Abu Dhabi - Public buses
 

How reliable and comfortable are the public bus in Abu Dhabi ? I plan to take on arrival and departure the bus A2 between the airport and the Sofitel quite late at night (past midnight). Is there space to store a roll-aboard ?
Also where is the bus stop at Abu Dhabi airport ? I will be arriving and departing with British Airways, if that helps.

If the experience is positive I will probably uses the buses to get around the city during my trip.

I'm sure someone with more information will be by to help you out, but I've never actually rode the bus there, but I've been there and walked around noticing the buses, bus stops and passengers.

The bus is a regular city bus. It's not a coach bus with storage for luggage. Abu Dhabi isn't crowded like most cities, definitely not like Dubai. Just use several seats on the bus for your luggage. You will be better off going to the rear of the bus. I doubt if it would be packed. You don't even see many people walking the streets in Abu Dhabi. Most people drive.

My experience with walking around Abu Dhabi wasn't pleasant, because roads just dead end, or you come across gated barriers dividing the roads which make you walk out of your way to get to point B. And of course, all the major crosswalks are under the streets in pedestrian tunnels to add more of a diversion.

In saying all of that, the city buses should be your friend compared to walking. And Uber/Careen would be next in line.

Good luck!

Bus stops are bang outside the terminal. You need to get a card, there are machines here. The airport bus is perfectly comfortable - and, of course, very significantly cheaper than a taxi!

No luggage racks, or none that I remember. But you'll be able to cope.

if the hotel is not on the bus route, a taxi from al Wahda bus staion will be inexpensive

Many parts of Abu Dhabi island are now covered by electric scooter services, which in this weather is a fine way to get around. There are relatively few bus routes so it can be impractical to get around using them unless a route goes where you need.

I saw scooters like this when I was there.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...700bf7aaa8.jpg

Thanks for the answers. I will not touch those scooters with a barge pole though, I would rather walk. But anyway it seems bus/walk/Uber should work. I plan to go to the Mosque and the Louvre from the Sofitel, this should be ok.

So here is my experience, to help others who might read this:
- Bus A2 from/to airport is a proper coach bus, not a city bus. Luggage storage underneath but you have to open the door, drivers do not do it. Very comfortable, one hour from airport to Sofitel on Corniche Rd.
- Fare is 4 dirhams, all journey within the city are 2 dirhams. You use a Halifat card, can be bought (10 dirhams for the card plus 30 dirhams charged on it) at machines (at the airport stop, selected stop in the city and Lulu supermarket in town)
- Plenty of routes, I never had too much of a problem going anywhere (Louvre, Grand Mosque, Marina, Old Fort)
- Drivers drive well and safely, more than taxis
- Several stops have a clever display: it looks like paper but is actually electronic and shows in real time the next buses
- The next stop might or might not be displayed inside the bus, so better be on the look out.

Overall a surprisingly good experience.

It's Hafilat. Glad it was so easy to get around.