Real meter costs, or a fixed price private car from USD 47 per person, 7 in the car. 30% off now.
Looking for taxis at the airport itself (rank, meter rates, Uber)? That is on the Abu Dhabi Airport Taxi page, this page covers the intercity run to Dubai.
Abu Dhabi to Dubai Taxi Fare: The Short Answer
Looking for taxis at the airport itself (rank, meter rates, Uber)? That is on the Abu Dhabi Airport Taxi page, this page covers the intercity run to Dubai.
- How much is a taxi from Abu Dhabi to Dubai? +: USD 68 to 87 / AED 250 to 320 on the meter, plus roughly USD 2.18 / AED 8 in Salik tolls, so about USD 71 to 90 / AED 260 to 330 in total for a one-way trip.
- How long does it take to drive from Abu Dhabi to Dubai? +: Between 1 hour 20 minutes and 2 hours 30 minutes for the 140 to 150 km run, almost entirely on the E11 / Sheikh Zayed Road.
- When is a private car actually worth it over a taxi? +: Three situations, and we would rather be straight about them than sell you something you do not need:1.
For a fixed-price arrival ride, see our Abu Dhabi airport transfer, private car, flight-tracked pickup and a guaranteed return to the terminal.
Abu Dhabi city tour from USD 190 / AED 699 per car, not per person. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque interior visit, Emirates Palace, the Corniche, Etihad Towers and a Ferrari World photo stop. Private vehicle, driver-guide and hotel pickup anywhere in Abu Dhabi city. DTCM licensed Ā· 4.9ā Ā· 5,000+ guests.
Which direction are you travelling?
This page is Abu Dhabi → Dubai. The fare, the pickup rules and the waiting times are not the same in both directions, so if you are going Dubai → Abu Dhabi read Dubai to Abu Dhabi taxi fare instead, it is a different page with different numbers.
Abu Dhabi to Dubai: Every Option, With the Real Price
Taxi: USD 71 / AED 260–330. Bus: USD 7 to 8 / AED 25 to 30. Uber: USD 82 / AED 300–450+. Those are the real numbers, and we are not going to hide the cheap one from you. If you are travelling alone with one bag, take the E101 bus. A private car earns its price when there are three of you, when you have luggage, or when you need the driver to wait, not otherwise. Our transfer prices are quoted on WhatsApp because they depend on your pickup point, vehicle and timing; we will not publish a number we cannot honour.
USD 7 to 8 / AED 25 to 30E101 Bus
The cheapest way, by a mile. Every 30 min from Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station, ~1 hr 30 min.
- USD 7 to 8 / AED 25 to 30 per person
- ~1 hr 30 min, only ~8 min slower than a taxi
- Runs every 30 minutes
- Limited luggage. No door-to-door.
- Drops at Ibn Battuta, not your hotel
Best for: one or two people, light bags, no rush.
Ask us if the bus suits you See the full comparison
USD 71 to 90 / AED 260 to 330Metered Street Taxi
USD 68 / AED 250–320 on the meter plus ~USD 2.18 / AED 8 Salik. 140–150 km, 1 hr 20 min to 2 hr 30 min.
- USD 68 to 87 / AED 250 to 320 metered + ~USD 2.18 / AED 8 Salik
- Rush hour can add USD 16.35 / AED 60+
- Door-to-door
- It does not wait. One way only.
- Return trip = you pay again
Best for: a one-way trip, 1 to 3 people, no return needed.
Compare with a private car See the full comparison
USD 82 to 123 / AED 300 to 450+Uber / Careem
Consistently more expensive than a street taxi on this route, not less. Surge pricing makes it worse.
- USD 82 to 123 / AED 300 to 450+ one way
- Surge pricing at peak
- Cashless and app-tracked
- Does not wait
- Cars sometimes decline cross-emirate trips
Best for: people who want cashless and app tracking, and will pay for it.
Get a fixed-price alternative See the full comparison
Quoted on WhatsAppPrivate Car: Transfer
Fixed price agreed before you travel. No meter, no surge, no rush-hour surprise.
- Fixed price: quoted before you book
- Private vehicle, up to 6 to 7 guests
- English-speaking driver
- Hotel door to hotel door
- Salik, fuel and parking included
- No prepayment, pay the driver
Best for: families, groups of 3+, anyone with real luggage.
