Which means of transport to use à ÎLE D'ABU DHABI?
Organize your stay à ÎLE D'ABU DHABI
From the airport to the city centre à ÎLE D'ABU DHABI
You can get to the city center by shuttle, bus or cab. Either way, fares are reasonable.
Shuttle buses
Several Abu Dhabi hotels offer to pick you up from the airport by shuttle. This service may even be free of charge. Check with your hotel first.
Bus service
The air-conditioned bus from the airport to Abu Dhabi city is both economical and comfortable.
The bus leaves from all three terminals and stops at all legal bus stops into the city. It passes the bus stop at Muroor and Street 11 and ends at the old fish market on Al Nasr Street (near NYU Abu Dhabi).
All bus stops are clearly marked with blue and white signs.
Different lines:
- A1: Al Zahiyah City Air Terminal - Abu Dhabi International Airport Terminals 1 & 2
- 490: Abu Dhabi Int'l Airport Terminals 1 & 2 - Al Ain Bus Station
- 211: Mussafah Dalam Mall - Abu Dhabi Airport Terminal 1 - Al Rahba Hospital
- 240: Al Wathba Worker City - Abu Dhabi Airport Terminal 1 - Al Rahba Hospital
- X81: Ruwais ADNOC Bus Station - Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH)
Timetable: Every 40 minutes, 24 hours a day.
Cost: You need to buy a Halidat card (AED 10, valid for 30 days) and the one-way fare from the airport to Abu Dhabi city is AED 4 (just under 1 euro).
Journey time to the city is around 45 minutes, and may vary according to traffic conditions.
Cabs
Cabs are available in large numbers. They don't drive tourists. They all speak English and are generally very friendly. There are even pink-topped cabs, driven by women for those who prefer them.
At the airport, black minibus cabs are best suited to carrying travelers' heavy luggage. You can book them on the Abu Dhabi Taxi app. They are available at the airport and can pick you up anywhere.
A word of warning! Most cabs don't have GPS and unless it's a well-known hotel, you need to have clear directions to guide them around the city: Neighborhood, part of town, proximity to a monument and we recommend downloading the route on googlemaps and keeping the accommodation's phone number for your cab to call them if it gets lost.
Uber and Careem
You can use either of these two apps. Signs will tell you where to meet your driver as soon as you leave the terminal. Careem is the local version of Uber and also allows you to book metered cabs. The advantage is that they have GPS. Prices are reasonable too.
Arrival by boat à ÎLE D'ABU DHABI
The Abu Dhabi cruise terminal is located next to the center of the UAE capital, at Port Zayed, and offers excellent transport links to a variety of cultural attractions and entertainment activities, as well as to the emirate's many luxury hotels and resorts. A first in the region, the terminal features Etihad Airways check-in desks, providing passengers disembarking in Abu Dhabi with a luggage drop-off point and enabling them to prepare for their return journey before arriving at the airport. Accommodating two large cruise ships as well as one small vessel, the terminal's ultra-modern building offers a wide range of personalized services to passengers in a magnificent setting incorporating elements of Arabian and modern design. Traditional Arabic decorations, colors and shapes combine with modern architectural elements to give the terminal a unique style and celebrate the UAE's cultural heritage by paying tribute to its long maritime history. On arrival, enjoy traditional Arabic coffee, falconry demonstrations and henna artists. A typical souk, a heritage zone with activities for passengers and the general public, and a wide range of tourist facilities are all available. Facilities and services offered by the cruise terminal include: - a 24-hour customs and immigration office - an Abu Dhabi Tourism and Cultural Authority information desk - duty-free shopping boutiques - ATMs and currency exchange - free Wi-Fi - a café and restaurant - majlis - souvenir stores - bus and cab stops - a free shuttle service for your shopping - a children's playground - a variety of tourist services and excursions
Public transport à ÎLE D'ABU DHABI
The central bus station is located near Al Wahda Mall. Buses run throughout the city and the emirate for a very small fee. Cash is not accepted on the bus. Halifat cards can be obtained from ATMs (near some bus stops) or from DOT (Department of Transportation) offices in some malls and bus stations.
