trips in Abu Dhabi and the best way to make each
#1
The Corniche and the city centre
For short trips in town, a street taxi is cheap: Abu Dhabi Mobility lists AED 5 for the flag fall by day, then AED 1.82 per km, with a minimum fare of AED 12. A 10 km ride by day comes to AED 23.20 on that arithmetic. City buses cost AED 2 plus 5 fils per km, and Visit Abu Dhabi lists bike sharing too.
#2
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Use a taxi or a ride app, which shows the price before you set off. Visit Abu Dhabi warns that many drivers are not always familiar with street names, so give a landmark or a phone number. Read our dress code guide first, because covered arms and legs are required, and allow time for the registration.
#3
Yas Island
Visit Abu Dhabi says the Experience Abu Dhabi Shuttle Bus is free and runs eight key routes connecting Yas Island, Jubail Island, Saadiyat Island, the city centre and the Grand Canal area. You hop on at any stop and scan the QR code. The buses have air conditioning and Wi-Fi, and the timetables are in route PDFs on the Visit Abu Dhabi site.
#4
Saadiyat Island and the Louvre
The free shuttle lists Saadiyat Island among its areas, but Visit Abu Dhabi's page does not name the stops, so check the route PDF for the one nearest the museum. A taxi is the fallback, with the same meter as elsewhere in the city. Our Saadiyat Island guide covers tickets and what else is on the island.
#5
Back to Dubai or to the airport
Abu Dhabi Mobility lists the E100, E101 and E102 buses from Abu Dhabi Main Bus Station to Dubai at AED 25 and routes 117 and 118 to Sharjah at AED 30, with tickets sold at the Customer Happiness Offices in the station. The Etihad Rail station is opposite Dalma Mall and the train reaches Dubai in about 57 minutes.
Getting around Abu Dhabi: the short answer
A taxi is the easiest way to get around Abu Dhabi, a bus with a Hafilat card is the cheapest, and the free shuttle bus is the best deal for Yas Island and Saadiyat. Abu Dhabi Mobility lists an AED 5 flag fall for a street taxi by day and AED 1.82 per km, and the city buses charge AED 2 plus 5 fils per km, with a cap of AED 5 on a journey over 60 km. Uber and Careem also work, and both charge your card in the app, according to Visit Abu Dhabi.
The sights are spread out, which is the main difficulty. The Grand Mosque, Yas Island, Saadiyat Island and the Corniche are each a separate ride, so many visitors use taxis or apps for the long legs and walk on the Corniche. If you are coming from Dubai, read Dubai to Abu Dhabi first.
Taxis and ride apps
Street taxis in Abu Dhabi have a silver body and a yellow roof sign. You can hail one at the kerb, call the TransAD hotline on 600 535 353 or book through the Abu Dhabi Taxi app on iOS and Android, according to Visit Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Mobility publishes the tariff:
- Give a landmark. Visit Abu Dhabi says many drivers speak good English but are not always familiar with street names. Keep your hotel's phone number ready.
- Take a receipt. The call centre can identify the vehicle and reach the driver if you leave something behind.
- Families and women: family taxis come in four- and seven-seat versions for women and children under ten. Book them in advance.
- Airport vans: Visit Abu Dhabi lists Mercedes-Benz Vito vans running 24 hours from Terminals 1, 2 and 3.
- Apps: Careem and Uber both operate in Abu Dhabi and charge your card. Our Dubai taxi and Careem guide explains how the apps price a trip.
| Charge | Street taxi, day (6 AM-10 PM) | Street taxi, night (10 PM-6 AM) | Airport taxi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flag fall | AED 5.00 | AED 5.50 | AED 20.00 |
| Every kilometre | AED 1.82 | AED 1.82 | AED 1.82 |
| Waiting, per minute | AED 0.50 | AED 0.50 | AED 0.50 |
| Minimum fare | AED 12 | AED 12 | Not listed |
| Booking fee | AED 4.00 | AED 5.00 | AED 4.00 by day, AED 5.00 at night |
For a worked example, a 10 km ride by day costs AED 5 plus AED 18.20, or AED 23.20, and the booking fee is added if you book by phone or app. Abu Dhabi Mobility does not say how the Darb toll is added to taxi fares, so ask the driver. Visit Abu Dhabi says the journey from the airport into town costs about AED 70-80 including a minimum flag fall.
A few habits help:
City buses and the Hafilat card
Abu Dhabi Mobility publishes the standard city bus fare as a boarding fee of AED 2 plus 5 fils per km, with a maximum of AED 5 for a journey over 60 km. Abu Dhabi Mobility's example is a 10 km trip, which costs AED 2.50. Children aged ten and under travel free, and Visit Abu Dhabi says riders aged 60 and over and People of Determination do too. Transfers are cheap: tap into the next bus within 60 minutes of your last tap-out, and you do not pay another boarding fee, up to two transfers (three buses) per journey. Transfers do not apply to intercity buses.
You pay with a Hafilat card. The Hafilat Anonymous Card costs AED 10 and is valid for 16 years, according to Abu Dhabi Mobility. You can buy it at the ticket machines, at Abu Dhabi and Al Ain Co-operative Society (Spar) stores, at Lulu Hypermarket and Lulu Exchange branches, and at the Customer Happiness Offices at bus stations and the airport. Visit Abu Dhabi's bus page still describes a cash fare of two dirham coins in the box next to the driver, which does not match the distance-based fare, so carry a card and some coins as a back-up.
