How to Travel From Abu Dhabi to Dubai Using a Bus – Cost & Stations

Introduction

Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and has been slowly trying to play catch up with its neighbouring Emirate, Dubai when it comes to tourism.

In response to this, Abu Dhabi’s government has put in place an initiative called Tourism Strategy 2030 that plans to increase the number of tourists visiting the Emirate.

Some of the initiatives that we can already witness include:

• Expansion of the Zayed International Airport
• Increasing Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi’s flag courier, destination routes to attract more passengers to choose them against the other UAE-based airlines or other airlines in general.
• The Emirate is also increasing the number of hotels, restaurants, theme parks and more.

With this, more and more people are choosing to visit Abu Dhabi. However, Dubai is still a top destination and many visitors would like to tour the Emirate. That has made the movement between Abu Dhabi and Dubai to increase. And if you are on a budget, then using a bus to head to Dubai.

Related: The Cheapest Time to Visit Dubai

Bus Routes and Stations

Traveling between Abu Dhabi and Dubai is convenient, thanks to the availability of three primary bus routes: E100, E101, and E102. Passengers can pick a route based on where in Dubai they are going as each route has different stops that they make.

Let us now have a look at the bus routes you can choose to travel from Abu Dhabi to Dubai:

E100 Route

• Starting Point in Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station.
• Bus Times: You can get a bus every 30 min. The first bus is at 05:30 am and the last is at 11:39 pm
• End Point in Dubai: Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Dubai.
• Price: AED 25
• Total time taken to Dubai: Approximately 2 hours 10 min to complete the journey.
• Stops made en route to Dubai: See below.
• Best if you are planning to visit Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall or Business bay area (Downtown Dubai)

E101 Route

• Starting Point in Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station.
• Bus Times: You can get a bus every 30 min. The first bus is at 05:30 am and the last is at 11:55 pm.
• End Point in Dubai: Ibn Battuta Metro Station in Dubai.
• Price: AED 25
• Total time taken to Dubai: Faster, taking about 85 minutes (1 hour and 25 minutes).
• Stops made en route to Dubai: See below.
• Best if you are planning to visit Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, JBR and other nearby areas.

E102 Route

• Starting Point in Abu Dhabi: Mussafah Shabiya Bus Station.
• Bus Times: You can get a bus every 1 hour. The first bus is at 08:30 am and the last is at 12:20 am
• End Point in Dubai: Ibn Battuta Metro Station in Dubai.
• Price: AED 25
• Total time taken to Dubai: A mid-range option at 110 minutes (1 hour and 50 minutes).
• Stops made en route to Dubai: See below.
• Best if you are planning to visit Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, JBR and other nearby areas.

Travelers should note that traffic conditions may affect these durations slightly.

In addition, travelers from Abu Dhabi International Airport can opt for the Abu Dhabi Airport Express, which connects directly to Ibn Battuta Bus Station in Dubai.

However, if you’re traveling from Abu Dhabi International Airport via the Airport Express, the ticket is slightly higher at AED 35.

To pay for these services, you’ll need a Nol Card, which can be purchased at the bus stations in Abu Dhabi. The most popular card options include:

• Silver Card: AED 25, with AED 19 credit included.
• Gold Card: AED 25, with additional perks for premium seating.

Ensure your card is topped up before your journey, either at the station or through the Nol Pay app.

Stops Each Bus Route Makes

Here’s a detailed breakdown of stops along each route:

E100 Stops:

1. Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station
2. Shahama Village
3. Samha
4. Al Ghubaiba Bus Station

E101 Stops:

1. Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station
2. Shahama Village
3. Samha
4. Ibn Battuta Metro Station

E102 Stops:

1. Mussafah Shabiya Bus Station
2. Mussafah Park
3. Al Najah Private School
4. Al Ain University of Science and Technology
5. Abu Dhabi International Airport Terminal 1 & 3
6. Ibn Battuta Metro Station

Airport Express: Direct service from Abu Dhabi International Airport to Ibn Battuta takes 90 minutes (1 hour and 30 minutes).

For travelers coming from Abu Dhabi International Airport, the Airport Express also ends at Ibn Battuta Metro Station.

Whether commuting for work or leisure, the Abu Dhabi to Dubai buses are an affordable and reliable option to travel between these two major cities.