Dubai to Abu Dhabi Transfer
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Overview
The Dubai to Abu Dhabi transfer is the simplest way to start a trip to Abu Dhabi: a private car or van, a driver who tracks your flight and meets you at arrivals, and a price fixed on WhatsApp before you travel, so there is no airport taxi fare to argue about. Abu Dhabi is about 120 km from Dubai and the journey takes around 1 hour 25 minutes. Compared with an airport taxi or public transport, a private airport transfer costs about the same for two people and less for a family, with none of the waiting. Abu Dhabi is the UAE's capital, on an island off the Gulf coast about 140 km south-west of Dubai.
Highlights
- Private Dubai to Abu Dhabi transfer - your own vehicle, no sharing, no stops
- Fixed transfer price agreed on WhatsApp before you fly - no taxi meter, no surprises
- About 120 km, around 1 hour 25 minutes from Dubai to Abu Dhabi via the E11, door to door
- Arrive rested for Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Louvre Abu Dhabi
- Flight tracking or a fixed pickup time, with up to 60 minutes of waiting (90 at some airports)
- Meet and greet at arrivals with a name board, or at the airport's set meeting point
- Sedan, Minivan, Sprinter - Mercedes, Volkswagen, Ford Transit and Peugeot Traveller vans, all with air conditioning
- A WhatsApp desk in Arabic and English that answers day and night - tell us the driver language you prefer
- Child seats and extra luggage space on request
Full Description
Dubai to Abu Dhabi transfer: the easiest way to get there
When you land at Dubai, the last thing you want is to work out how to get from the airport to Abu Dhabi. A private airport transfer takes the question away: a Haqqi Tours driver is at arrivals when you walk out, your vehicle is parked minutes away, and the cost of the Dubai to Abu Dhabi transfer was fixed on WhatsApp before you left home. There is no airport taxi queue, no meter running in traffic and no negotiating a fare in a language you may not speak.
This page covers everything travellers ask about the Dubai to Abu Dhabi route: how far it is and how long it takes, whether an airport taxi, public transport or a private transfer is the better choice, what Abu Dhabi is like, what to see there and where to stay, where you meet your driver at Dubai, which vehicles we use and how the booking works.
How far is Abu Dhabi from Dubai?
The distance from Dubai to Abu Dhabi is about 120 km by road, and the transfer usually takes around 1 hour 25 minutes. Journey time depends on the time of day: early mornings and late evenings are quickest, weekday rush hours and holiday weekends add time. Because the Dubai to Abu Dhabi transfer price is fixed in advance, a slow drive never costs you more, which is the first difference from an airport taxi on the meter.
The fastest road route runs via the E11, and your driver adjusts it on the day for traffic and roadworks.
From Dubai the route heads south-west on the E11 (Sheikh Zayed Road) or the inland E311, past Jebel Ali and Ghantoot, through long flat desert stretches into Abu Dhabi.
If you are asking "how long does it take to get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi", the honest answer is 1 hour 25 minutes in normal traffic, and your driver will tell you on the day if anything on the route has changed.
Arriving at Dubai (DXB)
Dubai International (DXB) has three terminals - Emirates uses Terminal 3 - about 15 km from Downtown, 10 minutes from Deira and about 35 km from the Marina.
Whichever hall you come out of, the routine for a Dubai to Abu Dhabi transfer is the same: collect your bags, clear passport control, switch on your phone, and follow the meeting instruction from your WhatsApp confirmation. Your driver already knows your flight has landed - every pickup at Dubai is tracked against the live arrival time - so there is no need to call, though a message is always welcome.
Searches for "DXB to Abu Dhabi" or "DXB airport transfer" land here for a reason: DXB is the airport code for Dubai, and this is the private-car service that connects it with Abu Dhabi.
