Abu Dhabi to Al Ain Bus Timings: The X90 Express

The X90 Express is the bus between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, running from Al Nahyan Bus Station to Al Ain Central Bus Station. It is operated by Abu Dhabi Mobility, costs roughly AED 25 to 30, and takes about two and a half hours to cover 163 kilometres of road. Buses run from around 06:45 to 23:45 every 30 to 60 minutes, and you must pay with a Hafilat card.

The Abu Dhabi to Al Ain bus at a glance

Al Ain is Abu Dhabi’s second city, sitting inland on the Omani border, so this is an internal journey within a single emirate rather than a crossing between two. That is why it runs entirely on Abu Dhabi’s own transport system.

Item	Detail
Route	X90 Express, with a CX90 Capital Express variant
Operator	Abu Dhabi Mobility, the Integrated Transport Centre
Abu Dhabi end	Al Nahyan Bus Station
Al Ain end	Al Ain Central Bus Station
Fare	About AED 25 to 30
Journey time	About 2 hours 30 minutes
Frequency	Every 30 to 60 minutes

The road distance is about 163 kilometres even though the two cities are only around 144 kilometres apart as the crow flies, which explains why the journey takes longer than the map suggests.

The X90 route and its stops

Despite the Express name, the X90 makes several useful intermediate stops rather than running non-stop between the two terminals.

Stop	Useful for
Al Nahyan Bus Station	The Abu Dhabi city terminal
Jarn Yafor	An intermediate point along the route
Baniyas Court, Al Maqam	The Baniyas area on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Street
Tawam Hospital	Hospital visits, on Street 1 in Al Ain
Al Ain Central Bus Station	The Al Ain terminal

The Tawam Hospital stop is the one worth remembering, because it saves anyone attending an appointment from riding to the central station and then doubling back. If your destination is in that part of Al Ain, get off there.

There is also a CX90 Capital Express variant on this corridor, so check which service your departure is when planning, as the routeing and stops can differ.

Abu Dhabi to Al Ain bus timings

The service window is long, running from early morning until close to midnight, and it is the same seven days a week.

Item	Detail
From	Al Nahyan Bus Station, Abu Dhabi
First bus	About 06:45
Last bus	About 23:45
Frequency	Every 30 to 60 minutes, more often at peak
Days	The same schedule applies all week

The consistent seven-day schedule is a real advantage over the Dubai to Al Ain E201, which changes between weekdays and weekends. Here you can plan the same way regardless of the day.

Al Ain to Abu Dhabi bus timings

The return leg runs on the same route number and broadly the same pattern, back from Al Ain Central Bus Station to Al Nahyan.

Item	Detail
From	Al Ain Central Bus Station
To	Al Nahyan Bus Station, Abu Dhabi
Route number	X90 in both directions
Frequency	Every 30 to 60 minutes
Journey time	About 2 hours 30 minutes

With a two-and-a-half-hour journey, the arrival time matters more than the departure. A bus leaving Al Ain in the late evening will not reach Abu Dhabi until well after midnight, so check that onward local transport at the Abu Dhabi end is still running before you commit to a late departure.

Abu Dhabi Mobility recommends checking the official ITC schedule for the current timetable, since services on this corridor are adjusted from time to time.

Fare and the Hafilat card

This is the detail that most often catches out travellers arriving from Dubai: your Nol card is not accepted here.

Item	Detail
Single journey	About AED 25 to 30, including fees and taxes
Payment	Hafilat card only
Nol card	Not accepted on this route
Where to buy Hafilat	Any bus station in Abu Dhabi
Tapping	Abu Dhabi requires tap in and tap out

Hafilat cards are easy to pick up at any Abu Dhabi bus station, so this is a minor errand rather than a real obstacle, but it does need doing before you travel. Remember that Abu Dhabi’s system requires you to tap out at the end of your journey as well as tapping in, which Dubai’s does not. The full card comparison is in our UAE bus timings guide.

Comparing it with the Dubai route

Al Ain is reachable by bus from both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and the two services are worth comparing if you have a choice of starting point.

Feature	X90 from Abu Dhabi	E201 from Dubai
Fare	About AED 25 to 30	AED 25
Journey time	About 2 hours 30 minutes	About 2 hours 15 minutes
Frequency	Every 30 to 60 minutes	About hourly
Payment	Hafilat card	Nol card
Weekend schedule	Same as weekdays	Differs from weekdays

The X90 is the more frequent and more predictable of the two, though slightly slower. Full details of the Dubai service are in our Dubai to Al Ain bus timings guide. If you are driving instead, our UAE traffic, vehicle and fines guide covers the Darb tolls and fines in Abu Dhabi.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the bus from Abu Dhabi to Al Ain?

Around AED 25 to 30 for a single journey on the X90, with service fees and taxes included. Payment must be made with a Hafilat card, which you can buy at any bus station in Abu Dhabi. Nol cards are not accepted.

Can I use my Nol card on the X90?

No. The X90 is operated by Abu Dhabi Mobility and accepts Hafilat cards only. Pick one up at any Abu Dhabi bus station before travelling. Abu Dhabi also requires you to tap out at the end of the journey, unlike Dubai.

How long is the Abu Dhabi to Al Ain bus?

About two hours and 30 minutes. The road distance is roughly 163 kilometres, which is longer than the 144 kilometres separating the two cities directly, and the route makes several intermediate stops along the way.

Does the X90 stop at Tawam Hospital?

Yes, the X90 calls at Tawam Hospital on Street 1 in Al Ain, along with Jarn Yafor and Baniyas Court at Al Maqam. Getting off at Tawam saves doubling back from the central bus station if that is your destination.

Last verified: August 2026 against current route information. Abu Dhabi Mobility adjusts this corridor periodically, so check the ITC schedule before travelling.
Written by Roman Shah · Reviewed by the UAEexplained editorial team
Source: Abu Dhabi Mobility, the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC)

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