If you’re commuting between Dubai and Abu Dhabi but don’t have a car, there’s a fresh, cost-effective ride-sharing option to check out. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched a pilot shared taxi service, letting up to four passengers split a single ride, which could cut your travel expenses by as much as 75%.
This service is currently in a six-month trial period. Passengers can hop on a taxi at Ibn Battuta Centre in Dubai, with drop-off at Al Wahda Centre in Abu Dhabi, and vice versa. The RTA’s goal is to offer a more convenient and budget-friendly travel option while also tackling traffic congestion and supporting sustainability by encouraging shared rides.
The fare structure is designed to encourage ride-sharing: two passengers pay AED 132 each, three pay AED 88, and four only AED 66 each. Payments can be made via bank card or Nol card, as long as there’s enough balance.
Ibn Battuta Centre in Dubai and Al Wahda Centre in Abu Dhabi were chosen after a detailed analysis of the most suitable routes for the shared taxi service between the two emirates. This initiative is designed to lower travel costs, especially for regular commuters between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Additionally, both locations are conveniently connected to public transport networks and parking facilities, said Adel Shakri, Director of Planning and Business Development at the Public Transport Agency of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority.
Alongside the new taxi service, traditional RTA buses provide an affordable travel alternative. The E100 bus offers a direct route from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Bur Dubai to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station for just AED 25. Likewise, the E101 bus caters to residents in the Marina and JLT areas, with departures from Ibn Battuta Metro Station.
This new ride-sharing initiative offers a promising, budget-friendly option for intercity travel, while helping to cut emissions and ease traffic congestion.
