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Asia United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi Tourist Information Public Transport

Overview

Public Transport

The guide was updated: 2024-06-23

The public bus system is quite well-developed in Abu Dhabi. Blue and white coloured buses run through the city regularly and tickets are available in the form of re-loadable 'Hafilat' Smartcards, which may be purchased from ticket vending machines located at multiple locations throughout the city (bus stations and stops, DOT Customer Service Centers). Hold your card next to a card reader installed inside the bus for validation upon entry and exit. A ferry service is provided by DOT: on many ferries you will be asked to show a valid ID and, in general, it is recommended to arrive 30 minutes before the ferries' departure. Another good way to travel around the city and avoid congestion is by using the Abu Dhabi Metro, which serves a big proportion of passengers and connects the city with its suburbs.

Useful Information

Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.

*this will be downloaded as a PDF.

Price

€4,95

Purchase

Passport/Visa

Passport/Visa

Citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Member states and nationals of most EU countries along with the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Brunei are eligible to receive an entry visa upon arrival at the Abu Dhabi Airport. Nationals of other countries will require an entry visa, which can be pre-arranged by the visitor’s travel agency, hosting hotel, or Etihad Airways (if one happens to be flying in with the airline). If none of those are viable options, a visa can also be applied for via a local UAE embassy. Always make sure you have an up-to-date passport. If you need any more information, and in order to avoid migration complications, you should contact the embassy or consulate in your country or the one closest to you.

Zayed International Airport (AUH)

Zayed International Airport (AUH)

Zayed International Airport is the second largest in the United Arab Emirates. It lies just 30 kilometres from the city centre and has a full range of facilities for travellers and three main roads which will make it very easy to find: 2nd Street (Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum Street), 8th Street (Salam Street) and 30th Street (Khaleej Al Arabi Street). An efficient bus service is provided: A1 buses connect the airport and the city, while the 490 buses connect the airport with Al Ain. They both run at 40-minute intervals and the journeys take approximately 45 minutes. Bus stops are indicated with blue and white signs. A shuttle service connecting the airport terminals is also available. Abu Dhabi Airport taxis are available for journeys to and from the airport, just outside of it. If you're interested in renting a car, there are several possibilities to do it. Every car rental company is located in Skypark Plaza, very close to terminals 1 and 3.

Best Time to Visit

Best Time to Visit

Winter is the best period to come to Abu Dhabi in terms of weather: temperatures are not too hot and not too humid, which makes this the peak season. It is advisable to avoid the extremely hot summer months, although hotel rates are at their lowest then and not many tourists will be visiting the city. Abu Dhabi can be doable in spring, between April and May, or fall, from September to October, both periods marked by pleasant weather, with prices starting to decrease in springtime, but on the rise in the fall season, as winter approaches. Also, many sporting and cultural events are held between April and May.

Public Transport

Public Transport

The public bus system is quite well-developed in Abu Dhabi. Blue and white coloured buses run through the city regularly and tickets are available in the form of re-loadable 'Hafilat' Smartcards, which may be purchased from ticket vending machines located at multiple locations throughout the city (bus stations and stops, DOT Customer Service Centers). Hold your card next to a card reader installed inside the bus for validation upon entry and exit. A ferry service is provided by DOT: on many ferries you will be asked to show a valid ID and, in general, it is recommended to arrive 30 minutes before the ferries' departure. Another good way to travel around the city and avoid congestion is by using the Abu Dhabi Metro, which serves a big proportion of passengers and connects the city with its suburbs.

Taxi

Taxi

Getting around Abu Dhabi is straightforward, with most visitors opting to travel in the inexpensive taxis that constantly dart around the city. There are also several ride-sharing apps available in Abu Dhabi. These include Uber, Careem, and Bolt.

Post

Post

There are many post offices in Abu Dhabi, which are operated by Emirates Post. The main one is the Central Post Office, located in Zayed City close to the Gold Souk.

Pharmacy

Pharmacy

In Abu Dhabi, several main pharmacy chains provide a wide range of pharmaceutical products and healthcare services. Some of the prominent ones include Aster Pharmacy, Boots, Life Pharmacy, and Al Manara. For medical emergencies call 998.

Telephone

Telephone

Country code: 971 Area code: 2

Electricity

Electricity

In Abu Dhabi and throughout the United Arab Emirates, the standard plug type is G, characterised by three rectangular pins arranged in a triangular pattern. The electrical system operates on a 230V supply voltage with a frequency of 50Hz.

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