Dubai to Abu Dhabi Private Transfer
Door to door from anywhere in Dubai to AUH airport, Yas, Saadiyat, the Corniche or ADNEC in about 1 to 1.5 hours. One fixed price, with tolls, fuel and VAT inside it.
Select your service
Choose the type of transport you need
A private transfer from Dubai to Abu Dhabi covers about 115–145 km and takes 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on where you start and finish. The Dubai to Abu Dhabi taxi fare on a metered Dubai cab works out at roughly AED 250–350. Our transfer is one fixed price for the car you choose, with fuel, Salik, Darb, waiting time and VAT already in it, and the chauffeur collects you at your door.
It’s the main intercity route in our chauffeur service across the UAE, and people book it for four main reasons: a flight out of Zayed International Airport (AUH), a day of meetings in the capital, a family day at the Grand Mosque or the Louvre, and a concert or race night on Yas Island. If you need a car inside Abu Dhabi once you’re there, see our limousine service in Abu Dhabi.
Reviewed by Arshad Hussain, chauffeur operations specialist, dubai · Updated
Intercity transfer rates
All-inclusive: chauffeur, fuel, Salik tolls, airport parking, VAT (5%), bottled water and Wi-Fi. No surge pricing and no night surcharge. Send your pickup, drop-off and time on WhatsApp for a fixed quote in minutes.
| Vehicle class | Dubai ↔ Abu Dhabi | Dubai ↔ Sharjah |
|---|---|---|
| Business sedanMercedes E-Class, Lexus ES, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers | On Request | On Request |
| First-class sedanMercedes S-Class, BMW 7 Series, Audi A8 · up to 3 passengers | On Request | On Request |
| Luxury SUVGMC Yukon Denali, Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban · up to 6 passengers | On Request | On Request |
| Luxury vanMercedes V-Class, Hyundai Staria, Toyota HiAce VIP · up to 7 passengers | On Request | On Request |
| Ultra-luxuryRolls-Royce Ghost, Phantom, Cullinan, Bentley Flying Spur · up to 3 passengers | On Request | On Request |
Rates in AED, VAT included, updated 2026-09. Hourly bookings have a 3-hour minimum. Airport pickups include 45–60 minutes of free waiting. See all prices.
How much is a taxi from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
A Dubai taxi to Abu Dhabi runs on the meter at Dubai Taxi’s current AED 2.45 per km (the RTA adjusts it with fuel prices), so a 115–145 km trip comes to roughly AED 300–370 before waiting time. RTA’s fare formula also adds the Abu Dhabi Darb toll. Here’s how the main options compare on cost.
| Option | Typical cost (one way) | Time | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai taxi (metered) | About AED 300–370 (AED 2.45/km, Dubai Taxi) | 1–1.5 h | Door to door, standard sedan, meter keeps running in traffic |
| RTA intercity bus (E100, E101) | AED 25 with a Nol card | About 2 h plus getting to the bus station | Al Ghubaiba or Ibn Battuta to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station |
| RTA intercity bus (E100 / E101) | AED 25 with a Nol card | Varies | Al Ghubaiba or Ibn Battuta to Abu Dhabi; the E102 airport route was reported suspended in mid-2026, so check the RTA app |
| Etihad Rail (from 30 September 2026) | From AED 39 Comfort, AED 109 Premium | About 57 min station to station | Al Yalayis (Dubai) to Mohamed bin Zayed City (Abu Dhabi) |
| Private transfer | Fixed, see the rate table on this page | 1–1.5 h door to door | Car class of your choice, meet at your door, tolls and waiting included |
The taxi figure is our estimate from RTA’s published per-km rate, not a quoted fare. Waiting in traffic adds 50 fils a minute on a Dubai meter. With a private transfer, the price doesn’t move once it’s agreed. For a longer breakdown, including ride-hail apps, read our guide to the Dubai to Abu Dhabi taxi fare.
Which road does the driver take: E11 or E311?
Most trips use the E11. It’s Sheikh Zayed Road inside Dubai and crosses into Abu Dhabi emirate at Ghantoot, about 55 km from the Trade Centre area. Past the border, it’s the fastest way to the island, Al Raha and Yas.
The inland option is the E311, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. It runs on into Abu Dhabi emirate as far as Al Falah, where it links to the E12 towards Yas and Saadiyat. From Mirdif, Silicon Oasis, Dubai Hills or Sharjah, starting on the E311 (or the E611 Emirates Road) often beats crawling through central Sheikh Zayed Road. From Dubai Marina, JLT or Palm Jumeirah, the E11 is already on your doorstep.
Once in Abu Dhabi:
To Zayed International Airport
the E10 runs past the airport, about 30 km east of the city centre.
To Yas and Saadiyat
the E12 is signed for both islands and saves you going through the city.
To the Corniche, Al Maryah or Al Reem
stay on the main road onto the island and cross one of the bridges into the centre.
The chauffeur picks the road on the day using live traffic. You don’t need to specify it.
How long does Dubai to Abu Dhabi take by car?
Door to door, about 1 to 1.5 hours. Dubai Marina to central Abu Dhabi is closer to an hour; Downtown Dubai to the Corniche is about 1 hour 20 minutes in normal traffic. The time of day matters more than the road.
| Leaving Dubai | What we plan for |
|---|---|
| Weekday, 6–10 a.m. | Dubai’s morning peak, then Abu Dhabi’s (Darb charges its peak rate from 7 to 9 a.m.). Add 20–30 minutes. |
| Weekday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | The easiest window. Close to the base time. |
| Weekday, 4–8 p.m. | Dubai’s evening peak on Sheikh Zayed Road. Add 20–30 minutes if you start in the centre. |
| Late evening and night | Close to the base time. Good for early flights out of AUH. |
| Weekends | Usually lighter, except on event days on Yas Island. |
For AUH flights, we suggest leaving Dubai at least 4 hours before an international departure. Distances and times from each Dubai district are in our Dubai to Abu Dhabi distance and travel time guide.
