Abu Dhabi’s Western Region — Al Dhafra — is vast, oil-rich and sparsely populated, and its towns (Ruwais/Al Dhannah, Madinat Zayed, Ghayathi, Liwa) sit 200+ km from the capital. The good news: all of them are connected to Abu Dhabi city by the Regional Express bus network, run under Abu Dhabi Mobility (ITC) by the private operator Capital Express. The confusing news: the same corridors appear online under two sets of route numbers — X88 and CX88, X60 and CX60 — with clashing timetables and fares, because timetable sites mix the ITC “X” data with Capital Express’s “CX” branding. This guide separates the two, town by town, with the fares and times that can actually be verified — and says plainly where the published data runs out (Ghayathi, we’re looking at you).
| Abu Dhabi Western Region Buses — Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Network | Regional Express (ITC / Abu Dhabi Mobility), operated by Capital Express |
| Main departure points | Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station (Al Wahda) · MBZ City Bus Station, Mussafah |
| Ruwais / Al Dhannah | X88 / CX88 — about every 1–2 hrs, ~3–3½ hrs, AED 25–35 |
| Madinat Zayed | X62 (plus X60/CX60 through-buses) — every few hours, ~3 hrs |
| Liwa (Mezairaa) | X60 / CX60 — every ~2 hrs, ~2 hrs 55 min, AED 35 |
| Ghayathi | X86 — service exists; no reliable public timetable (see below) |
| Payment | Hafilat card on ITC services; Capital Express also sells tickets online |
Last verified: 2 November 2026
First, understand X vs CX (and who Capital Express is)
Capital Express is a separate private company (Capital Express for Rapid Intercity, established 2021) that operates Abu Dhabi’s Regional Express routes under Abu Dhabi Mobility/ITC — which is why the same bus shows up as X88 in ITC journey-planner data and CX88 in Capital Express material. Its network also includes CX90 (Abu Dhabi–Al Ain, AED 25), CX411 (Abu Dhabi–Ajman, AED 35, four trips a day) and airport express services. You can book on capitalexpress.ae (helpline 800 CAPEX), while ITC-planner journeys are paid with the Hafilat card. When a timetable site gives you two different fares or first buses for “the same” route, this dual branding is usually why.
Abu Dhabi to Ruwais (Al Dhannah) — X88 / CX88
The busiest Al Dhafra corridor serves ADNOC’s Ruwais/Al Dhannah community. The route runs Abu Dhabi Central → MBZ City (Mussafah) → Al Dhannah Central → Al Dhannah ADNOC / Ruwais — so yes, Mussafah to Ruwais buses exist; MBZ City station is an intermediate stop, not a separate service. Key facts:
- Journey: about 3 to 3½ hours for the ~220–235 km trip
- Fare: most sources AED 25; some fare tables say up to AED 35–37 — carry Hafilat credit for the higher figure
- Hours: sources span first bus 04:30–06:00 and last bus 20:30–23:30/23:41 depending on feed (ITC planner data vs Capital Express listings) — the service clearly runs from early morning to late evening; check the day’s departures in the Darbi app or on capitalexpress.ae
Also useful: X87 links Abu Dhabi with Ruwais ADNOC and the Jebel Dhanna ferry terminal (for Delma Island ferries), running a handful of trips a day at roughly 3 hours.
Abu Dhabi to Madinat Zayed — X62
Route X62 is the dedicated Madinat Zayed service, ending at Madinat Zayed Bus Station on Sheikha Salama Bint Butti Road in the town centre. Planner data shows a sparse service — gaps of 2 to 4 hours between buses — with Abu Dhabi departures roughly 08:00–20:00 and returns from about 07:05–19:05 (later on Fridays), and a journey of around 3 hours (some guides quote 2–2½ hours; the planner timing of ~3h05 is the safer planning figure). Fares quoted locally run about AED 19–30 under the ITC distance formula (AED 10 + 10 fils/km, Hafilat). Two reinforcements: the X60/CX60 Liwa buses also stop at Madinat Zayed (Zayed City), roughly doubling your options, and from Madinat Zayed station local route 670 runs frequently to Tarif on the coastal highway, while 686 continues to Ghayathi and 675 serves Habshan.
