Abu Dhabi

Private car transfer
from Dubai to Abu Dhabi

Door-to-door
in 1 h 30 min
From ...
per seat
Comfortable
car
One way
Cancel for free 24 hours before departure
Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice 2024
Excellent
trustpilot-stars

Trip Information

Pick-up

Your driver will meet you at your address in Dubai.

  • Door-to-door service
  • Help with your luggage

Trip

You’ll travel in comfort for 1 h 30 min.

  • Optional sight-seeing
  • Clean, comfortable car
  • Professional driver
  • Bottled water
  • Child seats
  • Prepared for handicapped
  • Smoke-free
  • Pet friendly

Drop-off

Your driver will drop you off at your address in Abu Dhabi.

  • Door-to-door service
  • Help with your luggage
In total
  • 139 km
  • 1 h 30 min

Car trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi

Venture across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from dazzling Dubai to astounding Abu Dhabi on a car trip that promises to be an exciting adventure.

Begin your journey in Dubai, meeting your private driver for your transfer directly at your accommodation. Once seated, sit back, relax and enjoy your door-to-door drive. As you join the highway, the modern cityscape transforms into dune-lined desert and scenic sightings of the Persian Gulf.

While hot outside, inside your modern vehicle, climate controls and complimentary water guarantee you’re kept cool and comfortable. Your professional driver will ensure your comfort and will be happy to share facts with you about the region during your drive.

No mere taxi, during the drive you have the opportunity to tour some spectacular sites along the way. From the vibrant Dubai Miracle Garden to the fun-filled Emirates Park Zoo, be enchanted by diverse wonders should you choose to add them to your itinerary.

You will enter Abu Dhabi across the impressive Sheikh Zayed Bridge, surrounded by spectacular views of the waterscape. Your private driver will expertly navigate the city streets to your drop-off point, where the city awaits you.

About Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the UAE, is the smaller and more relaxed neighbor of Dubai. The diverse city features modern architecture, traditional culture and history, fun-filled activities, and natural wonders providing the perfect combination of experiences in one city.

Looking at the skyline dominated by colossal futuristic buildings, it’s amazing to think about how far Abu Dhabi has come from the small village it was just 40 years ago.

While being a modern city, Abu Dhabi still conserves its traditional Arabic character at sites like the sublime Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and at its ‘souks’ (bazaars), where you can purchase hand-woven carpets and delectable dates. While Arabic charm is still present, the city is a cosmopolitan melting pot of cultures, especially evident in the food scene, where you can find worldwide cuisines across cheap eats and luxurious dining.

Expertly built on a group of 200 islands, the city is surrounded by golden coastlines, turquoise waters, and a vast mangrove forest, perfect for relaxation.

While offering luxurious opulence and modern marvels, Abu Dhabi also provides the opportunity to discover Arabic culture and history, fun-filled thrills, and moments for contemplation amongst natural beauty.

From Dubai to Abu Dhabi: Travel tips

Along with deciding how to go from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, there are a few other things you should plan in advance for your trip. Follow these tips to enjoy your trip to the fullest.

Choose a reputable provider

Choose a reliable provider like Daytrip to ensure a safe, comfortable, and stress-free trip experience. We individually interview our drivers and have strict vehicle standards that ensure clean, safe, and comfortable transportation.

Discover more with your driver

Being a local, your experienced driver will be happy to share tips about the region with you ensuring you make the most out of your journey. While our drivers are not professional tour guides, please don’t hesitate to ask your driver any questions!

Add sightseeing stops

We recommend adding sightseeing stops to your itinerary to make the most out of your drive. Whether you want to see the stunning Al Noor Mosque or just a quick stop for an Arabic coffee, you can create your ideal itinerary with us. While we offer our hand-picked recommendations, that is not to say you can’t stop elsewhere: feel free to fill out our custom route form to create your perfect trip. Please note that to guarantee a stop on your itinerary, you need to add it to your booking more than 36 hours before departure.

Pack appropriately

The UAE is hot, so don’t forget to bring plenty of water and sunscreen to ensure you stay hydrated and safe. Light clothes are also recommended, but remember that this is a Muslim country, and you should dress modestly.

Timing is everything

Many locals commute between the two cities, so there can be traffic during peak hours. To avoid longer journey times, we recommend you depart in the early morning or late afternoon.

How to get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi

Deciding how to get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi comes down to whether you want public or private transportation. Private car transfers stand out as the best choice, offering the most flexibility, convenience, and customizability.

