Dubai to Al Ain: distance, bus, taxi and a day trip to Jebel Hafeet
Dubai to Al Ain is about 135 km, 1h30–2h on the E66. E201 bus fare, taxi costs, Al Ain Oasis hours, Jebel Hafeet and a one-day plan from Dubai.
Chauffeur operations specialist, Dubai · Updated · 7 min read
Dubai to Al Ain is about 135 km on the E66, a drive of 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on where you start. The RTA bus E201 costs AED 25 and takes about 2 hours 15 minutes, a metered Dubai taxi runs to roughly AED 330–370, and a car for the day lets you add Jebel Hafeet.
Al Ain is Abu Dhabi’s oasis city, on the border with Oman, and a very different day out from the coast. We drive there regularly as part of our chauffeur service across the UAE, mostly for families doing the oasis, the forts and the mountain road in one go. Here’s how to get there, what it costs and how to plan the day.
How far is Al Ain from Dubai?
About 135 km from central Dubai to the Al Ain Oasis. The E66, the Dubai–Al Ain Road, runs almost straight across the desert from the edge of central Dubai.
| From | To Al Ain Oasis | Drive, light traffic | Main roads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Dubai / Business Bay | about 133 km | about 1 h 35 min | E66 |
| Mirdif / Dubai Silicon Oasis | about 134 km | about 1 h 35 min | E311, E66 |
| DXB airport | about 138 km | about 1 h 40 min | E311, E66 |
| Dubai Marina / JLT | about 148 km | about 1 h 50 min | E311, E66 |
Visit Al Ain gives the drive from Dubai as about 1.5 to 2 hours, which matches what we see.
How long does it take to drive from Dubai to Al Ain?
Plan on 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. The E66 itself flows well; the slow parts are leaving Dubai at rush hour and the roundabouts and traffic lights inside Al Ain.
What we allow from Downtown Dubai to the Al Ain Oasis:
| Departure time (weekday) | To Al Ain | Back to Dubai |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00–7:00 am | 1 h 30 min | 1 h 40 min |
| 7:00–10:00 am | 1 h 40 min | 2 h (heavy traffic entering Dubai) |
| 10:00 am – 4:00 pm | 1 h 35 min | 1 h 40 min |
| 4:00–8:00 pm | 1 h 50 min – 2 h | 1 h 40 min – 1 h 50 min |
| After 8:00 pm | 1 h 30 min | 1 h 35 min |
There are no Salik or Darb gates on the E66, so the only tolls on this trip are any Salik gates you pass getting out of Dubai. The road is a long, straight desert highway with speed cameras along it; our chauffeurs keep to the limit.
How do I get from Dubai to Al Ain?
| Option | Cost, one way | Time | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTA bus E201 (Al Ghubaiba to Al Ain Central Bus Station) | AED 25 on Nol | About 2 h 15 min | Seats can be booked through RTA’s intercity e-ticketing |
| Dubai taxi, metered | About AED 330–370 | 1 h 30 min – 2 h | AED 2.45 per km; no Sharjah charge on this route |
| Al Ain taxi back to Dubai | About AED 245–275 | 1 h 30 min – 2 h | Abu Dhabi tariff, AED 1.82 per km |
| Uber or Careem | Upfront app price, varies with demand | 1 h 30 min – 2 h | Check the price for the return too |
| Private chauffeur, transfer | Fixed price, tolls and VAT included | 1 h 30 min – 2 h | Door to door with luggage |
| Private chauffeur, full day | Day rate plus an out-of-Dubai charge | Car stays with you | Oasis, forts and Jebel Hafeet in one day |
There’s no train or metro between Dubai and Al Ain. The bus leaves from Al Ghubaiba in Bur Dubai, on the Green Line, and RTA’s intercity e-ticketing page lets you reserve a seat on E201.
The taxi figures are our meter maths from Dubai Taxi’s published AED 2.45 per km and Abu Dhabi’s AED 1.82 per km, before waiting time. Al Ain’s taxis follow Abu Dhabi’s tariff, so the trip home costs less than the trip out.