Get my fixed price See the full comparison
Quoted on WhatsAppPrivate Car: Driver Waits
The taxi maths breaks down the moment you need to come back. One car, one driver, all day, both directions.
- Driver waits: you do not re-book
- Luggage stays in the car all day
- Both directions in one price
- Stop wherever you want along the way
- Two taxis + waiting = more than this
Best for: day trips, meetings, anyone returning the same day.
Quote me a day rate See the full comparisonCombo Packages: Add a Second Experience
Combos depend on your day, your group and the season, so we price them individually rather than publish a number that would be wrong for most people.
Combo Ā· WhatsApp quoteCity Tour + Abu Dhabi Desert Safari
The capital by day, the dunes by evening. Our two flagship experiences in one booking.
Get Combo Price
Combo Ā· WhatsApp quoteCity Tour + Ferrari World
Landmarks in the morning, Yas Island after lunch. You buy your own park ticket.
Get Combo Price
Combo Ā· WhatsApp quoteCity Tour + Louvre Abu Dhabi
Add two hours inside Jean Nouvel’s “rain of light” dome on Saadiyat Island.
Get Combo Price
Combo Ā· WhatsApp quoteCity Tour + Qasr Al Watan
The working presidential palace, its Great Hall and the evening light show.
Get Combo Price
Custom Ā· WhatsApp quoteCustom / Multi-Activity Package
2-hour, night tour, layover run, multi-day vehicle hire. Tell us the days and we build it.
Get Combo PriceComing straight from the airport? See the AUH terminal guide, official luggage rates, every lounge, the airside transit hotel and when it is worth leaving.
QUICK FACTS
Abu Dhabi to Dubai Taxi Cost: At a Glance
Taxi, bus, Uber/Careem and a private transfer, the numbers side by side before you decide how to travel.
| What | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest option | E101 bus: USD 7 to 8 / AED 25 to 30 | Best if you are travelling alone with no luggage constraints |
| Metered taxi fare | USD 71 / AED 260–330 | USD 68 / AED 250–320 on the meter plus about USD 2.18 / AED 8 Salik toll, one way |
| Uber / Careem | USD 82 / AED 300–450+ | Consistently costs more than a metered taxi on this route |
| Bus journey time | ~1 hr 30 min | About 8 minutes slower than a taxi, from Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station |
| Drive time (taxi/car) | 1 hr 20 min – 2 hr 30 min | For the 140–150 km run, almost entirely on the E11 / Sheikh Zayed Road |
| Salik toll | ~USD 2.18 / AED 8 | Charged automatically on a metered taxi; included in a private transfer’s fixed price |
| Private car transfer | Fixed price | Salik, fuel and parking included, driver can wait for a same-day return. Quoted on WhatsApp. |
| Most flexible option | Private taxi or transfer | No fixed schedule, door-to-door pickup, and the driver can wait for you |
Not sure which package to choose? WhatsApp us and we will recommend the best option for your group →
INSTANT BOOKING
Book Your Abu Dhabi City Tour
Fill the form below. We confirm your booking on WhatsApp within 1 hour.
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WHY BOOK DIRECT WITH US
The Lowest Price Is Always on WhatsApp
When you book through Viator, GetYourGuide, or Tripadvisor, you pay their commission on top of our price. When you book direct on WhatsApp, that commission becomes your saving. Same tour. Same car. Same driver. Lower price.
- ✓Best price guaranteed: we match or beat any other price you find
- ✓No booking fee: what you see is what you pay
- ✓Pay on arrival: no upfront payment, no risk
- ✓Free cancellation: cancel up to 12 hours before, no charge
- ✓Instant reply: we confirm within 1 hour on WhatsApp, any time of day
Tour Timings
Pickup: 2:30 PM, 3:30 PM
Return: 10:00 PM, 10:30 PM
Morning Tour
Pickup: 7:30 AM, 8:00 AM
Return: 12:00 PM, 12:30 PM
Overnight Tour
Pickup: 3:00 PM, 3:30 PM
Return: Next morning 9:00 AM
Note: Timings may vary slightly by season. Exact pickup time confirmed on WhatsApp when booking.
Pickup Areas: Abu Dhabi
A metered taxi from Abu Dhabi to Dubai costs USD 68 to 87 / AED 250 to 320, plus around USD 2.18 / AED 8 in Salik tolls: about USD 71 to 90 / AED 260 to 330 one way. The trip is 140 to 150 km and takes 1 hr 20 min to 2 hr 30 min. Rush hour can add USD 16.35 / AED 60+.
