Dubai to Abu Dhabi Bus Timings: E100, E101 and E102
The bus between Dubai and Abu Dhabi costs AED 25 each way and takes roughly 90 minutes to two hours. Three routes run the corridor: E100 between Al Ghubaiba and Abu Dhabi Central, E101 between Ibn Battuta and Abu Dhabi Central, and E102 between Ibn Battuta and Mussafah. First buses leave around 04:20 to 04:45 and the last run close to midnight.
- Choose E100 for central Dubai, E101 or E102 for the Marina side.
- Load at least AED 25 each way onto your card.
- Allow two hours if you have a flight or appointment to make.
The Dubai to Abu Dhabi bus at a glance
This is the longest intercity bus journey most people in the UAE make regularly, covering roughly 140 kilometres of motorway between the two largest cities. At AED 25 it is also the cheapest realistic way to travel between them, well under the cost of fuel, tolls and parking in a car.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Routes | E100, E101, E102 |
| Fare | AED 25 each way, on any of the three |
| Journey time | About 90 minutes to 2 hours |
| Earliest departure | Around 04:20 from Dubai, 04:30 from Abu Dhabi |
| Latest departure | Close to midnight in both directions |
| Frequency | Every 20 to 60 minutes depending on route and hour |
Unlike the Sharjah corridor, these are long-distance coaches rather than city buses, and they run non-stop for most of the journey. That means the timetable is more predictable, because there is far less stop-start traffic to absorb.
The three routes and their stations
The routes differ mainly in which end of each city they serve. Get this right and you can save yourself a long connection at either end.
| Route | Dubai end | Abu Dhabi end |
|---|---|---|
| E100 | Al Ghubaiba Bus Station, Bur Dubai | Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station |
| E101 | Ibn Battuta, on the Red Line | Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station |
| E102 | Ibn Battuta, on the Red Line | Mussafah Shabiya Bus Station |
E100 is the one to take if you are starting in old Dubai, Deira or Bur Dubai, since Al Ghubaiba is central and connects to the abra crossings. E101 and E102 leave from Ibn Battuta, which is far better if you are coming from Dubai Marina, JLT or anywhere along the southern end of the Red Line.
The E102 is the specialist of the three. It serves Mussafah rather than the city centre, which makes it the right choice for the industrial areas and much less useful for tourists heading to the Corniche or Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Dubai to Abu Dhabi bus timings
Leaving Dubai, services start before dawn and the frequency builds through the day. The E100 in particular tightens up considerably from early afternoon onwards.
| Route | From | First and last | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| E100 | Al Ghubaiba | About 04:20 to 23:50 | Hourly early, then every 30, then every 20 minutes |
| E101 | Ibn Battuta | About 04:30 to midnight, later at weekends | Every 20 to 30 minutes |
| E102 | Ibn Battuta | Daytime service to Mussafah | Around hourly |
The E100 frequency pattern is worth knowing in detail. In the early hours it runs about once an hour, moves to roughly every 30 minutes through the late morning, then settles at around every 20 minutes from the early afternoon until late. If you are travelling before about 06:30, check the time carefully, because missing one bus can mean a long wait.
Abu Dhabi to Dubai bus timings
Coming back the other way, the pattern shifts. The E100 runs later into the night out of Abu Dhabi than it does out of Dubai, while the E101 finishes noticeably earlier.
| Route | From | First and last | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| E100 | Abu Dhabi Central | About 04:30 to 00:30 | Roughly every 30 minutes |
| E101 | Abu Dhabi Central | About 04:45 to 23:15 | Every 20 to 30 minutes |
| E102 | Mussafah Shabiya | About 06:00 to 23:00 | Around every 60 minutes |
If you are returning late from Abu Dhabi, the E100 is the safer bet: it runs to around half past midnight, while the E101 stops well before that at about quarter past eleven. Plan on the E100 for anything after 23:00.
RTA publishes operating hours for its intercity network rather than a fixed departure list, so treat these as indicative windows and confirm on the S’hail app before you set off, especially for the first or last bus of the day.
Fare and which card to use
The fare is AED 25 per journey on all three routes, and it does not change with the time of day or which direction you are heading.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Single journey | AED 25, either direction |
| Return | AED 50 in total, charged as two journeys |
| Dubai card | Nol, used on RTA services |
| Abu Dhabi card | Hafilat, with tap in and tap out |
| Cash | Not accepted on board |
This corridor crosses between two transport authorities, which is why both cards appear in guidance for it. The practical approach is to carry a topped-up Nol card for RTA-operated services, and to pick up a Hafilat card if you are going to use Abu Dhabi’s local buses once you arrive, where tapping out at the end of the journey is required. Top-up machines and counters are available at the main stations at both ends. Our UAE bus timings guide covers how the fare cards differ.
Journey time and what to expect
Budget about 90 minutes for the run itself, and closer to two hours door to door once you factor in reaching the station and getting where you are going at the other end. The E101 is often quoted at around 87 minutes between Ibn Battuta and Abu Dhabi Central in clear conditions.
These are coach-style buses with luggage space, air conditioning and seating for the full journey, and they are popular with weekend travellers as well as commuters. At peak times, particularly Thursday evenings heading out of Dubai and Sunday mornings heading back, queues at the terminals can be long. Arriving 15 minutes before your intended departure is sensible, because boarding is on a first-come basis and there is no seat reservation.
If you are driving this corridor instead, the tolls and fines side is covered in our UAE traffic, vehicle and fines guide, including the Darb gates you will cross in Abu Dhabi.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the bus from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
The fare is AED 25 for a single journey in either direction, on the E100, E101 or E102. A return costs AED 50 in total, charged as two separate journeys. Payment is by transport card rather than cash on board.
What is the last bus from Abu Dhabi to Dubai?
The E100 from Abu Dhabi Central runs latest, at around 00:30. The E101 finishes earlier at roughly 23:15, and the E102 from Mussafah stops around 23:00. For any journey after 23:00, plan on the E100.
How long is the bus from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
Around 90 minutes to two hours. The E101 between Ibn Battuta and Abu Dhabi Central is commonly quoted at about 87 minutes in clear conditions. Allow extra at weekends and during peak commuting periods, when terminal queues add to the total.
Which bus is best from Dubai Marina to Abu Dhabi?
Take the E101 from Ibn Battuta, which is on the Red Line and much closer to Marina and JLT than Al Ghubaiba. The E102 also leaves from Ibn Battuta but runs to Mussafah, so choose it only if that is where you are going.
Last verified: September 2026 against RTA network operating hours and current route information
Written by Roman Shah ยท Reviewed by the UAEexplained editorial team
Source: Roads and Transport Authority (RTA); Abu Dhabi Mobility
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