Bike, scooters & co à ÎLE D'ABU DHABI
The Integrated Transport Center (ITC) of Abu Dhabi's Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Police, announced at the end of March 2022 new regulations on the use of bicycles, electric bikes and other micromobility devices in the emirate :
A single cyclist may ride a bicycle, scooter or electric bike, using dedicated bike lanes. Protective helmets must be worn at all times, as well as reflective clothing at night.
Cyclists and users of micromobility devices may only use lanes and roads designated for bicycles.
In the absence of designated areas, users must use secondary roads with a speed limit of 20 km/h, and must keep to the extreme right of the road, sidewalks or sidewalks dedicated to bicycle use.
Dangerous stunts that pose a risk to cyclists, pedestrians or other road users are strictly forbidden.
Cyclists may park their bicycles in designated areas and refrain from keeping them where they could impede vehicular or pedestrian traffic. Bicycles must not be chained to traffic posts or public lighting poles.
Cyclists must give way to pedestrians and reduce their speed at intersections and junctions, while keeping a safe distance from other vehicles and pedestrians.
It is totally forbidden for cyclists to hook onto any other vehicle or to enter the space of any vehicle at high or low speed.
It istotally forbidden to travel in the opposite direction of the road.
Technical specifications and requirements: Bicycles and e-bikes must be equipped with a white headlight and a red rear light that can be switched on at night, or a red light reflector, as well as a handlebar-mounted audible warning device and effective brakes, at least on the rear wheel.
With a driver à ÎLE D'ABU DHABI
Cabs
It's very easy to find a cab in Abu Dhabi.
This means of transport is affordable and very reliable (few scams). Cabs are paid for in cash, via the cab company's app or via the Payby app by scanning the QR Code.
The minimum fare is AED 12.
You can request a child car seat on the Abu Dhabi Taxi app for a small fee.
If you're in a group, you can book a "family" cab or a "women-only" cab, the latter being driven by women.
Uber and Careem
Careem is the local version of Uber, and has been acquired by the latter. It also allows you to book metered cabs, van. The advantage is that they have GPS. Prices are reasonable too.
By car à ÎLE D'ABU DHABI
Driving tips:
Every time you break the Abu Dhabi Highway Code, you'll get "Black Points". The number of points is determined by the type of offence. If you lose 24 points, your license will be suspended for three months. Download the Abu Dhabi Police app to pay your fines. Please note that the application rejects French bank cards. Here are a few recommendations:- Seatbelts are compulsory.- It's forbidden to make phone calls in the car: use a hands-free kit.- Use Waze or Google Maps as a GPS.- Caution: zero tolerance for drink-driving. Be vigilant at traffic circles, as all vehicles are allowed to turn right. Note that priority in traffic circles is given to the vehicle on the left, whatever the situation. Be careful at traffic lights, don't "run" a red light - the fine is heavy. You start by paying an AED 1,000 fine. The police come to your home and immobilize your vehicle for 30 days. To get it back, you have to pay 50,000 AED and finally your license is suspended for 6 months and you'll get 12 "Black Points". Even if you sometimes see children standing in cars (both front and rear), be aware that car seats are compulsory for children under 4. In the front passenger seat, a child can sit if he or she is at least 10 years old and over 145 cm tall. When a yellow school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing or STOP sign activated, you must come to a complete stop more than 5 meters from the bus in both directions. Some buses are equipped with cameras, and if you don't stop, you could be fined and given "Black Points". Watch out for fixed speed cameras located after traffic lights!
In the event of an accident or impact
Immediately call the Police on 999 and wait for SAAED (Service de Sécurité Routière) officers. Do not move the vehicle under any circumstances, except in the event of traffic obstruction, and especially in the event of injury. In this case, take a photo before moving your car. The police report is used to determine who is responsible (written in Arabic). If possible, enlist the help of an Arabic-speaking person. Get your car repaired through your insurance (white paper responsible, pink paper not responsible). You won't be able to get your car repaired without this document, even if you've only hit a pole, for example.