Dubai to Abu Dhabi at a glance
Service: private transfer, your own vehicle from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, door to door. Route: about 120 km, around 1 hour 25 minutes depending on traffic. Vehicles: Sedan (1–3 passengers), Minivan (1–7 passengers) and Sprinter (8–13 passengers) - Mercedes, Volkswagen, Ford Transit and Peugeot Traveller models, air-conditioned, with room for luggage. Price: fixed for the whole vehicle and agreed on WhatsApp before you travel, tolls and waiting included, nothing to pay the driver on the day. Meeting: at Dubai, at the point named in your confirmation, with flight tracking so a delay moves the pickup. Booking: the form on this page or a WhatsApp message; confirmation in writing within minutes, in Arabic or English.
Taxi or private transfer from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
The airport taxi fare from Dubai to Abu Dhabi is unpredictable: meters, night tariffs, tolls and traffic all move it, and you only learn the total at the door. A pre-booked Dubai to Abu Dhabi transfer is the opposite - one fixed cost for the vehicle, however long the drive takes, with the price agreed before your trip.
For one traveller with a small bag, a taxi or public transport can be a fair choice. For two or more people, a family with children, or anyone with real luggage, a private transfer is normally the cheapest way to get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi per person - and by far the easiest. Public transport to Abu Dhabi involves changes, tickets and stairs; a private car goes to the hotel door.
There is also the question of trust. Our drivers know the hotels of Abu Dhabi, work on a fixed price, and never take a detour or add a "special fare" at the end. Your booking is confirmed by a real person on a WhatsApp desk that works in Arabic and English, and that same desk is reachable throughout your trip.
Public transport to Abu Dhabi: is there a bus, train or metro?
Public transport from Dubai runs mainly into Dubai itself: the Dubai Metro Red Line runs from DXB Terminals 1 and 3 through Downtown to the Marina and Expo, and it is genuinely useful for a light traveller; with family luggage, or for a villa or hotel off the line, a car door to door is faster and cooler. Reaching Abu Dhabi from there means a further connection with your luggage, which is where a door-to-door car saves the most time and effort.
So the honest comparison for Abu Dhabi is this: public transport is the cheapest option for one person with a cabin bag and time to spare, and a private Dubai to Abu Dhabi transfer is the better one for everybody else - two or more travellers, families, older relatives, anyone landing late, anyone with proper luggage. The price is per vehicle, not per person, which is why a family of four often pays less than it would on four bus or train tickets plus the taxi at the end.
About Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is the UAE's capital, on an island off the Gulf coast about 140 km south-west of Dubai. Abu Dhabi is a greener, calmer capital than Dubai, built largely on an island ringed by a long Corniche and linked by bridges to Saadiyat, Yas and the mainland. Its signature sights include the white-marble Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island, Qasr Al Watan presidential palace and the historic Qasr Al Hosn fort. Yas Island adds Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World and Yas Marina Circuit. Beaches, mangrove parks and grand hotels such as Emirates Palace complete the picture for visitors coming from Dubai.
Things to do in Abu Dhabi
Once you have checked in, Abu Dhabi is worth exploring: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Watan and Qasr Al Hosn, Yas Island theme parks and The Corniche. Your driver can point some of them out on the way in, and the WhatsApp desk can arrange a car for a day out if you want to see more.
Dubai itself is within reach for a day: a desert safari at sunset, Miracle Garden and the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain - the same WhatsApp desk arranges the car there and back.
Where to stay in Abu Dhabi
Where visitors stay in Abu Dhabi: Corniche and downtown, Saadiyat Island, Yas Island and Al Maryah and Al Reem islands. Our Dubai to Abu Dhabi transfer goes to any hotel, apartment or private address there - send the hotel name and, if you have it, a map pin on WhatsApp, and the driver goes straight to the right door.
Abu Dhabi has strict speed cameras on the highways; tell the driver whether you need Yas, Saadiyat or the island, as they are reached by different exits.
Meeting your driver at Dubai
Where you meet your driver depends on Dubai: a set meeting point inside arrivals, a designated exit, or a name board held just after customs. Rather than guess, we send the exact instructions with your WhatsApp confirmation - the meeting place, the driver's name and number, and what to do if you cannot see them. If you choose flight tracking, your driver is at arrivals the minute you land.
