Chauffeur from Dubai to Abu Dhabi: One-Way, Return or Day Trip
About 130 to 150 km each way, typically one hour fifteen to one hour thirty in normal traffic. Go one way, go and return, or take a full day with time to see the city.
A chauffeur from Dubai to Abu Dhabi takes roughly 130 to 150 km by road, depending on where you start, and typically 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes each way in normal traffic. You can book it three ways: a fixed-price transfer to Abu Dhabi airport, a one-way or return journey, or a 10-hour day with time at the destination. Fuel or charging, Salik tolls, 5% VAT and bottled water are included, and there is no kilometre limit.
The drive is straightforward. Most trips follow the E11 or the E311, and your chauffeur chooses the route that suits your pickup point and the traffic on the day. Morning and evening rush hours in either city add time, so a flexible start helps. This page explains which booking fits which plan, what to see in Abu Dhabi in a day, and how the stops work. The fixed airport prices are in the table on this page.
Who books this
Day-trip visitors
You want the Grand Mosque and Louvre Abu Dhabi in a single comfortable day, without a coach timetable.
Business travellers
Meetings in Abu Dhabi and a night in Dubai, or the reverse, with the same chauffeur and a quiet back seat for calls.
Flight connections
Abu Dhabi airport to a Dubai hotel, or a Dubai address to your Abu Dhabi departure, at a fixed price per car.
Families and groups
The Mercedes V-Class seats six, so a family can make the trip in one car.
Which booking suits Dubai to Abu Dhabi: one-way, return or a day trip?
| Plan | Suited to | How it is priced |
|---|---|---|
| Airport transfer | To or from Abu Dhabi airport | Fixed price per car, shown in the table on this page |
| Day trip | Seeing Abu Dhabi and returning the same day | A full day: 10 hours at 15% off the hourly rate |
| Return journey | A meeting or event with a wait | By the hours booked, with waiting counted as booking time |
| One-way to a hotel or address | Moving between the two cities | Message us on WhatsApp and we confirm the price in writing before you pay |
If you go and return the same day, the full-day booking is usually the simplest, and hourly hire suits a shorter return with a wait. The lower of hours multiplied by the rate and the full-day price applies, so you never pay more than the day. Time beyond 10 hours is charged at the hourly rate of the car.
What can you see in Abu Dhabi in one day?
A well-paced day fits three or four stops. These are the places most visitors choose, with the details worth checking before you go.
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: The mosque's own website asks for long, loose, ankle-length clothing, with a headscarf for women, and lists different Friday hours (a morning and an afternoon session). It also lists an entry fee for most visitors and recommends an online access pass. Check the official visitor page before you set off.
- Louvre Abu Dhabi: On Saadiyat Island. Opening days and hours vary, so check the museum website and book tickets there.
- Qasr Al Watan and Emirates Palace: Grand buildings in the western part of the city, convenient to combine with a Corniche stop.
- The Corniche: A waterfront promenade that works well late in the afternoon.
- Yas Island: Theme parks and the Yas Marina circuit. Roads around it are busy on Grand Prix weekend, so check the dates if you plan to go then.
Tickets and meals are not included in your booking. The day planner lets you choose up to three attractions and shows whether the plan fits the day.
What does a day trip to Abu Dhabi look like?
These times are illustrative. Your chauffeur adjusts them around traffic and opening hours.
- 8:00 Pickup in Dubai.
- 9:30 Arrive in Abu Dhabi and visit the Grand Mosque while it is cooler and quieter.
- 12:00 Lunch, with time at the car if you want a rest.
- 14:00 Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island.
- 16:30 A walk along the Corniche.
- 18:00 Drive back, with arrival in Dubai in the evening.
What about Abu Dhabi airport to Dubai?
Zayed International Airport is typically a drive of 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes from central Dubai, depending on where you are going. The fixed price per car in the table above applies to the airport, and your flight is tracked on airport pickups. If you land in Abu Dhabi and stay in Dubai, you can book this directly. For Dubai's own airport, see DXB airport transfer.
How do you avoid the worst of the traffic?
- Start early. A departure before the morning rush makes the first leg quicker.
- Avoid the evening peak on the way back, if the plan allows, or accept that the return may take longer.
- Allow extra time on public holidays and around large events, when roads between the cities are busier.
- Tell us your flight time if you are heading for an airport, so we can work back from it.
| Car | Full day, 10 hours | Abu Dhabi airport |
|---|---|---|
| BMW i7 | AED 2,125 | AED 1,000 |
| BMW 5 Series | AED 1,700 | AED 850 |
| Mercedes V-Class | AED 1,700 | AED 850 |
| BYD Han | AED 1,275 | AED 700 |
| Lexus ES 300h | AED 1,275 | AED 700 |
Prices in AED, per car, including 5% VAT, fuel or charging, Salik tolls and bottled water. No kilometre limit.
- Fixed price per car to Abu Dhabi airport
- A 10-hour day trip at 15% off the hourly rate
- No kilometre limit, and waiting counts as booking time
- Fuel or charging, Salik tolls, 5% VAT and bottled water included
- Pickup in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah
- Free cancellation up to 6 hours before pickup
Booking this service
Choose your plan
Pick a day trip with attractions, an airport transfer or an hourly return, and add the date and time.
Tell us the stops
List the places you want to visit, or your hotel and flight details. A website booking is a request, and we confirm it on WhatsApp or email.
Pay the deposit
After confirmation, a secure payment link takes a 20% deposit. The balance is paid in cash (AED) or by a second link.
Travel with your chauffeur
Your chauffeur name, phone and plate appear on your booking page once assigned. Changes are free, subject to availability.
Questions about this service
How long does it take to drive from Dubai to Abu Dhabi by private car?
How much is a chauffeur from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
Can I go to Abu Dhabi and back in one day?
Are attraction tickets included?
What should I wear to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque?
Can you collect me from Abu Dhabi and take me to Dubai?
Full-day chauffeur in Dubai · Plan a day of attractions · Airport transfers: DXB, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi · Pricing and what is included · Hourly chauffeur