Fines can be charged to you without you having to be informed of them on an ad hoc basis. You do, however, have to pay them. You can check your situation at any time using your vehicle registration number on the Abu Dhabi Police website or app www.adpolice.gov.ae
Car rental
You'll find most major car rental companies at Abu Dhabi airport and in many malls. If you are a resident, a local permit is required. Visitors and tourists can rent a car with an international driving license. Abu Dhabi Rent a Car - 02 644 37 70 Avis Rent a Car - 02 575 71 80 Budget Rent-A-Car - 02 633 42 00 Diamond Lease - 02 622 20 28 Europcar - 02 526 14 41 Hertz Rent A Car - 02 672 00 60 Sixt - 800 7498 United Car Rentals - 02 642 22 03 Beware of cheap rental companies, as well as quick pick-ups and returns with a very detailed car tour!
Parking lots
Hotel and mall parking lots are generally free. Elsewhere, you may have to pay to park. To better understand the stripes on the ground - Yellow and grey: no parking allowed - Blue and black: Standard - 2 AED or 50 cts euro/hour - Blue and white - Premium 3 AED or 75 cts euro/hour. The paid parking system operates 24 hours a day, except on Fridays and public holidays. Please note that some daytime parking spaces are reserved in the evening (from 8pm to 8am) for holders of a resident permit. How do I pay for parking? You must pay by the hour. You cannot pay for 20 minutes only. There are three ways to pay: - Pay at the parking meter (ticket behind your windshield). - Use one of the MAWAQIF, ADParking or Abu Dhabi Police applications (the latter includes MAWAQIF in its services). - SMS 3009 with your license plate number and the amount. Here's an example of how to pay by SMS: AUH (for Abu Dhabi) and your serial number in the red insert on your plate, a space and note your registration number, a space and type S or P (Standard or Premium) space indicate the whole number of the desired duration. You get "AUH17 45678 S 2" for 2 hours standard parking for car number 45678". The amount will be debited from the "Credit balance" of your telephone operator's application. If you park anywhere, the fine can range from AED 200 to AED 1,000.
Car trouble?
"800 Carguru" is a reliable garage that can also come to your home - ✆ 800 227 4878 - www.800carguru.ae
Fuel - Car maintenance
You'll find ADNOC petrol stations everywhere, with pump attendants on hand to fill your tank. In Abu Dhabi, there is no competition; ADNOC is the market leader, so the price of petrol is more or less the same everywhere, as there is no competition. You can choose between two types of petrol: "Special" (the cheapest, 95 octane) and "Super" (the most expensive, 98 octane). You can also have your car cleaned (interior/exterior). You'll also find this service (exterior only) in mall parking lots. Beware: if your car is found to be too dirty, you may be fined! It's forbidden to clean your car in the street with soapy water. There are many car garages in the Mussafah district, such as Universal Auto Garage - ✆ 02 555 4944
Battery problems?
Because of the heat, batteries discharge more quickly. It is common practice to change the battery every year. DIAL Battery - ✆ 800 247 365 - www.dial-a-battery.com AutoBattery - ✆ 050 598 9044 (via WhatsApp) White Seagul Electronics & Electrical Trading - ✆ 055 285 5975 (Azam)
DARB: Abu Dhabi's barrier-free road toll system
No toll barriers here! To reduce rush-hour traffic, the Abu Dhabi government has introduced a "Toll gate" system at the city's busiest crossing points:- Sheikh Zayed Bridge- Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Bridge- Al Magtaa Bridge- Mussafah Bridge You need to download the DARB application and register all the necessary information. You'll then be able to move freely around Abu Dhabi. Each time you pass a toll gate, you will be debited directly via the app. Toll gates are chargeable (AED 4) between 7am and 9am and between 5pm and 7pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Toll gates are free outside these periods, as well as on Fridays and public holidays. If there are several cars and/or several passages per day, a ceiling guarantees a maximum monthly amount to be paid.
Accessibility à ÎLE D'ABU DHABI
All public transport is adapted for people with disabilities and families with strollers. On the other hand, Abu Dhabi doesn't offer much in the way of walking, apart from a few footpaths, so sidewalks are not always equipped and it can be difficult to find a crosswalk.
Tourist traps à ÎLE D'ABU DHABI
In Abu Dhabi, there is little or no tourist attraction. Everything is regulated, controlled and severely punished if abuse is found. Be sure to observe speed limits when driving. Speed cameras are everywhere, and there's no tolerance for driving too fast.
You may also be called by clever police officers or deliverymen, who ask for your credit card number, security code and expiry date. Never give this information and/or leave your credit card with a gas station attendant or waiter.
