Dubai Airport to Abu Dhabi Transfer
Book a Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Abu Dhabi transfer with AirportTransferNow. Search available private transfers to Abu Dhabi hotels, addresses and destinations including Yas Island.
Route at a Glance
How to Get from Dubai Airpor to Abu Dhabi
The simplest direct way to travel from Dubai International Airport to a specific Abu Dhabi hotel or address is a pre-booked transfer, airport taxi or ride-hailing service. Central Abu Dhabi is roughly 145–155 km from DXB, with a typical road journey requiring around 90–120 minutes depending on traffic and destination. Public transport is possible, but normally requires reaching an intercity bus station in Dubai before continuing to Abu Dhabi.
Dubai Airpor to Abu Dhabi Transfer Guide
Dubai International Airport to Abu Dhabi is an inter-emirate road journey connecting Dubai with the UAE's federal capital. Unlike transfers within Dubai, this route covers a substantial distance and continues southwest from the airport across Dubai before entering the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The E11 corridor provides the principal road connection between the two cities. The final part of the journey varies considerably according to where you are staying because “Abu Dhabi” can refer to central Abu Dhabi Island as well as destinations such as Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Al Raha and other areas encountered before or around the city centre.
This distinction matters when arranging an airport transfer. Yas Island, for example, is officially described as approximately 30 minutes from Abu Dhabi city and is reached before central Abu Dhabi when approaching from Dubai.
Enter your complete hotel, residence or other destination when searching for a transfer rather than using a generic Abu Dhabi location. This produces a more meaningful journey and booking search for a city spread across numerous islands and mainland districts.
AirportTransferNow enables travelers to search and book available private transfer options from Dubai International Airport to their specific Abu Dhabi destination.
This route is different from shorter DXB transfers within Dubai because it involves a long inter-emirate road journey. A pre-booked transfer can take passengers to the Abu Dhabi address entered during booking without first traveling from DXB to one of Dubai's intercity bus stations.
That distinction is important because the public-transport alternative is not a single airport-to-Abu Dhabi service. Current RTA intercity options include E100 from Al Ghubaiba and E101 from Ibn Battuta to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station. Reaching either departure point from DXB and traveling onward from Abu Dhabi's bus station must be considered separately.
Airport taxis and ride-hailing provide other road options from DXB.
The best choice depends on passenger count, luggage, budget and destination. Someone traveling to Yas Island has different journey requirements from a passenger staying near the Corniche, so compare options using the actual hotel or address.
Pickup at Dubai Airpor
Dubai International Airport has separate passenger terminals, so pickup arrangements depend on your arriving flight and the transfer option booked.
Dubai Airports currently confirms that Dubai Taxi Company taxis are available 24/7 at designated ranks in each terminal. Ride-hailing services are also available, with passengers instructed to follow marked airport signage to the appropriate pickup location.
Those public taxi and ride-hailing locations should not automatically be treated as the meeting point for a pre-booked private transfer. Pickup arrangements can differ according to the reservation.
After collecting your baggage, check your AirportTransferNow booking confirmation and follow the specific pickup instructions supplied with your booking. This is particularly important for a long inter-emirate journey such as Abu Dhabi rather than assuming that all transportation departs from the same terminal location.
Drop-off in Abu Dhabi
Provide the complete Abu Dhabi hotel, residence or destination address when booking.
This is particularly important on this route because Abu Dhabi's major destinations are geographically dispersed. Yas Island, Al Raha, Saadiyat Island and central Abu Dhabi are not interchangeable drop-off points, and their position relative to Dubai can produce substantially different road journeys.
For central Abu Dhabi accommodation, provide the full hotel or street address rather than simply selecting the Corniche or city centre as a general landmark.
Travel Time from Dubai Airpor to Abu Dhabi
The Dubai Airport-to-Abu Dhabi route is particularly sensitive to traffic because it is a long cross-city and inter-emirate journey rather than a short airport connection.
A vehicle leaving DXB must first cross a significant portion of Dubai before continuing southwest toward Abu Dhabi. Conditions on major Dubai approaches and the E11 corridor can therefore influence the journey before the vehicle even reaches Abu Dhabi.
