How to Get About Abu Dhabi

The charming city of Abu Dhabi would undoubtedly capture the imagination of the discerning visitor with its multi-faceted attractions; you would encounter futuristic skyscrapers, lavish shopping centres, sightseeing attractions and many interesting things to do here. Naturally, you would need convenient modes of transport to take you to the local sites of interest; described below are your principal options for getting about this captivating Middle Eastern city. 

By taxi 

Undoubtedly travelling by taxi would be a convenient and comfortable way to make your way around this emirate. Irrespective of whether you happen to be in the middle of the city or at the airport, you should be able to quickly avail yourself of a taxi. The local taxis could readily be identified by their silver colour and the yellow signs on their roofs. You would be able to flag down a taxi on the streets or arrange a booking through the Abu Dhabi Taxi app; with this app, you should be able to secure a ride from the location of your choice in no more than ten minutes. Alternatively, ride-hailing apps like Careem and Uber can be made use of as well.

By public bus 

Meanwhile, a more affordable way to get about this city would be to use the public buses which would be available at all hours of the day. To use the buses to travel around Abu Dhabi you would need to pay via a Hafilat Card. After obtaining one of these prepaid cards, you could use it by scanning in and out during the bus journeys. You would be able to buy and activate this card at places like bus stations, convenience stores and shopping malls throughout the city. 

By shuttle bus 

Another attractive transport option for tourists would be using the Experience Abu Dhabi Shuttle Bus service. This convenient and free-of-charge service would take you to the city’s major tourist attractions. These buses which happen to be wheelchair-friendly and air-conditioned, would make stops at several landmarks and attractions within the emirate. You could use this service to travel to destinations such as the city centre of Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Yas Island, the Grand Canal and Jubail Island. 

By rental car 

You could also take the opportunity to rent a private car for your trip; this option would provide you with the ability to travel around independently so that you could conveniently visit places such as Al Dhafra and Al Ain. You would find a number of trustworthy car rental establishments here that offer well-maintained vehicles with packages which include maintenance, insurance and roadside assistance.

Keep in mind that when experiencing Abu Dhabi, things to do may involve travelling to an island; to reach such destinations, a further ferry ride or water taxi may be needed, though you can find parking for your rented vehicle in such instances. An example of this would be Sir Bani Yas Island; to explore the Arabian Wildlife Park as well as stay at properties like Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara here, you will have to drive (or be driven) to the jetty for Sir Bani Yas Island. There is a safe parking area at the jetty and from there, you can take a water taxi (offered on a complimentary basis by resorts for its guests) to reach the island.

By bicycle 

Visitors to the city may also consider renting a bicycle and cycling between locations in the metropolis. By making use of the Careem bike app, you can locate and hire bicycles at more than 50 bicycle-share stations situated across Abu Dhabi, including Reem Island, Yas Island and the Corniche. By using the above-mentioned app, you could avail yourself of monthly, weekly or daily rental packages. Additionally, there would also be other independent firms that provide bikes for rent. 

By foot 

As the city of Abu Dhabi would be attractive and picturesque, you could also take the opportunity to walk around the metropolis and take in the sights at your own pace. Strolling through the city’s downtown area would provide you with an array of engrossing features to admire and many of the attractions here could be reached on foot. Undoubtedly, a not-to-be-missed experience would be taking a stroll along the Corniche, an attractive promenade along the waterfront.