The Abu Dhabi - Dubai transport corridor, primarily Sheikh Zayed Road (E11) and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Road (E311) are not just a drive through the desert, but are the economic spine of the United Arab Emirates. 

A majority of the traffic passes through the Sheikh Zayed Road (E11), while cargo freight goes by the E311. On these roads we see several thousand vehicles flying down the road with tourists heading to the other emirate, or residents heading for work to the other emirate and sometimes wealthy and influential individuals travel as their business work may be in Dubai and their Government work is in Abu Dhabi. 

Being one of the busiest travel corridors in the Middle East Region, let us analyze the best transit options for every category of traveller.

Features of self drive for this Route:

1. Car: The car can be either a car you directly own or can be rented from any rental car agency. A lot of rental car companies provide very good deals with some basic cars being offered for as little as 29 Dirhams for the day. However rental cars may also be a hassle as they may charge per km, and expect a full tank when the car is returned.
   
   

2. Route: Sheikh Zayed Road (E11) is the most direct and popular route which passes through the entire city of Dubai however in Abu Dhabi the E11 only passes through the outer city limits of Abu Dhabi and instead E10 - Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street opens from E11 and directly into the Central Business District of Abu Dhabi.
   
   E311 Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Street is also a much quiter alternative between the 2 emirates, and has less driving competition as seen on E11 where drivers rapidly switch lanes and flash each other, despite being on the higher end of the speed limit. One con of this route is that it is a slightly longer route which finishes very far from the Main city and drivers need to merge onto the E20 - Sweihan Road in order to enter Abu Dhabi.
   
   

3. Petrol Pumps: Despite the route crossing a vast stretch of Desert, the Abu Dhabi - Dubai route has more than enough petrol pumps across any major road by multiple companies such as ADNOC in Abu Dhabi and Emarat in Dubai.
   
   

4. Toll Gates: Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai have tolls, which unlike other nations do not require you to stop. Tolls can be deducted from your account even when you are flying down the road at 120KPH. Given below is a table which gives the basics of the 2 different toll systems of the 2 Cities.

5. Taxis: Using a taxi is also a great alternative for those who do not own a car or may not have a UAE driving license, which is great as it is a very fast option for door to door travel. However it may be noted that this is one of the most expensive options to travel by, as even the Hala Taxis of Dubai start at a base of 290 Dirhams per way and upto 1000 Dirhams for more prenium taxis.

The three available routes are:

1. E100 - Most simple option from Old Dubai's Al Ghubaiba Bus Station (Largest Transit Hub of Dubai) to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station next to Al Wadha Mall. This is roughly a 150 KM route with a 2 Hour 20 Minute Travel Time. This bus runs very regularly every hour, however seats may be hard to avail due to its popularity.
   
   

2. E101 - Another viable option for travellers who wish to travel only upto the Western side of Dubai from Abu Dhabi (such as Dubai Marina, Barsha, & Discovery Gardens). It also has roughly the same characteristics as the E100 bus, which also departs from the Abu Dhabi central bus station and terminates at the Ibn Battuta Bus Station. 25 Dirhams headway and can be booked via RTA App or Website.
   
   

3. E102 - A route with a different purpose. The E102 Starts from the Al Jaffiliya Bus Station, which is located near the World Trade Center, and then makes a stop in Ibn Battuta, and makes another stop at the Abu Dhabi International Airport (T1) before terminating at the Mussafah Shabia Bus Station. This too is set at a standard 25 Dirhams and seats are easy to avail via the website or app.

With the Abu Dhabi - Dubai and other emirates expecting more travellers than ever for tourism, business and work, the UAE has gone a step further to bring the ultimate solution to intercity travel between the 2 Emirates primarily.

Etihad Rail, first setup in 2009 has been actively been working towards building the UAE's economy stronger with the help of a reliable and cost cutting mode of transport backing the growth. The railway initially started with cargo operations, however they now aim to build the first passenger rail network for seamless intercity travel. 

Till the end of 2025, it is not known what the train services will look like exactly, however it is expected that the Dubai Station will be built next to the Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station while the Abu Dhabi Station Will be built next to the Mussafah Bus Station, allowing for intermodal travel. Each train will carry 400 passengers which will be a diesel powered unit. 

It is not yet known whether the trains will operate at regular speeds which would take 60 Minutes for the Abu Dhabi - Dubai route or High Speed Rail with a 30 Minute Travel Time.