Uber and Careem are more expensive, not cheaper: USD 82 to 123 / AED 300 to 450+. And the E101 bus costs USD 7 to 8 / AED 25 to 30 and is only about eight minutes slower. If you are one person with one bag, take the bus. We sell private cars and we are still telling you that.
A private car earns its price in exactly three cases: 3+ passengers, real luggage, or you need the driver to wait. A taxi drops you and leaves. Get a fixed-price quote on WhatsApp.
Landing in Abu Dhabi With Hours to Spare?
If you are connecting through the airport rather than just crossing the emirates, the airport layover guide and long layover guide show what fits in the time you have, and the night layover tour covers late arrivals.
Before You Book Anything: The Bus Costs USD 7 to 8 / AED 25 to 30
We sell private cars. We make nothing when you take the bus. We are telling you anyway, because the alternative is writing a page that pretends the cheapest, most sensible option for a solo traveller does not exist, and you would find out within five minutes of arriving and never trust another word on this site.
The E101 route costs only USD 7 to 8 / AED 25 to 30, takes 1 hour 30 minutes, and runs every 30 minutes from Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station.
, Published intercity bus fare data
When the bus is genuinely the right answer
- You are travelling alone or as a couple. There is no group discount on a taxi, you pay the full meter whether the car has one person in it or four. The bus charges per head, and at USD 7 to 8 / AED 25 to 30 a head it is unbeatable.
- You have a backpack or a cabin bag. Manageable.
- You are not in a hurry. Eight minutes. That is the entire time penalty.
- You are on a budget. USD 7 to 8 / AED 25 to 30 versus USD 82 / AED 300 is not a close call.
When the bus is the wrong answer
- You have real luggage. Luggage space is limited and you will be wrestling suitcases on and off. This is the most common reason people regret the bus.
- You need door-to-door. The bus drops you at a station, typically Ibn Battuta, not at your hotel. You then need a local taxi at the far end, which erodes the saving.
- You are three or more people. Three bus tickets is USD 17 / AED 63, which is still cheaper, but now you are three people plus bags on public transport, and a private car starts to make sense on comfort rather than pure cost.
- You are travelling with children, elderly relatives, or on a tight schedule.
When a Private Car Is Actually Worth It
We would rather write that sentence and lose the booking than write a page that tells everybody a private car is the answer. It is not the answer for a solo backpacker, and pretending otherwise is how tour companies end up with one-star reviews.
1. Three or more passengers
A taxi charges the same whether one person or four are inside, but a taxi is a sedan. Four adults plus four suitcases does not fit in a sedan, and you will end up taking two taxis, at which point you have paid USD 142 to 180 / AED 520 to 660 one way and split your group across two cars. Our vehicles seat 6 to 7 with genuine luggage space, at one price.
2. You have luggage
This is where both the bus and the taxi quietly fail. The bus has limited luggage capacity. A sedan taxi has a boot that fits two large cases and then stops. If you are moving between emirates with a family’s worth of bags, the vehicle size is the entire decision, and the fare is a footnote.
3. You need the driver to wait
This is the one that changes the maths completely, and almost nobody calculates it. Say you are going to Dubai for the day, the Burj, the Mall, lunch, back to Abu Dhabi by evening. With taxis you pay USD 71 to 90 / AED 260 to 330 out, and then at 8pm you are standing on a Dubai street trying to find a cab willing to take a 150 km cross-emirate fare, and paying USD 71 to 90 / AED 260 to 330 again. Total: USD 142 to 180 / AED 520 to 660, two strangers, no luggage storage, and a period of genuine anxiety about whether you will get home.
The alternative is one car, one driver, one fixed price. He waits at the mall. Your bags stay in the boot. You leave when you want. That is not a luxury product: it is straightforwardly cheaper and less stressful than the two-taxi version.
What is included in a private transfer
- Private air-conditioned vehicle, yours alone
- English-speaking driver
- Fixed price agreed before you travel: no meter, no surge, no rush-hour surprise
- Salik tolls, fuel and parking all included
- Hotel door to hotel door, no stations, no walking with bags
- Bottled water
- No prepayment and no booking fee: you pay the driver
Getting a Fixed Price
Send this on WhatsApp to +971 58 228 2683 and you will get a fixed number back:
Hi, Abu Dhabi to Dubai transfer.