From Dubai to Abu Dhabi by car

The drive is around 86 miles (139 km) and takes approximately 1.5 hours. While convenient and flexible, it can be challenging to navigate busy city streets in a rental car.

From Dubai to Abu Dhabi by bus

There are three bus services running from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. The bus takes approximately 2 - 2.5 hours depending on the service and traffic. While economical, traveling by bus can mean longer journey times and less flexibility and convenience.

From Dubai to Abu Dhabi by train

There is currently no train service between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

From Dubai to Abu Dhabi with Daytrip

Daytrip offers a relaxing, flexible, and seamless private car service. Your private driver will meet you at your hotel in Dubai at the time of your choosing and drop you off at your accommodation in Abu Dhabi. Unlike a normal taxi, with Daytrip, you can customize your trip. Choose from traveling in a sedan, MPV, or van depending on your needs. All of Daytrip's vehicles meet strict guidelines, ensuring you will travel in safety and comfort. We offer the opportunity to add hand-picked sightseeing stops along the way. And while not official tour guides, Daytrip’s experienced, English-speaking drivers who will be happy to share local facts with you, so you can turn your drive into a part of your holiday. Overall, a private car trip with a reputable company like Daytrip is the best way to get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, being the most flexible, convenient, and personalizable option.

Things to do when you get to Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is a glamorous city combining luxurious modern architecture with captivating culture and history, thrill-seeking fun, and relaxing moments in natural beauty.

Begin by marveling at the modern architecture that dominates the city’s skyline, including the well-known Etihad Towers, a complex of five colossal and sparkling towers. Head up to the 74th floor of Tower 2, where you can find breathtaking views from the tallest viewpoint in Abu Dhabi and enjoy the delicacies of their famous afternoon tea.

From modern to traditional, no trip to Abu Dhabi is complete without visiting the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque, with its magnificent marble walls, intricate gold details, and crystal-covered chandeliers.

For more culture, visit the Louvre Abu Dhabi to find artistic masterpieces by Van Gogh and da Vinci under the intricately designed domed roof, a piece of art in itself.

Return to the glamor and bask in opulence at the Emirate Palace Hotel, the most expensively decorated hotel in the world! Admire the lavish gold, pearl, and sapphire interior and order their famous cappuccino sprinkled with 24 karat-gold flakes!

Thrill-seekers can head over to Yas Island, home to Ferrari World which boasts the world’s fastest rollercoaster, and The Formula One Circuit, where you can enjoy a fast-paced driving experience.

To relax, visit the Mangrove National Park to find abundant marine life, lush greenery, and clear waters. Afterwards, visit The Corniche, a pristine promenade lined with green spaces and walkways. As the sun sets, the promenade begins to bustle. Catch the sunset here as the city dazzles with bright lights.

Questions & Answers about Traveling from Dubai to Abu Dhabi

Around 1.5 hours but depends on traffic.
Private car service is the best way to get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. It allows for flexibility, convenience, and the opportunity to turn your drive into an experience.
There are direct bus options, which take on average 2 - 2.5 hours depending on traffic and route. While economical, this takes longer and is less flexible than a private car. There is currently no train service between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Prices vary depending on the vehicle, seasonality, and when you book, with the best prices available when booking in advance. For a one-way trip without sightseeing stops, you can expect to pay between $137 - $202. For a group of 7 passengers, the cost can be as low as $29 per seat, as Daytrip charges per vehicle, not per passenger.
The distance is 86 miles (139 km) along a scenic highway.
You can ask your driver for quick photo stops along the way. If you’d like to visit a sightseeing stop, we recommend you to add these to your itinerary well in advance of your trip.
We recommend you pack wisely with water, sunscreen, and light but modest clothing.

Visit these sights on the way

Al Noor Mosque

Al Noor Mosque

This beautiful interpretation of traditional Ottoman architecture is one of the only mosques in Sharjah open to the public. An Inside Look at Islam 

Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque

Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque

Inspired by the Blue Mosque in Istanbul and Andalusian art, offers a beautiful look into Islamic architecture. Blended Blues 

Dubai Miracle Garden

Dubai Miracle Garden

At the world’s largest flower garden, hundreds of millions of flowers are shaped into a myriad of colorful shapes, including a full-sized Airbus A380. A Floral Fantasy 

Emirates Park Zoo

Emirates Park Zoo

Nearly 2000 animals are just one of the attractions at this educational and entertaining park. Animals and Activities 

Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Sheikh Zayed Mosque

The UAE’s largest mosque is a marvel of architecture and design, both beautiful and record-breaking. A Welcoming White Wonder 

Why people love Daytrip

Tripadvisor logo
4,800+ reviews
  • 2,177 travelers took this route with us
Nov 9, 2024

Great communication with an actual person! They will take you ANYWHERE, No pre-set routes to choose from!