Abu Dhabi to Liwa (Mezairaa) — X60 / CX60
The Liwa crescent’s gateway town, Mezairaa, is served by X60/CX60: Abu Dhabi Central → MBZ City → Zayed City (Madinat Zayed) → Mezairaa Bus Station. The published Capital Express pattern is a bus roughly every 2 hours — departures at 06:00, 08:30, 11:00, 13:30, 16:00, 18:30 — with a scheduled ride of about 2 hours 55 minutes. Fare: AED 35 by Hafilat. Ignore the AED 5–8 “fare” on one timetable site — it’s contradicted by every other source and by the ITC fare tables; AED 35 is also what the regional fare table lists for Liwa. From Mezairaa, taxis cover the Liwa hotels and the Moreeb Dune/Tal Moreeb side in season.
Abu Dhabi to Ghayathi — X86 (the honest gap)
Route X86 (Abu Dhabi Central → Ghayathi Souq/Bus Terminal) exists in Abu Dhabi Mobility’s official route list — but we could not find a single reliable published timetable or fare for it: the only fare in circulation (AED 35) comes from a 2013 list and should not be trusted. Rather than invent numbers, here’s what does work: ride X62 or X60/CX60 to Madinat Zayed and change to local route 686 (Madinat Zayed → Ghayathi), or reach Ghayathi from the coast side on route 880 from Al Dhannah Mall. Ghayathi is the one Al Dhafra town where checking the Darbi app or the station board on the day is genuinely essential.
Step by step: Abu Dhabi to the Western Region
- Go to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station (next to Al Wahda Mall) — or MBZ City Bus Station in Mussafah if you’re starting on that side of the city; reaching the central station is covered in our Dubai to Abu Dhabi bus guide.
- Top up your Hafilat card (or book the specific departure on capitalexpress.ae).
- Pick your route: X88/CX88 Ruwais · X62 Madinat Zayed · X60/CX60 Liwa · X86 Ghayathi.
- For Madinat Zayed and Liwa, note the long gaps between buses — arriving “whenever” can mean a 2–4 hour wait.
- Keep some schedule slack for the return: last buses leave Al Dhafra towns in the evening, not at night.
FAQs
How do I get from Abu Dhabi to Ruwais by bus?
Take route X88 (also listed as Capital Express CX88) from Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station via MBZ City (Mussafah) to Al Dhannah/Ruwais. The journey takes about 3–3½ hours and costs roughly AED 25–35, paid by Hafilat card or booked via Capital Express.
What is Capital Express?
A private intercity operator (established 2021) that runs Abu Dhabi’s Regional Express network under Abu Dhabi Mobility/ITC — routes CX60 (Liwa), CX70 (Mirfa), CX88 (Al Dhannah/Ruwais), CX90 (Al Ain) and CX411 (Ajman). The “CX” numbers and ITC’s “X” numbers describe the same corridors, which is why timetable sites often show both.
Is there a bus from Mussafah to Ruwais?
Yes — MBZ City Bus Station in Mussafah is an intermediate stop on the X88/CX88 Abu Dhabi–Ruwais route, so you can board there directly.
How long is the Abu Dhabi to Madinat Zayed bus?
Around 3 hours on route X62 (planner timing ~3h05). Buses are infrequent — every few hours — so check the Darbi app before travelling. The X60/CX60 Liwa buses also stop at Madinat Zayed.
What is the Abu Dhabi to Liwa bus fare?
AED 35 on route X60/CX60 to Mezairaa (about 2 hrs 55 min, departures roughly every 2 hours from 06:00). Cheaper AED 5–8 figures on some sites are errors.
Is there a bus from Abu Dhabi to Ghayathi?
Route X86 is listed by Abu Dhabi Mobility, but no current timetable or fare for it is reliably published. The dependable option is X62 or X60/CX60 to Madinat Zayed, then local route 686 to Ghayathi.
Which station do Western Region buses use in Abu Dhabi?
Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station (by Al Wahda Mall) is the main terminal; MBZ City Bus Station in Mussafah is the second departure point and a stop on the Ruwais and Liwa routes.
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Daniyal Sheikh
Transport Editor, UAE Travel Hub
Dubai daily commuter covering the Metro, Nol cards, RTA buses and intercity routes across all seven emirates — every fare and timing checked against official RTA, ITC and SRTA sources.