Tolls on the way: Salik and Darb
Two toll systems sit on this route, and both are inside our fixed price.
- Salik (Dubai): gates at Al Safa, Al Barsha and Jebel Ali on Sheikh Zayed Road. The Jebel Ali gate, near Energy Metro station past Ibn Battuta, charges in both directions. Since January 2025, Salik charges AED 6 at peak times (6–10 a.m. and 4–8 p.m.) and AED 4 off-peak, free between 1 and 6 a.m., and 5% VAT has applied to Salik fees since June 2026.
- Darb (Abu Dhabi): since 4 May 2026, a Darb gate at Ghantoot on the E11, just past the Dubai border, charges at all hours, including Sundays. In the city, the gates on the Sheikh Zayed, Sheikh Khalifa, Al Maqta and Mussafah bridges, plus the Al Qurm gate, charge AED 4 per crossing from 7 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m., and nothing on Sundays and public holidays. The daily and monthly caps were scrapped in September 2025. Cars on Dubai plates must be registered with Darb, which is our paperwork, not yours.
In a taxi or a rental car, tolls end up on your bill. In our car, they’re our cost.
Where we drop off in Abu Dhabi
We go door to door, so the address is whatever you send us. These are the most common destinations.
| Destination | Notes |
|---|---|
| Zayed International Airport (AUH) | Drop at Terminal A departures, used by every airline. About 128 km and 1 hour 15 minutes from the DXB area. |
| Yas Island | Yas Marina Circuit, Etihad Arena, Ferrari World, Yas Mall and hotels. About 75 minutes from the DXB area. |
| Saadiyat Island | Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Cultural District and beach resorts, reached on the E12. |
| Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque | Visits must be booked online in advance. Women need loose, ankle-length clothing, long sleeves and a headscarf; men need long trousers. |
| Corniche and Emirates Palace | City beachfront, hotels and offices. About 145 km from Downtown Dubai. |
| ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi | Exhibitions and conferences on Khaleej Al Arabi Street. Plan around show-day traffic. |
| Al Maryah and Al Reem islands | ADGM, The Galleria, offices and apartments. |
One-way transfer or a day trip with waiting?
Book one way when you’re staying in Abu Dhabi or flying out of AUH. Book a day with waiting when you’re coming back to Dubai the same day.
One-way transfer
a fixed price from your Dubai address to one Abu Dhabi address. Best for AUH flights and hotel check-ins.
Return with waiting
the chauffeur stays with you in Abu Dhabi and drives you back. Best for meetings, the Grand Mosque and Louvre in one day, or an evening at Etihad Arena.
Full-day hire
ten hours with the car, as many stops as you like. Best when your plans could change. See chauffeur service in Abu Dhabi for how full days work.
For a same-day return, one booking with waiting is simpler than two one-way transfers and often costs less, because the car doesn’t make two empty runs.
What's the best way to get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
For one person on a budget, the bus. For speed between the two stations, the new Etihad Rail service. For door-to-door travel with luggage, a family or a fixed schedule, a private car.
| Bus | Etihad Rail | Taxi | Private transfer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Door to door | No | No, stations at Al Yalayis and MBZ City | Yes | Yes |
| Luggage | Limited | Limited | One boot | Sedan to V-Class, by booking |
| Price certainty | Fixed | Fixed | Meter | Fixed |
| Waiting in Abu Dhabi | No | No | Meter keeps running | Included when booked |
| Best for | Solo travellers | Station-to-station trips | Short notice | Families, business, AUH flights |
The train is new: passenger services between Dubai and Abu Dhabi are due to start on 30 September 2026, with a Dubai station at Al Yalayis near Jumeirah Golf Estates. Our Etihad Rail Dubai to Abu Dhabi guide covers timetables and fares. Remember you still need a car from Mohamed bin Zayed City to the Corniche, Saadiyat or Yas.
Dubai to Abu Dhabi Private Transfer: frequently asked questions
Every Dubai taxi runs on the same RTA-set meter rate (AED 2.45 per km in September 2026), so no taxi company is much cheaper than another. The saving comes from sharing: four people splitting a AED 250–350 fare pay roughly AED 65–90 each. A private transfer is priced per car, not per person, so it works the same way for a group.
The RTA intercity bus, at AED 25 with a Nol card. The E100 leaves from Al Ghubaiba and the E101 from Ibn Battuta, both to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station. Etihad Rail starts from AED 39 once services begin on 30 September 2026.
About 115–145 km, depending on the start and end point. Dubai Marina to central Abu Dhabi is around 116 km and about an hour; Downtown Dubai to the Abu Dhabi Corniche is around 145 km and about 1 hour 20 minutes in normal traffic.
Yes. Book a return with waiting or a full day, and the chauffeur parks nearby and collects you when you call. Waiting time is part of the agreed price, so there’s no meter running while you’re inside.
Yes. Our transfer price includes fuel, Salik tolls in Dubai, Darb tolls in Abu Dhabi, parking and VAT. You don’t pay anything extra on the day.
Yes. The chauffeur meets you in DXB arrivals with a name board, tracks your flight and drives you straight to your Abu Dhabi address. The first 45–60 minutes of waiting after landing are free.
Book your chauffeur
Send your pickup, drop-off, date and time. We reply with a fixed, all-inclusive price, usually within minutes, 24 hours a day.