Up to 60 minutes of waiting is included (90 minutes at some airports), and if you are delayed at baggage or passport control a quick WhatsApp message keeps your driver informed. On the way back, the driver collects you from the hotel at an agreed time with enough margin for your flight from Dubai.
Our vehicles for the Abu Dhabi transfer
For this route we offer Sedan (1–3 passengers), Minivan (1–7 passengers) and Sprinter (8–13 passengers). The vans are Mercedes, Volkswagen, Ford Transit and Peugeot Traveller models, all recent, air-conditioned and cleaned between journeys, with proper luggage space rather than a crowded boot. Choose the vehicle by how many of you are travelling and how much luggage you bring; the desk will tell you if a larger vehicle would be more comfortable.
Child seats and booster seats are available on request - say the ages of the children when you book and we bring the right ones. Extra-large luggage, sports equipment and wheelchairs are all fine; just mention them so the right vehicle is sent.
As a guide, the sedan suits one to three people with normal suitcases, the minivan or GMC a family or group of up to seven with their luggage, and the Sprinter larger parties of up to thirteen; there is cold water in the car, phone chargers in most models, and no smoking.
Who books the Abu Dhabi transfer
The Abu Dhabi transfer suits anyone who values a plan: honeymooners heading for a hotel with more luggage than they admit, parents travelling with small children, friends sharing a Sprinter, colleagues on a work trip who need an invoice, and grandparents who would rather be met than find their own way. Because the price is per vehicle, the more of you there are the better it compares with taxis and tickets.
If your trip continues beyond Abu Dhabi - a day trip, a second city, a port or a return to Dubai - the same desk arranges it in the same WhatsApp conversation, with the same fixed-price approach.
How to book your Abu Dhabi transfer
Send the form on this page, or write to us on WhatsApp: flight number, date, passengers, luggage and hotel. Within a few minutes a member of our team confirms your Abu Dhabi transfer with the price fixed, the vehicle chosen and the meeting point at Dubai explained. Everything is in writing, in English or Arabic.
Changes and cancellations are handled through the same WhatsApp conversation. Because the terms depend on conditions such as how close to the pickup time the request is made, our team will explain exactly what applies to your booking when you ask - always before any payment, never as a surprise afterwards.
Good to know before you land at Dubai
DXB and DWC are 60 km apart - check your ticket - and tell us which terminal you land at, since Terminal 1, 2 and 3 have different exits.
Note the terminal or hall your flight uses at Dubai, and if you change flights before travel tell the desk - the pickup is tracked against the flight number we hold.
If you are two households or a group, say how many bags as well as how many people; luggage decides the vehicle more often than passengers do.
Abu Dhabi to Dubai: the return transfer
Heading back to Dubai at the end of the stay is just as easy - tell us the flight time and the hotel, and a driver is at the door with time to spare. Many travellers also use the desk for a day trip or an onward transfer from Abu Dhabi; everything is arranged in the same WhatsApp chat.
On departure day the desk suggests a pickup time from Abu Dhabi based on your flight and the traffic expected at that hour, and confirms it in writing; if you would like to leave earlier for last-minute shopping or a meal near Dubai, that is arranged in the same message.
More transfers from Dubai
The same fixed-price private service runs from Dubai to other places nearby. If your plans include more than one stop, or friends are staying elsewhere, these are the routes travellers most often combine with Abu Dhabi:
- Dubai to Al Ain transfer
- Dubai to Hatta transfer
- Dubai to Fujairah transfer
- Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah transfer
- Dubai to Muscat transfer
- Dubai to Sharjah transfer
Heading back at the end of the stay? See the Abu Dhabi to Dubai transfer.
Why travellers choose Haqqi Tours for Abu Dhabi transfers
What guests tell us they value about the Abu Dhabi transfer is the absence of surprises. The price they were quoted is the price they pay. The driver is where the confirmation said. The car is clean and the right size. And the WhatsApp desk that made the booking is still there, in Arabic and English, for the whole trip - for the return, a day out, or a question about Abu Dhabi at any hour.
