Abu Dhabi to Ras Al Khaimah Bus Timings and Fare
The direct bus between Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah is run by RAKTA, the Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority, and operates every day. Three buses leave Ras Al Khaimah for Abu Dhabi, at 09:00, 13:00 and 17:00, for AED 50. Three come back from Abu Dhabi, at 13:30, 17:30 and 21:30, for AED 35. Seats are booked through RAKTA’s Sayr app, or at the counter in Ras Al Khaimah, and Nol and Hafilat cards are not valid on this service.
- Download the Sayr app and book a seat, with three buses a day they can fill up.
- Allow around three and a half hours, more on a busy afternoon.
- Ignore guides that say this bus runs on weekends only, RAKTA lists it daily.
The Abu Dhabi to Ras Al Khaimah bus at a glance
This route links the capital with the northernmost emirate in a single journey, which no Dubai or Abu Dhabi operator does. It is a low-frequency, book-ahead service rather than a commuter line, so it suits planned trips better than spontaneous ones.
| Item | Abu Dhabi to Ras Al Khaimah | Ras Al Khaimah to Abu Dhabi |
|---|---|---|
| Operator | RAKTA | RAKTA |
| Days | Every day | Every day |
| Departures | 13:30, 17:30, 21:30 | 09:00, 13:00, 17:00 |
| Fare | AED 35 | AED 50 |
| Journey time | Around 3 hours 30 minutes | Around 3 hours 30 minutes |
| Booking | Sayr app | Sayr app or the RAKTA station counter |
The timetable is built around Ras Al Khaimah residents. The morning bus gets them to the capital by early afternoon, and the late bus from Abu Dhabi brings them home the same night. If you are based in Abu Dhabi, that shape means a same-day return trip to Ras Al Khaimah is not possible by this route.
Abu Dhabi to Ras Al Khaimah bus timings
RAKTA lists three daily departures from Abu Dhabi. It does not publish arrival times, so the arrivals below are estimates based on a journey of about three and a half hours.
| Departs Abu Dhabi | Estimated arrival in Ras Al Khaimah | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 13:30 | Around 17:00 | Best for arriving in daylight |
| 17:30 | Around 21:00 | Evening traffic through Dubai can slow it |
| 21:30 | Around 01:00 | Arrives after midnight |
There is no morning departure from Abu Dhabi. If you need to be in Ras Al Khaimah before the afternoon, the only bus option is to travel through Dubai, explained further down this page.
Ras Al Khaimah to Abu Dhabi bus timings
From Ras Al Khaimah the departures run earlier in the day, with the first bus at 09:00 and the last at 17:00.
| Departs Ras Al Khaimah | Estimated arrival in Abu Dhabi | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 | Around 12:30 | Good for an afternoon in the capital |
| 13:00 | Around 16:30 | Midday departure |
| 17:00 | Around 20:30 | Last bus, meets evening traffic |
Ras Al Khaimah residents can do a day in Abu Dhabi with this pattern: the 09:00 there, and the 21:30 back. It is a long day, close to seven hours on the bus, but it works.
Stations, booking and why the guides disagree
Search for this route and you will find at least four different sets of times and three different fares. Most of that is older information that was accurate once and has since changed.
| What you may read elsewhere | What RAKTA lists now |
|---|---|
| Runs Friday to Sunday only | Runs every day |
| Ras Al Khaimah to Abu Dhabi costs AED 47 | AED 50. AED 47 is now the weekend fare from Ras Al Khaimah to Al Ain. |
| Departures at 09:00 and 15:00 from Ras Al Khaimah | 09:00, 13:00 and 17:00 |
| Departures at 13:30 and 19:30 from Abu Dhabi | 13:30, 17:30 and 21:30 |
On the Ras Al Khaimah side, buses use RAKTA’s main bus station, widely known as Al Hamra Bus Station. Despite the name it is not in Al Hamra Village but in the Al Dhait area, close to the Cove Rotana. On the Abu Dhabi side, the service uses Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station in Al Wahda, the same terminal as the buses to Dubai.
Sayr is RAKTA’s mobility app, covering its intercity routes with advance booking and schedule information. Booking ahead matters more here than on Dubai routes, because a full bus means a four-hour wait for the next one, or a night in the wrong emirate on the last departure.
Fares and how to pay
| Journey | Fare |
|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi to Ras Al Khaimah | AED 35 |
| Ras Al Khaimah to Abu Dhabi | AED 50 |
| Round trip | AED 85 |
| Nol or Hafilat card | Not accepted |
The AED 15 gap between the two directions is set by RAKTA and is not a mistake. The same split appears on its weekend Al Ain service, at AED 47 out of Ras Al Khaimah and AED 35 back, though its Dubai route runs the other way, costing more towards Ras Al Khaimah. At AED 50, the Ras Al Khaimah to Abu Dhabi leg is one of the most expensive single bus fares in the country.
The alternative through Dubai
With three buses a day, the direct route will not always fit. Going through Dubai means two buses and a metro ride, but both buses run far more often.
| Leg | Service | Frequency | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi to Dubai | E100 to Al Ghubaiba or E101 to Ibn Battuta | Frequent through the day | AED 25 |
| Across Dubai | Metro to Union | Every few minutes | Nol metro fare |
| Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah | RAKTA from Union Bus Station | Hourly, 07:30 to 23:30 | AED 30 |
| Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai | RAKTA to Union Bus Station | Hourly, 05:00 to 21:00 | AED 27 |
Through Dubai the total fare is around AED 52 to 55 plus the metro, and the trip takes longer once you count the change. Its advantage is choice: you can leave Abu Dhabi in the morning, which the direct bus does not allow. See our Dubai to Abu Dhabi bus guide and Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah bus guide for each leg, and our UAE bus timings guide for the whole network.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct bus from Abu Dhabi to Ras Al Khaimah?
Yes. RAKTA runs a direct bus every day, leaving Abu Dhabi at 13:30, 17:30 and 21:30, for AED 35.
How much is the bus from Ras Al Khaimah to Abu Dhabi?
AED 50, with departures at 09:00, 13:00 and 17:00. The return from Abu Dhabi is cheaper, at AED 35.
Does the Abu Dhabi to Ras Al Khaimah bus run on weekdays?
Yes. RAKTA lists the service every day of the week. Guides saying it runs only from Friday to Sunday are out of date.
How do I book the Ras Al Khaimah to Abu Dhabi bus?
Through RAKTA’s Sayr app, which works from either end, or at RAKTA’s station counter in Ras Al Khaimah. Nol and Hafilat cards are not accepted on this route.
Last verified: November 2026 against RAKTA’s published intercity schedule. RAKTA lists departure times only, so arrival times on this page are estimates. Check the Sayr app before you travel.
Written by Roman Shah · Reviewed by the UAEexplained editorial team
Source: Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority (RAKTA)
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