Timetables are in Google Maps and the Darbi app, and a QR code at each stop shows real-time arrivals. Visit Abu Dhabi says buses run round the clock. The honest limit is that buses suit the city and the suburbs, while the main sights are far apart, so on a short visit a taxi saves time.
The free shuttle bus
The Experience Abu Dhabi Shuttle Bus is free of charge, according to Visit Abu Dhabi. It runs eight key routes connecting Yas Island, Jubail Island, Saadiyat Island, the city centre and the Grand Canal area, with air conditioning, wheelchair access and Wi-Fi. You hop on at any stop and scan the QR code. The page does not give operating hours or name the attractions on each route, so open the route PDF for your day before you plan around a stop.
For a Yas Island day, the shuttle can replace taxis between the parks and the mall. Our Yas Island guide shows what fits in one day, and the Saadiyat Island guide covers the Louvre side.
Driving, parking and the Darb toll
To rent a car you need a passport copy, a credit card and a valid driving licence from your home country or an international licence, according to Visit Abu Dhabi, which also advises comprehensive insurance with personal accident cover. Residents need a UAE licence.
- Paid parking (Mawaqif): Abu Dhabi Mobility lists AED 3 per hour for premium parking, with a four-hour limit, and AED 2 per hour or AED 15 for the whole day for standard parking. Paid hours are 8 AM to midnight.
- Free days: Abu Dhabi Mobility says parking is free on Sundays and public holidays. Visit Abu Dhabi's page describes Fridays as the free day, so read the sign at the bay.
- How to pay: cash, the Darb app, a rechargeable card, direct mobile phone payment or the Mawaqif payment machines, according to Abu Dhabi Mobility.
- Fines: Visit Abu Dhabi says parking outside designated spaces can cost AED 200 to AED 1,000.
- Darb toll: AED 4 per crossing at the tolling gates, from 7 to 9 AM and from 3 to 7 PM on weekdays and Saturdays. It does not apply on Sundays and official holidays, according to Abu Dhabi Mobility. The page does not list the gates or explain how rental cars pay, so ask your rental company how it bills Darb.
Dubai has its own toll and parking systems; see Salik, parking and fines for tourists if your trip includes both cities.
Which way for which sight
This table sums up the best choice for a first visit.
| Where | Best way | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Corniche and city centre | Walk, taxi or city bus | Short trips; the taxi minimum fare is AED 12 |
| Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque | Taxi or ride app | Give a landmark; check the dress code first |
| Yas Island | Free shuttle bus, or taxi | The shuttle is free and has a Yas route |
| Saadiyat Island | Free shuttle bus, or taxi | Check the route PDF for the museum stop |
| Dubai | Bus E100, E101 or E102, or Etihad Rail | AED 25 by bus; about 57 minutes by train |
Our Grand Mosque transport guide compares the bus, the taxi and a tour for the mosque. If you arrive at Dubai Airport first, Dubai Airport to Abu Dhabi covers the train, the bus and the taxi.
Visiting from Dubai? Let someone else plan the transport
If you are in Dubai and want the main sights in a day, a tour removes the transport questions above. Our Abu Dhabi city tour collects you at 8:00 AM from hotels in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman, lasts 9 hours and costs from $45 per person shared, or $245 for a private car for up to 7 guests, with no prepayment. Our tour or on your own comparison helps you choose between the tour and the bus-and-taxi day.
FAQ
How much is a taxi in Abu Dhabi?
Abu Dhabi Mobility lists a flag fall of AED 5 by day (6 AM to 10 PM) and AED 5.50 at night, AED 1.82 per km, AED 0.50 per minute of waiting and a minimum fare of AED 12. An airport taxi has a flag fall of AED 20. A 10 km ride by day costs about AED 23.
Do Uber and Careem work in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Visit Abu Dhabi lists both, and both charge your card in the app. The Abu Dhabi Taxi app and the TransAD hotline, 600 535 353, book the silver street taxis.
What is the Hafilat card and how much is it?
It is the card for Abu Dhabi's city buses. The Hafilat Anonymous Card costs AED 10 and is valid for 16 years, according to Abu Dhabi Mobility. Buy it at ticket machines, Spar or Lulu stores, or the Customer Happiness Offices at bus stations and the airport.
How much is the bus in Abu Dhabi?
Abu Dhabi Mobility lists a boarding fee of AED 2 plus 5 fils per km, with a maximum of AED 5 for journeys over 60 km. A 10 km trip costs AED 2.50. Children aged ten and under travel free, and transfers within 60 minutes do not pay another boarding fee.
Is there a free bus in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. The Experience Abu Dhabi Shuttle Bus is free and runs eight key routes connecting Yas Island, Jubail Island, Saadiyat Island, the city centre and the Grand Canal area. Scan the QR code at the stop when you board. Check the route PDF for times.
How much is parking in Abu Dhabi?
Premium parking costs AED 3 per hour with a four-hour limit, and standard parking AED 2 per hour or AED 15 for the whole day, from 8 AM to midnight. Abu Dhabi Mobility says it is free on Sundays and public holidays. Parking outside bays can cost AED 200 to AED 1,000.
What is the Darb toll in Abu Dhabi?
Darb is Abu Dhabi's road toll. Abu Dhabi Mobility lists AED 4 per crossing from 7 to 9 AM and from 3 to 7 PM on weekdays and Saturdays, with no charge on Sundays and official holidays. Ask your rental company how it passes the charge to you.
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