Cities Near Abu Dhabi
Cities near Abu Dhabi, UAE: 10 notable destinations within day-trip and weekend range, including Dubai, Al Ain, Sharjah. Compare distance, drive time and flight time, with day-trip and getaway ideas.
The closest notable city to Abu Dhabi, UAE is Dubai, about 72 mi (115 km) away — roughly 1 hr 40 min by road. Below, 10 nearby cities are ranked by distance, with real drive and flight estimates and whether each works best as a day trip or an overnight getaway.
| City | Distance | Drive | Flight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DubaiSkyscrapers and superlatives | 72 mi / 115 km | 1 hr 40 min | Drive/rail | Day trip / overnight |
| Al AinOasis city, forts and gardens | 87 mi / 139 km | 2 hr 1 min | Drive/rail | Day trip / overnight |
| SharjahMuseums and heritage | 88 mi / 142 km | 2 hr 3 min | Drive/rail | Day trip / overnight |
| Khalifah A City | 13 mi / 21 km | 45 min | Drive/rail | Day trip |
| Bani Yas City | 18 mi / 28 km | 34 min | Drive/rail | Day trip |
| Zayed City | 70 mi / 113 km | 2 hr 6 min | Drive/rail | Day trip / overnight |
| Umm Al Quwain City | 106 mi / 170 km | 2 hr 27 min | Drive/rail | Day trip / overnight |
| Reef Al Fujairah City | 126 mi / 202 km | 2 hr 55 min | Drive/rail | Weekend getaway |
| Ras Al Khaimah City | 134 mi / 215 km | 3 hr 7 min | Drive/rail | Weekend getaway |
| Sohar | 146 mi / 234 km | 3 hr 23 min | Drive/rail | Weekend getaway |
Day trips from Abu Dhabi
Within about 100 miles and easy to visit in a day: Dubai, Al Ain, Sharjah, Khalifah A City, Bani Yas City. These are close enough to go and return without an overnight stay.
Weekend getaways from Abu Dhabi
Far enough for a change of scene but still an easy hop: Umm Al Quwain City, Reef Al Fujairah City, Ras Al Khaimah City, Sohar. Worth an overnight or a full weekend.
Getting around
Nearby cities are usually quickest by car or train; for the longer hops a regional flight can save time. Tap any city above for its full distance, driving-time and flight-time breakdown, or plan a specific route with the tools below.
Frequently asked questions
Notable cities near Abu Dhabi include Dubai, Al Ain, Sharjah, Khalifah A City, Bani Yas City. The closest is Dubai, about 72 miles (115 km) away. The table above lists each with its distance, drive time and best use.
More about Abu Dhabi
Nearby city travel guides
- → Best time to visit Dubai
- → Best time to visit Al Ain
- → Best time to visit Sharjah
- → Best time to visit Khalifah A City
- → Best time to visit Bani Yas City
- → Best time to visit Zayed City
- → Best time to visit Umm Al Quwain City
- → Best time to visit Reef Al Fujairah City
- → Best time to visit Ras Al Khaimah City
- → Best time to visit Sohar