Emirates and Etihad run free bus services for their passengers between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. AFP

A guide to taking a free shuttle bus between Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports


Patrick Ryan
  • English
  • Arabic

Airline passengers living in Abu Dhabi who book flights with Emirates can take a free bus to Dubai International Airport.

The same service is provided by Etihad Airways to its passengers coming from Dubai.

The National takes a look at how you can travel to and from the airports in the two cities, free of charge.

Travelling with Etihad

The Etihad shuttle bus that runs between Abu Dhabi Airport and Dubai. Photo: Etihad
The Etihad shuttle bus that runs between Abu Dhabi Airport and Dubai. Photo: Etihad

People who want to get to Abu Dhabi International Airport from Dubai can travel for nothing on a coach service run by Etihad.

The buses leave from the parking area behind New Safestway Supermarket on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, near Al Wasl Centre, and take travellers directly to the airport in Abu Dhabi.

The buses take 75 minutes to complete the one-way trip.

Coaches depart from Dubai at 04.10, 06.05, 09.35, 11.40, 16.35, 18.05, 19.00, 20.40, 22.05 and 23.00, with the schedule displayed on Etihad’s website.

The Etihad coach from Abu Dhabi Airport to Dubai leaves at 00.05, 01.05, 03.05, 07.20, 09.25, 14.30, 20.00, 20.25, 21.25 and 22.15.

Travellers hoping to take the Etihad coach need to have a valid flight ticket and are advised to book seats at least 24 hours in advance.

Travelling with Emirates

Passengers must hold a valid flight ticket with Emirates to board the shuttle bus. Photo: Emirates Airline
Passengers must hold a valid flight ticket with Emirates to board the shuttle bus. Photo: Emirates Airline

Anyone planning to travel by Emirates coach between Abu Dhabi and Dubai must book at least 48 hours in advance.

Passengers must also hold a valid flight ticket with Emirates to board the bus.

The coach picks up passengers at the front of the Emirates office on Corniche Road in Abu Dhabi at 03.00, 06.00, 09.30, 16.30 and 22.00, with times shown on the company's website.

The bus drops passengers at Terminal 3 arrivals at Dubai International Airport and the trips to Abu Dhabi leave from the same spot at 03.00, 06.30, 10.00, 15.00 and 23.00.

The Emirates’ website advises that the minimum connection time is two hours for inbound and outbound passengers.

Abu Dhabi International Airport – in pictures

  • Etihad Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner takes off from Abu Dhabi International Airport. Photo: Etihad
    Etihad Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner takes off from Abu Dhabi International Airport. Photo: Etihad
  • Abu Dhabi International Airport recently marked its 40th anniversary. Photo: Abu Dhabi Airports
    Abu Dhabi International Airport recently marked its 40th anniversary. Photo: Abu Dhabi Airports
  • The airport served more than 100 destinations as of December 2022. Delores Johnson / The National
    The airport served more than 100 destinations as of December 2022. Delores Johnson / The National
  • Etihad Airways launched new routes, boosted flight frequencies and resumed destinations suspended during the pandemic. Jaime Puebla / The National
    Etihad Airways launched new routes, boosted flight frequencies and resumed destinations suspended during the pandemic. Jaime Puebla / The National
  • It has a network of 28 airlines as of December 2022. Delores Johnson / The National
    It has a network of 28 airlines as of December 2022. Delores Johnson / The National
  • The airport was first conceived in 1974. Delores Johnson / The National
    The airport was first conceived in 1974. Delores Johnson / The National
  • The Mena region’s airline market is the fastest growing in the world. Photo: Abu Dhabi Airports
    The Mena region’s airline market is the fastest growing in the world. Photo: Abu Dhabi Airports
  • An airport employee at the E-border gate, part of the airport's smart travel system. Christopher Pike / The National
    An airport employee at the E-border gate, part of the airport's smart travel system. Christopher Pike / The National
  • Terminal 3 at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Photo: Alamy
    Terminal 3 at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Photo: Alamy
  • A VIP terminal is to open at the end of the year. Silvia Razgova / The National
    A VIP terminal is to open at the end of the year. Silvia Razgova / The National
  • The airport has gone from strength to strength since opening on January 2, 1982. Victor Besa / The National
    The airport has gone from strength to strength since opening on January 2, 1982. Victor Besa / The National
  • The airport attracted new airline customers last year. Photo: Etihad
    The airport attracted new airline customers last year. Photo: Etihad
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  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
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The biog

Name: Abeer Al Shahi

Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan

Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.

Favourite activities: Bungee jumping

Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

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Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

 

 

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

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Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km

Price: Dh133,900

On sale: now 

Essentials

The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
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Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
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1. Cecilie Hatteland (NOR) atop Alex - 31.46 seconds

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5. Miriam Schneider (GER) atop Benur du Romet - 37.53 seconds

6. Annika Sande (NOR) atop For Cash 2 - 31.42 seconds (4 penalties)

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2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks

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2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”

2022:  Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency

July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”

Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.

Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”

Updated: January 29, 2024, 6:54 AM