Abu Dhabi day trip from Dubai: bus, car and a one-day route

Yes, Abu Dhabi works as a day trip from Dubai. Visit Abu Dhabi puts it about a 60-minute drive away, and Dubai’s RTA runs intercity buses E100 and E101 to Abu Dhabi Bus Station. One day is enough for Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one more major sight and the Corniche. Book the mosque’s online access pass before you leave.

What one day can and cannot cover

A day trip means choosing. Visit Abu Dhabi suggests 1 to 2 hours per attraction in the Saadiyat Cultural District and at least 2 full days to do the district properly, and 2 to 3 hours for Louvre Abu Dhabi alone. So plan on the mosque plus one of Louvre Abu Dhabi or Qasr Al Watan, then the waterfront. Yas Island’s theme parks are a day of their own.

For opening hours, fees and rules at each sight in more depth, see our Abu Dhabi visitor guide. This page is about doing it in one day from Dubai.

Getting there: bus or car

Intercity bus (RTA)

• Tickets: RTA sells online e-tickets for both routes, with a dedicated boarding lane and seating area at the stations. Book on the RTA intercity e-ticket page.
• Payment: RTA lists nol card, cash and credit card as payment options for its buses to other emirates.
• No local stops: RTA says intercity buses do not pick up or drop off passengers within the same emirate.
• Coming back: Abu Dhabi Mobility lists daily trips to Dubai on E100, E101 and E102 from Abu Dhabi Main Bus Station. The ticket is AED 25, sold at the Customer Happiness Offices at the station.
• Timetable: neither official page states first and last buses or journey time. Check the RTA journey planner or the S’hail app, or call S’hail on 600 500 605, and plan your return bus before you set off.

By car

Visit Abu Dhabi recommends car or bus for the trip. If you drive, know about Abu Dhabi’s Darb toll gates:

• AED 4 each time you pass a gate, Monday to Saturday, 7am to 9am and 3pm to 7pm.
• No charge on Sundays and official public holidays. Since 1 September 2025 there is no daily or monthly cap for private vehicles.
• Abu Dhabi Mobility gives unregistered vehicles a ten-day grace period from the passing date before fines apply, and fines AED 50 per transaction if the Darb wallet balance is insufficient after five working days. In a rental car, ask the rental company how Darb is billed.

Parking: the mosque’s southern car parks; free parking at Qasr Al Watan (valet AED 35); more than 1,100 free spaces within a five-minute walk of Corniche beach.

Getting around once you arrive

Visit Abu Dhabi calls taxis the most popular way to get around the city. The free Experience Abu Dhabi shuttle bus runs eight routes linking Yas Island, Jubail Island, Saadiyat Island, the city centre and the Grand Canal area: hop on at a stop and scan the QR code. Route maps and timetables are PDFs on the Visit Abu Dhabi shuttle page.

A realistic one-day route

1. Early morning: leave Dubai so you reach the mosque soon after it opens at 9am (Saturday to Thursday hours are 9am to 8:30pm, last entry 8pm).
2. Mosque, about 1.5 hours: the free guided tour alone takes 45 to 60 minutes, according to the mosque’s FAQ.
3. Late morning to mid-afternoon, pick one: Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island (opens 10am, closed Mondays, allow 2 to 3 hours) or Qasr Al Watan (ticket includes the palace zones, the Palace in Motion show, a shuttle bus and parking).
4. Late afternoon: the Corniche. The public beach at Al Sahil (Gate 4) is free; the family sections cost AED 10.
5. Evening: head back to the bus station or drive home. If you drive back between 3pm and 7pm on a weekday or Saturday, expect to pay Darb tolls.

If your day trip falls on a Friday or a Monday

• Friday: the mosque opens to visitors 9am to 11:30am (last entry 11am), then closes until 2:30pm. Go first thing, or swap the order and visit after 2:30pm.
• Monday: Louvre Abu Dhabi is closed, so choose Qasr Al Watan.
• Ramadan: mosque hours change (9am to 6pm, plus 9:30pm to 1am in the first 20 days; Fridays from 2:30pm). Check the official visiting hours.

What to book before you leave Dubai

Visit Abu Dhabi itself advises booking popular attractions in advance.

What costs nothing on the day

• The mosque’s guided walk-in tours are free; the access pass is not.
• The Corniche public beach at Al Sahil (Gate 4) and the free parking nearby.
• Yas Island’s public areas, such as Yas Bay and Yas Marina, and the free Yas Express shuttle.
• The Experience Abu Dhabi shuttle bus.
• Louvre Abu Dhabi for under-18s; Visit Abu Dhabi says under-18s also get free entry to most Saadiyat museums year-round.

What to wear: plan one outfit for both stops

The mosque has the stricter dress code. Women need loose clothing to the ankles, sleeves to the wrists and full hair coverage; men need clothing that covers the entire legs and should avoid sleeveless, tight or see-through tops. Qasr Al Watan asks everyone to cover knees and shoulders and bans flip-flops. Dressing for the mosque covers the palace too, and saves changing in between.

At the mosque, food and drink other than water are not allowed, photos are taken at designated stops, and items such as e-cigarettes, lighters and sharp objects are prohibited.

When to go

Visit Abu Dhabi says November to April is the most pleasant time, with days around 24C; summer highs reach around 42C. In summer, keep outdoor time for the late afternoon and spend the middle of the day indoors at a museum or the palace.

Where to check before you go

• Mosque hours, booking and rules: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre
• Bus routes and e-tickets: RTA; return buses: Abu Dhabi Mobility
• Toll gates: Darb, Abu Dhabi Mobility
• Museums, beaches and shuttles: Visit Abu Dhabi

Looking for places to eat or stay? Browse our Abu Dhabi directory. If this is your first trip to the UAE, start with our first-time-in-Dubai guide.

Checked against the official sources listed on this page on 7 October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so confirm on the official site before you go. See our editorial policy.