If you are looking for an economical and straightforward way to travel between Hidd Al Saadiyat and Mazyad Mall, the 121 Bus Route Abu Dhabi is a perfect public transport option designed to connect Saadiyat Island with central Abu Dhabi and Mohammed Bin Zayed City. It is useful for residents, workers, students and visitors who want to avoid driving or booking a taxi for every trip.
The route is particularly helpful when your itinerary includes Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi Bus Station, central-city stops or Mazyad Mall. Below is a simple 2026 guide covering the 121 bus timings, stops, route direction, fare, Hafilat card and transfer points.
121 Bus Route Abu Dhabi – Quick Highlights
| Description | Details |
|---|---|
| Bus number | 121 |
| Main route | Hidd Al Saadiyat ↔ Mazyad Mall |
| Main areas served | Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi city, MBZ City |
| Important interchange | Abu Dhabi Bus Station |
| Final destination | Mazyad Mall / Hidd Al Saadiyat |
| Payment | Hafilat Smart Card |
| Service type | Abu Dhabi public bus |
| Timetable | Check current departure before travelling |
| Updated for | 2026 |
The current published timetable shows Route 121 operating between Al Dhiba St / Hidd Al Saadiyat and Mazyad Mall, with multiple departures throughout the day. The official timetable and current route data should be checked before a time-sensitive journey because schedules can be adjusted.
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121 Bus Timings from Hidd Al Saadiyat to Mazyad Mall
For travellers starting at Al Dhiba St / Hidd Al Saadiyat, the currently published departure pattern includes:
| Hidd Al Saadiyat departure | Mazyad Mall arrival* |
|---|---|
| 06:41 AM | 07:55 AM |
| 08:43 AM | 09:55 AM |
| 10:41 AM | 11:54 AM |
| 12:39 PM | 01:53 PM |
| 02:36 PM | 03:52 PM |
| 04:35 PM | 05:51 PM |
| 06:36 PM | 07:50 PM |
| 08:42 PM | 09:54 PM |
| 10:47 PM | 11:57 PM |
*Approximate arrival based on the published timetable sequence. Individual stop times can vary slightly.
For the opposite direction, Mazyad Mall to Hidd Al Saadiyat, departures shown in the current timetable include 7:10 AM, 9:10 AM, 11:10 AM, 1:10 PM, 3:10 PM, 5:10 PM, 7:10 PM, 9:10 PM and 11:10 PM. The Hidd Al Saadiyat terminus is reached later in the journey.
Important timing tip
Do not plan your airport connection, hotel check-in or tour around the timetable alone. Abu Dhabi traffic and stop-level arrival times can affect the actual journey. For important appointments, reach your bus stop a few minutes early and verify the latest service information before leaving.
121 Bus Route and Stops
Route 121 crosses several different parts of Abu Dhabi, making it more useful than a simple Saadiyat-to-MBZ connection.
Important stops include:
| S.N. | Stops |
|---|---|
| 1 | Hidd Al Saadiyat |
| 2 | Saadiyat Beach Jumeirah Hotel |
| 3 | Saadiyat Beach Club |
| 4 | Saadiyat Beach Villas Central |
| 5 | Saadiyat Beach Residences |
| 6 | Laffan Street / Stop 1152 |
| 7 | Jacques Chirac Street / Stop 1153 |
| 8 | Hazaa Bin Zayed Mosque |
| 9 | Emirates Tower |
| 10 | Hamdan Street |
| 11 | Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre |
| 12 | Mariam Bint Said Mosque |
| 13 | Abu Dhabi Bus Station |
| 14 | Mohammed Bin Khalifa Street |
| 15 | Al Jazeera Sports Club |
| 16 | Khaleej Al Arabi Street / Bus Interchange |
| 17 | Capital Mall |
| 18 | Mazyad Mall |
Current route data lists 21 stops in the complete service pattern, while stop naming can differ slightly between journey directions and mapping platforms.
