Dubai to Abu Dhabi is about 90 minutes on Sheikh Zayed Road (E11). Visitors drive on a valid home licence or IDP, Salik tolls are electronic, and DriveCars cars are no-deposit with insurance included.
In this guide
- The route
- Driving rules for visitors
- Tolls and fuel
- Worth a stop
- Make the car the easy part
Few drives are as easy or as scenic as Dubai to Abu Dhabi: wide, modern motorways, clear signage in English and Arabic, and about 90 minutes door to door. It is a great first road trip in the UAE.
The route
From Dubai International (DXB) you join Sheikh Zayed Road (E11) heading southwest, which runs all the way to Abu Dhabi. The road is fast and multi-lane; keep right except to overtake, as lane discipline is enforced and the left lane is for passing.
Driving rules for visitors
- Drive on the right; seatbelts are mandatory for everyone
- Speed limits are signposted and camera-enforced — note the small buffer varies by emirate
- Using a handheld phone while driving is heavily fined
- A valid home licence or International Driving Permit is generally accepted for visitors — confirm with your vendor
Tolls and fuel
Dubai uses the Salik electronic toll system on certain gates; rental cars are usually fitted with a tag and charges are reconciled with the vendor — check how yours handles it when you pick up. Fuel is inexpensive by European standards and stations are frequent along the E11.
Worth a stop
On the Abu Dhabi side, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a short detour and one of the country's most striking buildings (dress modestly and check visiting hours). Closer to Dubai, Expo City and the Marina are easy add-ons if you have time.
Make the car the easy part
Booking through DriveCars means no security deposit is frozen on your card and insurance is included — handy in a city where premium-car deposits can run high. Pick up at DXB on arrival and the whole UAE opens up.
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