Getting around Abu Dhabi is easy and taxis are reasonably priced and plentiful and can be flagged down at the roadside or booked by phone through the TransAD hotline 600 535353.
Street taxis are easily recognised. They are either silver with a yellow roof sign (newer taxis) or white and gold with a green roof sign (older taxis). Both old and new taxis are metered, yet many of the old taxis may negotiate the fare in advance. A tip is not expected but always welcome.
Shopping centres have specific taxi stands, and most Abu Dhabi roads are equipped with taxi drop-off / pick-up areas.
To get to the airport, you can use regular taxis, as well as specially registered airport taxis and limo services, which can be more expensive. If the meter is used, the average journey into town from the airport costs AED 70 - 80 (approx US$ 30).
Fast Limos (+971 2 6220000) operates luxury cars, which can be booked in advance. The airport fare in this case is fixed at AED 120 (US$ 32.7)
Taxi Fares*
| Day Time - 6:00 am to 10:00 pm |
AED
|
|
|
US$
|
|
Flagfall (starting fee)
|
3.50
|
|
|
0.95 |
|
Every 1km up to 50km
|
1.60
|
|
|
0.43 |
|
Over 50km
|
1.69
|
|
|
0.64 |
|
Every 1 minute of waiting time (First 5 minutes free)
|
0.50
|
|
|
0.13 |
|
Booking through Call Centre
|
3.00
|
|
|
0.80 |
|
Night Time - 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM
|
|
|
|
|
|
Flagfall (starting fee)
|
4.00
|
|
|
1.09 |
|
Every 1km up to 50km
|
1.69
|
|
|
0.46 |
|
Over 50km
|
1.69
|
|
|
0.46 |
|
Every 1 minute of waiting time (First 5 minutes free)
|
0.50
|
|
|
0.13 |
|
Booking through Call Centre
|
4.00
|
|
|
1.09 |
*For fare updates and more information, visit the TransAD website
After 10pm there will be a minimum charge per fare of AED 10 / US$ 2.72. (If cost of fare is below AED 10, the passenger will have to pay the minimum fare of AED 10, regardless of what the meter shows. If the cost of the trip is above AED 10, then the passenger pays the actual cost displayed on the metre).
The event flagfall is AED 20 / US$ 5.5 (for taxis picked up at special designated areas close to events). If the passenger books a taxi through the Call Centre to pick them up from the event area, the starting fee will include the booking charges (AED 3 or 4 depending on time of day) plus AED 20 event flagfall, so a total of AED 23 / US$ 6.26 or AED 24 / US$ 6.54.