Travelling to Abu Dhabi from Dubai by taxi or bus? Here’s what you need to know

Green status on Al Hosn app required for taxi drivers and their passengers, as well as for those travelling by bus

Abu Dhabi border scanners for Covid-19 have been in place for commuters since December 19, 2021. Chris Whiteoak / The National

People taking a taxi or bus from Dubai to Abu Dhabi must remember that land border checks are in place to control the spread of the coronavirus.

All taxi passengers and the driver must have green status on Al Hosn, the UAE’s Covid-19 status and tracing app.

If the driver does not have green status, which indicates they have tested negative for Covid-19 in the past 14 days, the car will not be allowed to cross the border.

This is regardless of whether the service is operated by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority or a private company such as Uber or Careem.

If the driver does not have green status, you will have to leave the vehicle at the border and find alternative transport on the Abu Dhabi side, an RTA official said.

Travellers are advised to book using the Hala section of the Careem app, which enables them to choose a driver with a negative PCR test result to take them all the way from Dubai to Abu Dhabi.

A standard Abu Dhabi or Dubai taxi, flagged from the street, costs in the region of Dh250 to Dh300 one way, depending on the final destination in your chosen city.

Careem charges a flat fare of Dh350 for all journeys between Dubai and Abu Dhabi city, while the cost of an Uber depends on your final destination, but will be more than Dh300.

Travelling by bus

Green status on Al Hosn is also a must if you are making the journey by bus.

The RTA official said that police conduct on-board checks at the border to ensure passengers have the correct status on the app before entry to Abu Dhabi is permitted.

While green status is not required when travelling from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, it will be needed on the return journey.

The bus service from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Route E101, costs Dh25 each way. It departs from Ibn Battuta bus station in Dubai and arrives at Central Bus Station, opposite Al Wahda Mall, in Abu Dhabi. The journey takes about an hour and 40 minutes.

For the duration of Expo 2020 Dubai, RTA will operate free buses from Abu Dhabi to the world’s fair.

There are four departure points in the emirate: Abu Dhabi International Airport, Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station, Marina Mall Station and Al Ain Bus Station.

Al Hosn app explainer - in pictures

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  Al Hosn app, advertised here at Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  Mandatory entrance procedures carried out at Khalidiyah Mall. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  A man shows his green pass status in order to enter Boroughs cafe, at Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  Keith O'Donnell gives green pass proof from Al Hosn application at Vogue Fitness, Yas Marina. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa follows the green pass requirement on Al Hosn for entering the hotel. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  Al Hosn green pass awareness signs at Al Wahda Mall. Victor Besa / The National