Are you a tourist in Abu Dhabi looking to explore the city within budget? The Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism has made travelling hassle-free with the Experience Abu Dhabi Shuttle Bus service. This free service connects local and international tourists to popular hotels, malls and attractions.
Read ahead to discover more about this budget-friendly travel option.
Overview
To facilitate the growing number of tourists, Abu Dhabi has inaugurated a free and reliable travel option: the ‘Experience Abu Dhabi Shuttle Bus’. Initiated by the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT), this service connects tourists to popular attractions.
Operating on eight routes, this bus service runs 11 buses through more than 39 stops across the capital. Interestingly, the buses are decorated with cultural patterns and vibrant colours. Moreover, every bus has modern facilities like Wi-Fi, air-conditioning and wheelchair access.
Abu Dhabi Shuttle Bus Routes
Tourists can use the Abu Dhabi Shuttle Bus to travel conveniently to hotels, attractions and the airport. From cultural sites to shopping destinations, this free service offers a hassle-free travel experience. It operates on the following eight routes:
- Route A1
- Route A2
- Route B1
- Route B2
- Route B3
- Route C
- Route D
- Route E
Bus Stops and Timings
Here is a brief on the attractions you can find on every route:
Route A1
Route A1 connects tourists to popular locations on the Saadiyat Island:
- Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas
- St. Regis – Saadiyat
- Manarat Al Saadiyat / Berklee Abu Dhabi
- Mamsha Al Saadiyat
- Louvre Abu Dhabi
- Abrahamic Family House
Bus Number | From Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas | From the Abrahamic Family House | ||
Arrival | Departure | Arrival | Departure | |
B1 | 10:00 am | 10:05 am | 10:50 am | 10:55 am |
B1 | 12:30 pm | 12:35 pm | 01:20 pm | 01:25 pm |
B1 | 03:00 pm | 03:05 pm | 03:50 pm | 03:55 pm |
Route A2
Route A2 starts from Mamsha Al Saadiyat and runs through the following popular attractions to reach Qasr Al Watan:
- Mamsha Al Saadiyat
- City Seasons Al Hamra Hotel
- Novotel Hotel City Centre
- WTC Mall
- Qasr Al Hosn
- Qasr Al Watan
Bus Number | From Mamsha Al Saadiyat | From Qasr Al Watan | ||
Arrival | Departure | Arrival | Departure | |
B2 | 10:00 am | 10:05 am | 11:25 am | 11:30 am |
B2 | 12:40 pm | 12:45 pm | 02:05 pm | 02:10 pm |
B3 | 04:20 pm | 04:25 pm | 05:45 pm | 05:50 pm |
B3 | 07:00 pm | 07:05 pm | 08:25 pm | 08:30 pm |
Route B1
If you are travelling to a staycation, take the B1 route and reach the following renowned hotels in Abu Dhabi:
- Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel
- Etihad Towers
- St. Regis – Corniche
- Heritage Village
- Rixos Marina / Marina Mall
- The Founder’s Memorial / Emirates Palace
- Qasr Al Watan
Bus Number | From Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel | From Qasr Al Watan | ||
Arrival | Departure | Arrival | Departure | |
B4 | 10:00 am | 10:05 am | 11:10 am | 11:15 am |
B4 | 12:30 pm | 12:35 pm | 01:40 pm | 01:45 pm |
B4 | 04:00 pm | 04:05 pm | 05:10 pm | 05:15 pm |
Route B2
Love shopping or cultural sites? Abu Dhabi Shuttle Bus Route B2 connects you to the following popular attractions:
- Qasr Al Watan
- Grand Millennium Al Wahda
- Umm Al Emarat Park / Millennium Al Rawdah Hotel
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Bus Number | From Qasr Al Watan | From Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque | ||
Arrival | Departure | Arrival | Departure | |
B5 | 10:55 am | 11:00 am | 12:10 pm | 12:15 pm |
B5 | 02:30 pm | 02:35 pm | 03:45 pm | 03:50 pm |
B5 | 05:00 pm | 05:05 pm | 06:15 pm | 06:20 pm |
Route B3
Abu Dhabi Shuttle Bus Route B3 runs from Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, providing tourists a complete experience:
- Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal
- Warehouse 421
- Souq Al Mina
- Rosewood Abu Dhabi
- Reem Mall
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Bus Number | From Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal | From Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque | ||
Arrival | Departure | Arrival | Departure | |
B6 | 10:00 am | 10:05 am | 11:30 am | 11:35 am |
B6 | 01:10 pm | 01:15 pm | 02:40 pm | 02:45 pm |
B6 | 03:15 pm | 03:20 pm | 06:45 pm | 06:50 pm |
Route C
Coming from another emirate or country? From Zayed International Airport, take Route C and travel to the following destinations:
- Zayed International Airport
- Premier Inn Abu Dhabi Airport
- Ritz-Carlton–Abu Dhabi Grand Canal
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
- Andalus Capital Gate Hotel
Bus Number | From Zayed International Airport | From Andaz Capital Gate Hotel | ||
Arrival | Departure | Arrival | Departure | |
B7 | 09:00 am | 09:05 pm | 09:55 am | 10:00 am |
B7 | 01:00 pm | 01:05 pm | 01:55 pm | 02:00 pm |
B8 | 05:00 pm | 05:05 pm | 05:55 pm | 06:00 pm |
B8 | 08:00 pm | 08:05 pm | 08:55 pm | 09:00 pm |
Route D
Are you a thrill seeker or a water adventurer? Route D operates through key destinations like Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld and Warner Bros. Abu Dhabi. Here are all the stops on this route:
- Zayed International Airport
- Emirates Park Zoo & Resort
- Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi / Yas Waterworld
- Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
- Mamsha Al Saadiyat
Bus Number | From Zayed International Airport | From Mamsha Al Saadiyat | ||
Arrival | Departure | Arrival | Departure | |
B9 | 10:30 am | 10:35 am | 11:55 am | 12:00 pm |
B10 | 12:15 pm | 12:20 pm | 01:40 pm | 01:45 pm |
B9 | 02:30 pm | 02:35 pm | 03:55 pm | 04:00 pm |
B10 | 04:15 pm | 04:20 pm | 05:40 pm | 05:45 pm |
Route E
Route E is another route that connects tourists to lavish resorts and cultural places. The stops on this route are listed below:
- Fairmont Bab Al Bahr
- Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri
- Al Qana
- Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Bus Number | From Fairmont Bab Al Bahr | From Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque | ||
Arrival | Departure | Arrival | Departure | |
B11 | 10:00 am | 10:05 am | 10:55 am | 11:00 am |
B11 | 12:00 pm | 12:05 pm | 12:55 pm | 01:00 pm |
B11 | 03:00 pm | 03:05 pm | 03:55 pm | 04:00 pm |
How to Book a Ticket
Previously, passengers were required to pre-book their tour and show hotel booking or attraction tickets. However, booking a ticket is now hassle-free with these steps:
- Board a bus as a tourist to your destination.
- Scan the QR code displayed inside the bus.
- Fill out the short and simple form and book your tickets on the spot.
FAQs
No, the capital has no metro system, but passengers can use the well-developed Abu Dhabi bus service.
The most common way to pay for fares in Abu Dhabi is by using the Hafilat card. Similar to a Nol card in Dubai, passengers must top it before using it and enjoy a hassle-free journey.
That wraps up our guide to Abu Dhabi Shuttle Bus. This free bus service is your ticket to exploring the city’s key destinations. Simply board a bus, scan the QR code and travel to your destination—free of cost!