Pickup options and waiting time
When you book on WhatsApp, you choose one of two pickup options for your arrival:
- Flight tracking: your driver is at arrivals the minute your flight lands and waits for up to 60 minutes. If your flight lands at 2:00 pm, the driver is there at 2:00 pm.
- Fixed time (no tracking): your driver arrives at a time you choose and waits for up to 60 minutes from that time. Send us your flight number and we check its real landing times over the past 10 days to recommend the best pickup time.
At most airports the included waiting time is 60 minutes; at some it is 90 minutes. We confirm the exact waiting time for your airport when you book with us on WhatsApp. After that, the driver cannot wait longer: the fixed price is based on one hour of airport parking and the driver's time, and with more than 30 transfers a day, every booking is scheduled back to back.
With flight tracking, normal delays are covered. If your flight is delayed by more than 5 hours, we cannot guarantee a new pickup at the last minute, because the new arrival time is uncertain and other transfers are already scheduled. Message us as soon as the delay is announced: we always do our best to rearrange, but it depends on the number of bookings that day. With a fixed-time pickup, the time slot is reserved for you and cannot be changed on the day, even if your flight is delayed or something unexpected happens.
Two hours before your flight lands, we send you your driver's name and phone number on WhatsApp. If you are still in the air, the message will be waiting for you as soon as you switch on your phone. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Is this right for you?
Great for
- Arrivals with luggage — a private car from the door to the door
- Late-night and early-morning flights — booked ahead at a fixed price
- First-time visitors who do not know the city
Think twice if
- You travel alone on a tight budget and are happy with public transport
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
Where do I meet my driver at Dubai?
Your WhatsApp confirmation tells you. Airports differ - Dubai may use an indoor meeting point, a set exit or a name board just past customs - so rather than a general rule we send the exact spot for your flight, with the driver's name and number. Walk out, look where the message says, and your driver is there.
How far is Abu Dhabi from Dubai, and how long does the transfer take?
About 120 km by road, which usually takes around 1 hour 25 minutes. Traffic at rush hour or on holiday weekends can add a little; the price of your Dubai to Abu Dhabi transfer is fixed in advance, so a slower drive never costs more.
What is Abu Dhabi like?
Abu Dhabi is the UAE's capital, on an island off the Gulf coast about 140 km south-west of Dubai. Abu Dhabi is a greener, calmer capital than Dubai, built largely on an island ringed by a long Corniche and linked by bridges to Saadiyat, Yas and the mainland. Its signature sights include the white-marble Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island, Qasr Al Watan presidential palace and the historic Qasr Al Hosn fort. Yas Island adds Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World and Yas Marina Circuit. Beaches, mangrove parks and grand hotels such as Emirates Palace complete the picture for visitors coming from Dubai.
Where do visitors stay in Abu Dhabi?
The usual choices: Corniche and downtown, Saadiyat Island, Yas Island and Al Maryah and Al Reem islands. Our transfer goes to any hotel or address there at the same fixed price for the vehicle - just send the hotel name on WhatsApp.
What is there to do in Abu Dhabi?
The highlights are Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Watan and Qasr Al Hosn, Yas Island theme parks and The Corniche. The WhatsApp desk can arrange a car for a day out once you have settled in.
Anything I should know about arriving in Abu Dhabi?
Abu Dhabi has strict speed cameras on the highways; tell the driver whether you need Yas, Saadiyat or the island, as they are reached by different exits.
Which road does the Dubai to Abu Dhabi transfer take?
Usually the fastest route via the E11, about 120 km and around 1 hour 25 minutes in normal traffic. The driver checks traffic and roadworks on the day and takes whichever way is quickest; the price stays the same.
Is a private transfer cheaper than an airport taxi from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
Compare the whole cost, not the starting fare. A taxi from Dubai to Abu Dhabi adds the meter in traffic, a night rate and sometimes tolls; the private transfer is one figure agreed in writing before you fly, whatever the traffic does. For anyone not travelling alone with a small bag, that figure is normally the cheaper one.
