How to Get Around in Abu Dhabi

Whether you want to find your way around Abu Dhabi as a tourist or are here on a daily basis living your life, there are several ways of getting around in Abu Dhabi Emirate...

Getting Around by Taxi

Taxis are a very common and comfortable form of transport in Abu Dhabi which is also relatively cheap compared to other countries. The fleet of taxis in Abu Dhabi is substantial. You can hail a taxi anywhere - as long as it is safe for the driver to stop. Most shopping malls have dedicated taxi stands.

Taxis can also be booked over the TransAD hotline (600 535353). If you call a taxi from home, they log your details and mobile phone number, the taxi hotline then has an automated system for you to use, they will send a text message with your car and driver details, and estimated time of arrival at your door, and your driver will call you when he is outside.

There are different types of taxis in Abu Dhabi: The most common are the silver taxis which are operated by authorised taxi companies. The rates are established by a meter. The white and gold coloured taxis are older and being phased out. Although they are also provided with meters, drivers may negotiate the fare in advance. The recently introduced pink taxis are exclusively for female passengers and boys under the age of 10. They are driven by women and have the same fares as the silver taxis.

Most drivers are familiar with landmarks, such as hotels, shopping malls, parks, rather than street names, but it is always a good idea for you to have some idea of your desired location, just in case your driver does not know exactly where to find it. The taxis fares are higher during the night time (from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM), you must always pay in cash as they do not take credit cards. Although tips are not mandatory, your driver will appreciate a small tip.

Every hired taxi can be asked to travel to places outside Abu Dhabi City or outside Abu Dhabi Emirate. The fare for a trip to Dubai in a metered taxi, for example, is around AED 250 during daytime. At Abu Dhabi’s central bus station next to Al Wahda Mall, inter-emirate taxis and shared taxis are available.

Getting Around by Bus

The Department of Transport (DOT) have a public transportation service for Abu Dhabi with air-conditioned, handicap-accessible buses operating in Abu Dhabi City and suburbs, Al Ain, and Madinat Zayed. On Abu Dhabi Island and suburbs the bus service runs daily from 5:00 AM to midnight during the week and until 2:00 AM on the weekend. Various fares make the public transport affordable and comfortable.

The fare for a single trip inside Abu Dhabi City is AED 1 which has to be put in the box next to the driver when entering the bus. Frequent passengers can purchase Ojra Bus Passes from any Red Crescent kiosk in Abu Dhabi Island.

The types of Ojra Bus Passes are:
One Trip Ticket
Monthly Pass
Senior Citizen
Special Needs

The Ojra Day Pass costs AED 3, whereas the Ojra Monthly Pass for AED 40 allows unlimited travel on any of the DoT city buses for one month from the date of first use. The Red Crescent Kiosks are located at Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall, Carrefour – Airport Road, Al Wahda Mall, Khalifa Hospital, Abu Dhabi Coop – at Abu Dhabi Mall , Al Bateen Br, Khalifa St, Al Meena Br., Dana Plaza Br., Muroor Br, Mushriff Coop, and Bin Al Jesreen Coop, Al Falah Plaza, Madinat Zayed Mall, Khalidiya Mall, Abela Store, Etisalat, Dubai Islamic Bank – at Airport Road, Salam Street and Muroor Road, National Bank of Abu dhabi – Khalifa Street, and Al Ghaith Tower

The seats for female passengers are provided immediately behind the driver in the first three rows, the section for men is at the back.

Getting Around by Car

Those who want to discover Abu Dhabi Emirate by car, but do not have their own vehicle, can choose from a big number of rental agencies offering a wide range of sizes and makes. Most of the large companies have offices at the airport or major hotels. There are also numerous car rental offices all-around Abu Dhabi City.

Driving Licences
Having a valid driving licence is necessary for both rental and private cars. In order to rent a car, foreign visitors need their passport, credit card and an international driving licence. In the UK, you can get an International Licence from the AA or RAC. UAE residents need to have a valid UAE driving licence to drive a rental and their own cars. UAE residents who are GCC citizens or citizens from certain accredited countries can replace their home licences with a UAE driving licence without having to pass a driving test. UAE residents holding a valid UAE driving licence issued in another emirates can either use their existing driving licence or transfer it to Abu Dhabi in case their place of residence has changed.

Road Safety


The emirate of Abu Dhabi is car-friendly with a modern and well-maintained road network and relatively low petrol prices. However, the Emirate has one of the world’s highest rates of road fatalities, mainly due to over-speeding and reckless driving. In order to reduce the number of traffic accidents, Abu Dhabi Government undertakes several measures, like awareness campaigns on road safety, speed-changing zones and a tight control system.

Traffic and Parking the traffic is dense and parking spaces are limited. A paid parking system was introduced in Abu Dhabi as part of the Mawaqif programme which provides a sustainable parking management solution.

There are two categories for parking areas:

Premium parking areas where the maximum stay is four hours and the fees per hour are AED 3. Standard parking areas where cars can be parked for up to 24 hours and the rate is AED 2 per hour or AED 15 per day. There are different colours on the kerbside to indicate which of the parking tarrifs are required, and the parking meter has notice on it how much to pay for the area you are in.

The parking fees can be paid by coins, prepaid cards or via mobile phone. The fees are applicable from 8:00 AM to 09:00 PM from Saturday to Thursday. Parking is free on Fridays and on public holidays.

Residents are allowed to park in the paid parking areas that are located within the same sector they live in. The residential parking permits - each household is entitled to two permits - can be obtained from Mawaqif Customer Service Centres. The annual fees are AED 800 for the first vehicle and AED 1,200 for the second vehicle.

Transport to and from Abu Dhabi Airport

Frin Abu Dhabi International Airport to the city will take around 40 minutes by car. The airport houses several car rental offices and offers multiple parking options, including valet parking, for those who want to leave their car at the airport while travelling or pick up or drop off passengers. Passengers who do not want to drive on their own can choose between taxis, buses and the Etihad shuttle services. Metered taxis and limousines are available at the taxi pick-up area. The limousines have a fixed rate which is controlled by Abu Dhabi International Airport and posted at the taxi stand.

Passengers flying with Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, are offered transfers to and from the airport. Diamond First Class and Pearl Business Class passengers can book a door-to-door limousine service, Coral Economy passengers can use coach transfers to and from Dubai and Al Ain. Details can be found on the website of Abu Dhabi airport.