Last minute plan change and Daytrip was our last resort so I chatted with them and had an immediate response from a real person, best situation ever. Never used Daytrip before but the reviews were incredible so we took the chance and booked a driver at like 11-12pm and by 7am the next morning when we woke, they found us a driver and the driver had already texed us making contact! Very impressed and will definitely use them again. We went from Dubrovnik, Croatia to Tivat, Montenegro.

Reviewed by Tripadvisor traveler James B
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James B

Nov 9, 2024
Nov 1, 2024

Perfect Transport

Andreas did a great job picking us up from Pireaus Cruise Port and taking us to our rental in Spata. The three of us had been on a long cruise and had 9 pieces of luggage. He arrived in an appropriate vehicle and loaded and unloaded all of it. We are very happy with out decision to book with Daytrip.

Reviewed by Tripadvisor traveler LuckyTraveler01
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LuckyTraveler01

Nov 1, 2024
Dec 28, 2021

Reliable service

Reliable service. Driver on time, polite well dressed and drove me safely to Dubai from Abu Dhabi in the middle of the night.

Reviewed by Tripadvisor traveler aboubacart69
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aboubacart69

Dec 28, 2021
Dec 17, 2019

Transfer from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and return

We used Team Day Trip to travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi from our cruise, so that we could visit the new Louvre Museum. The transfer both ways was excellent, in a very comfortable car with a good driver. Can highly recommend the service with the online booking system working seamlessly.

Reviewed by Tripadvisor traveler CJStarrenburg
Review author image

CJStarrenburg

Dec 17, 2019

Vehicle options for this trip

Most popular

sedan

Sedan

Comparable to aToyota Corolla
Passengers and luggage
  • 1-3
  • 3x
  • 3x
  • Clean
  • Comfortable
  • Air conditioned
  • Handicapped accessible
  • Child seats
  • Pet friendly
  • Smoke-free
From ... per seatSelect

More options

mpv

Compact MPV

Comparable to aToyota Avanza
Passengers and luggage
  • 4
  • 4x
  • 4x
From ... per seatSelect
van

Van

Comparable to aHyundai Starex
Passengers and luggage
  • 5-7
  • 7x
  • 7x
From ... per seatSelect

The Daytrip driver advantage

Daytrip driver
  • Local knowledge about the route from Dubai to Abu Dhabi
    Including available sights:
  • English speaking*

    All Daytrip drivers speak English* as well as their native language (and sometimes additional languages too!). They'll be happy to discuss local history and culture with you, as well as answer any questions you may have. And because they speak the language, they're able to provide you with a unique opportunity to connect with local culture. *Drivers for Lite service aren't required to speak English but must meet all other standards.

  • Safety first!

    We screen all our drivers for criminal and traffic records, and personally interview each one. We also inspect their cars for safety, comfort, and reliability. All cars must be less than ten years old, in excellent operating condition, and insured as required by local law. And because our drivers are locals, they're familiar with the rules and customs of the road.

World-class customer support

  • Available 24/7
  • Close relationship with drivers
  • Experts on the route from Dubai to Abu Dhabi

Flexible cancellation policy

  • Cancellations: 100% refund up to 24 hours before the trip!
  • Changes: Free up to 24 hours before the trip!

Good to know

Children

If you’re traveling with children, make sure to let us know in the booking so we can get the appropriate child seats ready!

Pets

Pets are allowed (and loved)! We just need to know beforehand. You can tell us about them in the next phase of the booking.

Tips

Gratuity isn’t included or required, but if you really enjoyed your trip, you can show your driver your appreciation with an optional tip (10% is sufficient).

Luggage

  • Big luggage
  • 29x21x11 inches
  • 74x53x28 cm
  • Small luggage
  • 22x14x9 inches
  • 56x36x23 cm

Each passenger is allowed to have one checked bag and one carry on. If you’re traveling with more bags or oversized luggage, you can adjust this while booking.

Payment methods

Pay by credit card online, or in cash directly to your driver!

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any questions, here are the answers.

Daytrip is the most convenient way to experience 13,800+ cities around the world.

Every traveler deserves real insight into the cultures of the countries they’re visiting. And every amazing place on Earth deserves to be visited and appreciated. We believe unique local knowledge and real human connection are irreplaceable when it comes to truly comprehending another culture.

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