What is the best way to get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
With luggage, a family or after a long flight, a pre-booked private transfer is the easiest and most comfortable way: door to door, no queue, no changes. Public transport can work for a solo traveller with a small bag, but it means tickets, transfers and stairs; an airport taxi means the meter. A private car takes you straight to your hotel in Abu Dhabi.
Is there a bus, train or metro from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
The Dubai Metro Red Line runs from DXB Terminals 1 and 3 through Downtown to the Marina and Expo, and it is genuinely useful for a light traveller; with family luggage, or for a villa or hotel off the line, a car door to door is faster and cooler. For most visitors the private transfer is simpler: it starts at the arrivals door and ends at the hotel, and the fixed price covers the whole vehicle.
What happens if my flight to Dubai is delayed?
It depends on the option you chose. With flight tracking, the driver is there when you actually land, for delays of up to 5 hours; beyond that, tell us straight away and we try to find a new time, without a guarantee. With a fixed pickup time, the slot is reserved for you and cannot be moved on the day, even if the flight is late.
Do you meet late-night and early-morning flights?
Yes. The Dubai to Abu Dhabi transfer runs around the clock, and our WhatsApp desk is answered day and night. Tell us the flight number and we plan the pickup for the real arrival time, whatever the hour.
Which vehicle will I get for the Dubai to Abu Dhabi transfer?
You choose when you book: Sedan (1–3 passengers), Minivan (1–7 passengers) and Sprinter (8–13 passengers). The vans are Mercedes, Volkswagen, Ford Transit and Peugeot Traveller models, air-conditioned and with proper luggage space. If you are unsure, tell us how many passengers and bags you have and we recommend the right one.
Is the transfer private, or shared with other passengers?
Always private. We do not run shared shuttles: the car or van from Dubai to Abu Dhabi carries your party only, leaves when you are ready, and goes straight to your address.
Can you provide child seats?
Yes - say the ages of the children when you book and the driver brings the right child seats or boosters at no extra charge. Please mention it in the WhatsApp conversation so the correct vehicle is sent.
Are tolls, parking and waiting time included in the price?
Yes. The fixed price for the Dubai to Abu Dhabi transfer covers the vehicle, the driver, fuel, road tolls, airport parking and up to 60 minutes of waiting after your flight lands (90 at some airports). There is nothing to pay the driver on the day unless you have added something to the booking.
Can we stop on the way from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
Usually, yes - a short stop for a shop, a sim card or a photo is no problem if you mention it when booking, and a longer stop or a sightseeing detour is quoted as part of the same transfer. Tell the desk what you have in mind and they confirm it in writing.
How far in advance should I book the Dubai to Abu Dhabi transfer?
As soon as you have your flight - it takes a minute on WhatsApp and secures the vehicle you want. Same-day and next-day bookings are often possible too; message the desk with the flight number and they will tell you at once whether a car is available.
How do I book the Dubai to Abu Dhabi transfer?
Send us four things - flight number, date, how many of you, and the hotel in Abu Dhabi - through the form on this page or directly on WhatsApp. You get a written confirmation with the fixed price, the vehicle and the meeting point at Dubai, usually within minutes.
Can I change or cancel my booking?
Yes, through the same WhatsApp conversation. The terms depend on conditions such as how close to the pickup time the change is requested, so our team explains exactly what applies to your booking when you ask - always before any payment.
Which language does the driver speak?
It depends on the country, the city and the time of your transfer, so we do not promise a particular language for the driver on the Dubai to Abu Dhabi route. Tell us on WhatsApp which language you would prefer and we do our best to match it. The WhatsApp desk that confirms your booking and stays with you during the trip always works in Arabic and English, at any hour.
Can I book the return trip from Abu Dhabi to Dubai as well?
Of course. Send the departure flight time and the hotel, and we collect you from the door with a comfortable margin for Dubai. Booking both directions together keeps everything on one confirmation, and any change of plan is handled in the same chat.
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