Dubai to Abu Dhabi: Driving Cost & Route Guide (2026)
The Dubai–Abu Dhabi run on Sheikh Zayed Road (E11) is the UAE’s busiest intercity route. Here’s the real distance, drive time, and what a round trip actually costs in fuel and tolls at September 2026 prices — with the maths shown so you can adjust it for your own car.
Distance and drive time
| Figure | |
|---|---|
| Distance (one-way) | ~140–150 km, depending on your starting point in Dubai |
| Drive time | 1 hr 30 min – 1 hr 45 min outside peak traffic |
| Main route | E11 (Sheikh Zayed Road), via Jebel Ali and Al Rahba |
Fuel cost example
Using a 145 km one-way distance (290 km round trip), a car averaging 8 L/100km, and September 2026’s Special 95 price of AED 3.69/litre:
| Trip | Distance | Fuel used | Fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way | 145 km | 11.6 L | AED 42.81 |
| Round trip | 290 km | 23.2 L | AED 85.61 |
8 L/100km is just an example — a small hatchback can do closer to 6 L/100km and a large SUV over 12 L/100km. Use the Trip Cost Calculator with your own car’s fuel economy (check your handbook or trip computer) for an accurate number.
Tolls: Salik and Darb
This route is one of the cheaper long intercity drives for tolls, because both Dubai’s Salik and Abu Dhabi’s Darb systems only charge you inside their own emirate — there’s no toll on the open highway between them:
- Salik (Dubai): if your trip starts on Sheikh Zayed Road within Dubai, you may cross one Salik gate (Jebel Ali) before leaving the city, currently AED 6.30 at peak (6–10am & 4–8pm) or AED 4.20 off-peak/Sunday, VAT included. Starting further from Sheikh Zayed Road, you may cross more than one gate, or none at all — run your exact route through the Salik Calculator.
- Darb (Abu Dhabi): Darb’s toll gates sit on roads inside Abu Dhabi city itself, not on the E11 approach from Dubai — so unless your destination is past one of those gates, there’s no Darb charge just for making the Dubai–Abu Dhabi trip. Check the Darb Calculator if your route continues into central Abu Dhabi.
Total example: one round trip
Fuel only (no Salik/Darb, e.g. starting away from Sheikh Zayed Road): AED 85.61. Add one peak-hour Salik gate each way and it becomes AED 85.61 + AED 12.60 = AED 98.21.
Try the Trip Cost Calculator Salik Calculator
Sources
- Dubai to Abu Dhabi Car Lift — distance and drive time via E11
- Wikipedia — E11 road (UAE)
- Tarif.ae — Salik toll gates and June 2026 rates
Published 12 September 2026 by DriveCarCost.com, based on the sources above. Fuel prices are reviewed monthly by the UAE government and change accordingly — check our Fuel Prices page for the current rate. See our Disclaimer and Methodology.