Map-Based Guide: How Route 121 Moves
Think of the route in three simple sections:
Hidd Al Saadiyat → Saadiyat Island → Abu Dhabi city → MBZ City / Mazyad Mall
Section 1: Saadiyat Island
The journey begins around Hidd Al Saadiyat and moves through residential and beach-related stops, including Saadiyat Beach Residences, Saadiyat Beach Club and the Saadiyat Beach Jumeirah Hotel.
Section 2: Abu Dhabi city
The bus then heads toward central Abu Dhabi. Stops around Hamdan Street, Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre and Abu Dhabi Bus Station are particularly useful for passengers continuing to other parts of the city.
Section 3: Mohammed Bin Zayed City
After the central-city section, Route 121 continues toward Capital Mall and finishes around Mazyad Mall in MBZ City.
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121 Bus Fare and Hafilat Card
Abu Dhabi’s current standard public transport fare is based on an AED 2 boarding fee plus AED0.5 per kilometre, with a maximum fare of AED 5 for journeys over 60 km. The fare is automatically calculated using the Hafilat Smart Card.
Passengers should tap the Hafilat card when boarding and again when getting off. Forgetting to tap out can affect the fare calculation and transfer conditions.
For visitors, an anonymous Hafilat card is available, while regular travellers can use personalised cards and passes. Abu Dhabi Mobility currently lists weekly and monthly public transport passes as well.
Where Can You Change Buses?
One of the most useful points on the 121 Bus Route Abu Dhabi is Abu Dhabi Bus Station. It provides connections to other public bus services, making Route 121 useful as part of a longer itinerary rather than only for travelling between its two terminals.
Another important connection area is Khaleej Al Arabi Street / Bus Interchange. Depending on your final destination, changing buses can be more practical than taking Route 121 all the way to the terminus.
Abu Dhabi Mobility allows transfers between public transport services without another AED 2 boarding charge when the transfer conditions are met, including tapping into the next service within 60 minutes of the previous tap-out and following the applicable direction rules.
Travel Tips for Tourists and International Visitors
If you are visiting Abu Dhabi from India, the UK, Europe, Nepal, the Philippines or another country, these simple tips can make the journey easier:
- Keep your Hafilat card topped up before travelling.
- Check the direction of the bus before boarding.
- Use the exact stop name when checking maps.
- Arrive at the stop a few minutes before the scheduled time.
- Keep your hotel or destination address available on your phone.
- If changing buses, tap out and follow the transfer rules.
- For late-night travel, check the latest timetable before leaving.
- Use Abu Dhabi’s official transport information for important schedule changes.
FAQs
Where does Bus 121 go in Abu Dhabi?
Bus 121 connects Hidd Al Saadiyat on Saadiyat Island with Mazyad Mall in Mohammed Bin Zayed City, passing through central Abu Dhabi and important stops such as Abu Dhabi Bus Station.
What time does the 121 bus start from Hidd Al Saadiyat?
The currently published timetable shows an early departure from Hidd Al Saadiyat at 6:41 AM, followed by later services during the day.
How much does Bus 121 cost?
The standard Abu Dhabi public transport fare is AED 2 plus 5 fils per kilometre, subject to the applicable maximum fare. Payment is made through a Hafilat Smart Card.
Does Bus 121 stop at Abu Dhabi Bus Station?
Yes. Abu Dhabi Bus Station is one of the important stops on the route and can be useful for passengers transferring to other bus services.
Can tourists use Bus 121?
Yes. Visitors can use Abu Dhabi public buses by obtaining and using a Hafilat Smart Card. The card is used to tap in and out of the bus.
Conclusion
The 121 Bus Route Abu Dhabi is a contemporary public transport link between the residential and beach communities of Saadiyat Island, central Abu Dhabi and Mohammed Bin Zayed City. Its value is not only the connection between Hidd Al Saadiyat and Mazyad Mall but also the access it provides to major transfer points such as Abu Dhabi Bus Station.