For a day trip, a taxi each way leaves you without a car in Al Ain, and the sights are spread out: Jebel Hafeet is 26 km from the oasis. Published Dubai rate cards (September 2026) put a business sedan with driver at AED 600–1,300 for a full 10-hour day and a large SUV at AED 1,300–2,000, with many operators adding AED 125–200 when the car leaves Dubai. For a family of five, book the SUV; see our luxury SUV chauffeur fleet.
What is there to see in Al Ain?
- Al Ain Oasis: a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with shaded paths through date palms and the old falaj water channels. It’s open daily 9 am to 7 pm with free entry, according to the Department of Culture and Tourism.
- Jebel Hafeet: the mountain on Al Ain’s southern edge. A wide, winding road climbs to the top, with viewpoints over the city and the desert. Go early or for sunset.
- Green Mubazzarah: the park at the foot of Jebel Hafeet, known for its hot springs and lawns.
- Al Jahili Fort: a restored fort a few minutes from the oasis.
- Qasr Al Muwaiji: a restored fort with an exhibition on Al Ain’s history.
- Al Ain Zoo: a large wildlife park, good for families in the cooler months.
- Al Ain Adventure: water sports and a surf pool for the more active.
Al Ain sits right on the Oman border at Buraimi. Our cars stay on the UAE side, and there’s no reason to go near the crossing for any of the sights above.
A one-day plan from Dubai to Al Ain
- Leave Dubai at 7:00 am. You’re at the foot of Jebel Hafeet by about 8:45 am.
- Drive up Jebel Hafeet, 8:45–10:00 am. Stop at the viewpoints on the way up; the air is clearer in the morning.
- Green Mubazzarah, 10:15–10:45 am. A short stop at the base of the mountain.
- Al Ain Oasis, 11:15 am – 1:00 pm. Walk the shaded paths before the heat peaks.
- Lunch in the city centre, 1:00–2:15 pm.
- Al Jahili Fort or Qasr Al Muwaiji, 2:30–3:30 pm. Both are close to the oasis.
- Al Ain Zoo or back to the mountain for sunset, 4:00–6:00 pm. Check the zoo’s hours on the day.
- Back in Dubai around 8:00 pm. Leaving Al Ain after 6 pm, the E66 is quiet heading west.
For a day like this with one car and one driver throughout, see rent a car with driver in Dubai.
From May to September, Al Ain is inland and hotter than the coast, so keep the outdoor stops to the morning and evening. Combining Al Ain with the mountains? Our Dubai to Hatta guide covers the other inland day trip, and Dubai to Abu Dhabi covers the capital, which is about 1.5 hours from Al Ain on the E22. Once you’re there, our chauffeur service in Abu Dhabi handles hourly hire in the city.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Dubai to Al Ain by bus?
Take RTA bus E201 from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Bur Dubai to Al Ain Central Bus Station. It costs AED 25 with a Nol card and takes about 2 hours 15 minutes. You can reserve a seat through RTA’s intercity e-ticketing, which helps on weekends and public holidays.
How much is a taxi from Dubai to Al Ain?
About AED 330 from Downtown Dubai and AED 370 from Dubai Marina on the Dubai Taxi meter at AED 2.45 per km, before waiting time. An Al Ain taxi back to Dubai is cheaper, about AED 245–275, because it uses Abu Dhabi’s AED 1.82 per km tariff.
How long is the drive from Dubai to Al Ain?
About 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours on the E66. Downtown Dubai to the Al Ain Oasis is about 133 km; from Dubai Marina it’s about 148 km. Add 30 to 40 minutes if you’re going straight to the top of Jebel Hafeet.
Is there a metro or train from Dubai to Al Ain?
No. There’s no metro or passenger train between Dubai and Al Ain. The options are the E201 bus, a taxi, a ride-hailing app or a private car. Al Ain isn’t on the Etihad Rail passenger routes opening in 2026 and early 2027.
Is Al Ain worth a day trip from Dubai?
Yes, if you want green space, history and a mountain drive rather than malls and beaches. The Al Ain Oasis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Jebel Hafeet road gives wide views over the city and the desert. Leave at 7 am and you’ll be back in Dubai for dinner.
Written by
Arshad HussainArshad Hussain has run chauffeur and limousine operations in Dubai since 2014: dispatch, fleet allocation, airport pickups and event transport.
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