Buses vs. taxis, Dubai-Abu Dhabi

Hello all,

I'll be landing in Dubai the week after next, and heading the next morning to Abu Dhabi for a meeting. I understand that the Emirates Express buses take around 2 hours and are fairly cheap; I'm curious, though, to find out what a long-distance taxi between Dubai and downtown Abu Dhabi might cost, and whether there'd be a significant time savings if I decided to spring for a cab.

So, my questions are these: Anyone taken a cab to Abu Dhabi from Dubai in the last few weeks? How much did you pay? How long did it take?

I also hear that Dubai traffic is miserable; with that in mind, assuming I take the bus, how long should I budget to get a cab between a hotel in the Al Garhoud neighborhood (basically just south of the airport) to the Al Ghubaiba bus station? I gather from my own research that walking and buses will take close to an hour.

Shukran jazeelan for your help!

I've taken a taxi from AD to Dubai, it was around 200 dirhams - that was about a year ago.

Traffic is no where near as bad as it used to be but I can't help with travel time from your hotel to the bus station, sorry. However, I can't help with the travel time between your hotel and the bus station.

This might be interesting to you:
http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090208/NATIONAL/907518638

but beware, newspapers here in the UAE tend to print 'good news' stories about new initiatives!

Taxi from Garhoud to Ghubeiba bus station would take about 20 minutes in normal traffic, allow double that in rush hour and cost around 20 dirhams. I strongly dont recommend trying to get to the bus station by bus - the bus system has gone to pot lately, and a 20 minute bus journey will leave you hating the whole world. The Dubai - Abu Dhabi bus is fine though - its a far better service and I've used it a couple of times.

200 sounds a bit cheap to me - although when I've taken the Dubai to AD it's been from the airport which is always more. I pay about $350 for one I pick up at the airport.

Edited by: SuzanneSchuelke

Thanks, all!

Suzanne--I hope and assume you mean AED 350 for Dubai-AD cab fare, rather than US$350?

Also, how long does the trip between Abu Dhabi and Dubai take by cab?

Either way, I'm almost certainly taking the bus, but I appreciate the advice.

Daniel

Yes - I mean AED!! Sorry, the $ was just an error. By cab about an hour and a half if there isn't too much traffic. They have really cracked down on speeding so the drivers don't go as fast as they used to.

I would say 250 Dh is a reasonable amount for a taxi. I live in Abu Dhabi and although I haven't done the journey by taxi that is what I've heard it costs. Car will be slightly quicker than bus, but not much. There is a new road that goes alongside the new Yas Marina F1 circuit, avoids downtown Abu Dhabi traffic and takes you straight to the Corniche end of town. Much quicker. If you want to be that end of town it probably shaves 20 minutes, more in rush hour.

wazoom - do you mean the new bridge. When did it open? (I was last there is May). I have NEVER paid 250 to or from the Dubai airport and downtown Dubai. 350 is more likely (at least from DXB). That includes taxis from the taxi stand although, again, it is from the airport. I have probably done this 10 times.

If you're talking about the third crossing (next to the Umm al Nar power station) - no - thats still not finished - hasnt been any work going on for ever as far as I can see.

The new route goes from Shahama / Channel Street (about halfway between Shahama and the airport roundabout) across Yas Island, and then down over two more minor islands and onto Sadiyat, then over the channel into the Mina Zayed area. It hits Abu Dhabi island close to the Club, and means you can get from Dubai to the Abu Dhabi corniche without touching Abu Dhabi city at all - at rush hour, I'd say it would cut an hour off the journey. Its fantastic.

Thanks g_c. So if I was staying near the Corniche (Corniche Hilton) and going to work just the other side of the bridge (between the bridges area not far from Shangria-La) then this is the route to take?

Oooh thats a tough call.

Driving straight down the island through the city would be a 15km route, whereas the new road would be a 50km trip all the way round the outside, but, when the island is totally gridlocked at rush hour, it would probably be faster (especially if you're going to be using Salam street).

At quieter times, it wouldnt save you any time and would use a lot more petrol, and if you were doing it in a taxi, the driver would be whinging all the way. I guess probably not, most of the time.