Pickup: ____ (hotel / airport / address)
Drop-off: ____
Date & time: ____
Passengers: ____ Bags: ____
One way, or do you need the driver to wait?
- No prepayment. Pay the driver on the day.
- No booking fee. The quote is the price.
- Free cancellation. Nothing has changed hands.
- We will tell you if the bus or a taxi is cheaper for you. If you are one person with a backpack, we will say so.
Related Abu Dhabi Guides
Get a Fixed Price: Not a Meter
Tell us your pickup, your passenger count and whether you need the driver to wait. You will get a fixed number back. And if the bus or a taxi is genuinely cheaper for you, we will tell you that instead.
WhatsApp +971 58 228 2683DTCM licensed Ā· 4.9ā Ā· 5,000+ guests
Taxi fares are metered and vary with traffic and pickup point; figures here are typical ranges, not guaranteed prices. Official rates: Abu Dhabi Mobility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have a question? We reply within minutes.
Ask on WhatsApp →Related Desert Safari Guides
Continue Planning Your Trip
- Full-Day Dubai City Tour, USD 245 / AED 899 Per Car
- Half-Day Dubai City Tour, USD 190 / AED 699 Per Car
- Dubai City Tour Price, What It Really Costs
- When Should You Actually Go to Dubai?
- Your Dubai Itinerary, Day by Day
- Dubai at Night
- The Dubai Fountain Show
- Things to Do in Dubai With Kids
- Things to Do in Dubai Mall
- Free Things to Do in Dubai
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Abu Dhabi to Dubai taxi fare charged per kilometre?
Abu Dhabi metered taxis charge AED 1.82 per km under the official tariff, plus the starting fare, a booking fee and waiting time in traffic. Over the roughly 130 km run, that builds toward the USD 68 to 90 (AED 250 to 330) range quoted above. Salik tolls are extra.
Is there a free shuttle from Abu Dhabi to Dubai?
Yes, but only if you fly Etihad. Etihad Shuttle is free on an Etihad-operated flight to or from Abu Dhabi, runs to Al Wasl Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai in about 75 minutes, and must be booked at etihad.com/manage at least 24 hours before your flight. For everyone else the low-cost option is the public E101 bus at about USD 7 to 8 (AED 25 to 30) each way.
Is there a train from Abu Dhabi to Dubai?
Yes. Etihad Rail now runs passenger trains between the two cities. You board at Mohamed bin Zayed City station in Abu Dhabi, across from Dalma Mall, and arrive at Al Yalayis station in Dubai, a walkway from Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro. Comfort class starts at USD 11 (AED 39), Premium USD 30 (AED 109), and the ride takes about an hour. Both stations are outside the centres, so budget a taxi or bus at each end, and check etihadrail.ae for current fares.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes on the USD 41 / AED 150 shared pickup, the USD 190 / AED 699 private car and the USD 286 / AED 1,050 Land Cruiser, covering the whole city including the Corniche, Al Maryah, Al Reem, Downtown, Khalifa City, Mussafah, Yas Island, Saadiyat, Shabiya and the airport. The USD 16.35 / AED 60 package departs from Al Wahda Mall or Mazyad Mall, and USD 10 / AED 35 is self-drive using a GPS pin we send you.
Book this tour
No deposit and no card details. Message us and we confirm the plan and the exact price before you commit, answered at any hour.
- Send your date and guest countYour date, how many of you, and where we collect from. That is all we need.
- We send the plan and the pricePer car, not per person. You see the route, the timings and the exact figure first.
- Pay the driver on the dayCash or card, after the run. Free cancellation up to 12 hours before pickup.
Answered 24 hours · No deposit · No booking fee · Licensed operator
Landing at DXB instead? See our fixed-price Dubai airport transfer.
If we have to cancel, what happens?
A cancellation policy that covers your obligations but not ours is only half a document. Here is our side of it, in writing.
If we have to cancel your booking, for weather, a vehicle issue, or driver illness, we will contact you as soon as we know and rebook you at no charge on the next date that works for you. You pay nothing for the cancelled booking.
If we need to send a different vehicle than the one you booked, we will ask you first rather than turning up in something you did not book.
This is separate from your own cancellation rights, which are unchanged: you can cancel free up to 12 hours before pickup. Because we take no deposit and no booking fee, there is no money of yours sitting with us either way: nothing to chase, and nothing to wait for.