The Integrated Transport Centre in Abu Dhabi, part of the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), has introduced a new and consistent pricing system for public bus rides in both the city and suburban areas. Now, the regular bus fare is set at Dhs 2, and you'll be charged an extra 5 fils per km travelled. However, the most you'll pay for any single bus trip is Dhs 5. This standardised public bus tariff structure aims to encourage more people to use public transportation and provide better travel options for the community in Abu Dhabi.
With the new fare system, if you take more than one bus to get where you're going, like from the city to the suburbs or vice versa, you won't have to pay the Dhs 2 base fare each time you switch buses.
But, there are three things to keep in mind:
- You should switch buses within a reasonable time
- You can change buses up to two times (meaning you use a maximum of three buses for your journey)
- You can't change to a bus going in the opposite direction of your trip.
Lastly, when getting on and off the bus, passengers need to swipe their cards to figure out the cost of their trip. If someone forgets to swipe their card when the journey ends, they will be charged the maximum fee.