Destination geography then creates another major variable. Yas Island lies east of central Abu Dhabi and is approximately 30 minutes from the city according to Abu Dhabi Government destination guidance. A traveler ending there does not make the same road journey as someone continuing to the Corniche, Al Bateen or another central/western address.
For that reason, 90–120 minutes is best treated as a general central-Abu-Dhabi planning range, not a guaranteed duration. For an Abu Dhabi-to-DXB return journey tied to a flight, check live traffic and add the airline's recommended airport arrival allowance separately.
Taxi from Dubai Airpor to Abu Dhabi
Official Dubai airport taxis can be used for road transportation from DXB.
Dubai Airports currently states that Dubai Taxi Company taxis operate 24/7 from designated ranks in each terminal. The official airport starting fare is AED 25, after which additional charges are based on distance.
The AED 25 figure is therefore only the meter starting point and must not be presented as the cost of traveling to Abu Dhabi. This is a long inter-emirate journey, so the final amount will be substantially influenced by distance and the actual destination.
Dubai Airports also currently identifies Uber, Careem and Bolt as available ride-hailing services, with passengers instructed to follow airport signage to their pickup point after booking.
For Abu Dhabi, check the current fare or estimate for your actual destination. Do not assume a quote to Yas Island will be equivalent to one for the Corniche or another location farther into the city.
Public Transport from Dubai Airpor to Abu Dhabi
Public transportation between DXB and Abu Dhabi is possible, but the standard journey requires connections.
Dubai's RTA currently lists two important central-Abu-Dhabi intercity services: E100 between Al Ghubaiba and Abu Dhabi Bus Station, and E101 between Ibn Battuta and Abu Dhabi Bus Station. Recent 2026 RTA service notices continue to confirm both routes, demonstrating that they remain part of the current network.
RTA's current journey planner shows an E100 Al Ghubaiba-to-Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station journey scheduled at approximately two hours and AED 30. Because fares and schedules are volatile, check RTA/S'hail for the travel date rather than treating these figures as permanent.
From DXB, passengers must first reach the relevant Dubai bus station. After arriving at Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station, many hotels require another local bus, taxi or ride-hailing journey.
This can be attractive to budget-conscious travelers, but the complete airport-to-hotel journey should be compared rather than only the intercity bus segment.
Private Transfer vs Taxi and Public Transport
A pre-booked transfer provides one continuous road journey from DXB to the Abu Dhabi address entered during booking. This removes the need to travel first to a Dubai intercity bus station and then onward from Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station.
Official airport taxis offer another direct road option and are available without a pre-arranged private transfer. Ride-hailing also provides point-to-point transportation from designated airport pickup locations.
Intercity buses are the principal public-transport alternative. E100 connects Al Ghubaiba with Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station, while E101 operates from Ibn Battuta. They can be considerably more economical for an individual traveler, but require additional airport-to-station and potentially station-to-hotel transportation.
Destination is especially important when comparing options. Travelers heading to Yas Island should not automatically route themselves through central Abu Dhabi, while passengers staying centrally may find the intercity bus more practical.
Dubai Airpor to Abu Dhabi Transfer Prices
Transport costs between DXB and Abu Dhabi vary significantly according to the mode and destination.
Dubai Airports currently publishes an AED 25 airport taxi starting fare, followed by distance-based charges, rather than a fixed Abu Dhabi total. RTA's current journey planner shows AED 30 for an E100 journey between Al Ghubaiba and Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station, but this excludes transportation between DXB and Al Ghubaiba and between the Abu Dhabi station and your final destination.
Ride-hailing prices vary according to platform and booking conditions.
Private-transfer prices depend on the exact Abu Dhabi destination, selected vehicle and available booking options. Use AirportTransferNow's booking interface to check the current price for your actual route rather than relying on a generic Dubai-to-Abu-Dhabi figure.
Useful Information for Your Journey
Who Is This Transfer Best For?
A pre-booked transfer can be particularly useful for travelers who want to travel directly from DXB to an Abu Dhabi hotel without changing transportation in Dubai and central Abu Dhabi.
The route also makes direct transportation relevant for groups traveling to the same address and passengers whose luggage would make a Metro-plus-intercity-bus-plus-local-transport journey inconvenient.
It can be especially practical for destinations such as Yas Island or individual resorts and hotels that do not align conveniently with Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station. Solo travelers prioritizing cost and comfortable making connections may find RTA's intercity buses more appropriate.
About Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is the federal capital of the United Arab Emirates and the commercial and cultural centre of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The city and its surroundings include numerous islands and districts rather than one compact hotel zone.
For travelers arriving by road from Dubai, the exact destination can materially affect the journey. Yas Island is encountered before central Abu Dhabi, while accommodation may also be located around Al Raha, Saadiyat Island, Al Maryah Island, Al Zahiyah, the Corniche and other parts of the capital.
Official destination information identifies Saadiyat Island, the Corniche, Al Reem Island, Al Raha, Al Maryah Island and Al Zahiyah/Al Markaziyah among Abu Dhabi's accommodation areas.
When booking transportation from DXB, use the full hotel or street address. A generic “Abu Dhabi” destination is not sufficiently precise for comparing journeys to the city's widely separated districts and islands.
Dubai Airport to Yas Island Abu Dhabi
Yas Island represents an important variation of the Dubai Airport-to-Abu Dhabi journey because it lies east of central Abu Dhabi and is reached earlier when approaching from Dubai.
The Abu Dhabi Government describes Yas Island as the emirate's entertainment hub and places it approximately 30 minutes' drive from Abu Dhabi city. The island contains hotels and major visitor destinations including Yas Marina Circuit, theme parks and Yas Mall.
This geography means travelers going to Yas Island should not rely on a distance or journey time calculated for central Abu Dhabi. Their road transfer from DXB can be materially shorter because there is no need to continue all the way onto Abu Dhabi Island.
When searching AirportTransferNow, enter your specific Yas Island hotel or destination rather than Abu Dhabi generally. The same principle applies to other eastern Abu Dhabi destinations: the exact address determines how far the journey continues after entering the emirate.
Transfer Information
This is an inter-emirate transfer from Dubai to Abu Dhabi rather than a journey within one city. When comparing transportation, make sure any quoted route, price or journey time actually begins at DXB and ends at your specific Abu Dhabi destination; city-centre-to-city-centre figures can omit the airport and hotel portions of the trip.
Dubai Airpor to Abu Dhabi FAQs
Helpful answers about transfers from Dubai Airpor to Abu Dhabi.
How do I get from Dubai Airport to Abu Dhabi?
You can travel from DXB to Abu Dhabi by pre-booked private transfer, taxi, ride-hailing or a combination of Dubai transport and an intercity bus. There is no Dubai Metro line running directly to Abu Dhabi. RTA currently operates E100 from Al Ghubaiba and E101 from Ibn Battuta to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station. Your best option depends on budget, luggage and final Abu Dhabi address.
How far is Abu Dhabi from Dubai Airport?
Central Abu Dhabi is approximately 145–155 km by road from Dubai International Airport, depending on your DXB terminal, route and exact destination. Locations on the Dubai side of Abu Dhabi, particularly Yas Island, can be closer than accommodation around the Corniche or western parts of Abu Dhabi city. Entering the actual destination therefore gives a more useful distance than treating the entire city as one point.
How long does it take from Dubai Airport to Abu Dhabi?
Allow approximately 90–120 minutes by road to central Abu Dhabi under normal to moderately busy conditions, with additional time possible when traffic is heavy. The final destination matters: Yas Island is reached before central Abu Dhabi when traveling from Dubai, whereas a hotel around the Corniche requires continuing farther into the capital. Travel times should therefore be treated as estimates rather than guarantees.
Is there a bus from Dubai Airport to Abu Dhabi?
There is no standard RTA intercity service that should be treated as a direct DXB-to-central-Abu-Dhabi bus. Current RTA services include E100 from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station and E101 from Ibn Battuta Bus Station to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station. From DXB, you therefore need transportation to the appropriate Dubai departure station and potentially another journey from Abu Dhabi's bus station to your final destination
How much is a taxi from Dubai Airport to Abu Dhabi?
Dubai Airports does not publish one fixed DXB-to-Abu-Dhabi total on its airport taxi page. It currently states that official airport taxis start at AED 25, with additional charges based on distance. Because Abu Dhabi is a long inter-emirate journey and destinations vary from Yas Island to central and western Abu Dhabi, check the current applicable fare rather than relying on a generic fixed online estimate.