How can I use the public buses in Abu Dhabi from/to the airport and inside the city?
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1 Answer
It turns out buses are a great option to get around in Abu Dhabi: efficient, easy to use, and very inexpensive.
- You need a Hafilat card. One per passenger.
- You can buy the card directly at the airport. If you arrive in Terminal A (new terminal), take a right and follow the signs to "bus tickets".
- There is a counter with a clerk where you can use a credit card. There is also a machine (also with a helpful clerk) that only takes cash. However, there is an ATM right there as well.
- The card has a fee of 10 AED (USD $2.7) and comes in increments of 10 AEDs. Example: if you take a card for 30 AED you have 20 AED to spend.
- Rides from/to the city cost 4 AED, rides inside the city are around 2.5 AED. We chose a 30 AED card for a 3-day stay, which was plenty.
- Buses from the airport are lines A1 and A2. They stop directly outside terminal A. They go every half hour, pretty much all day and night.
- The best app for exact schedules and tracking stops is Google Maps.
- The airport buses have a large luggage compartment under the bus. It's automatically opened and closed at every stop. When the bus shows up, just throw your bags in there and hop on.
- Tap your card when entering the bus. There are card readers at every door. You also tap your card when you exit the bus as well.
- The buses have TV screens that show mostly advertising but occasionally the next stops in both English and Arabic. You can also track progress easily on Google Maps.
- When you are ready to exit, tap your card, get off, grab your bag and you are done.
- Bus stations are well marked with the bus numbers on it. The buses themselves also have the numbers displayed. For example, bus 94 goes from/to the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
In our experience, buses were very efficient, clean, safe, easy to use and much cheaper than ride share (which also works fine in Abu Dhabi).