Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) is the main airport in the capital city of the UAE. If you are travelling through Abu Dhabi International Airport soon and are looking to get more information about it, this article will help you to navigate through the AUH airport with ease! Read on to find out more about the airport’s terminals, lounges, facilities and transportation options from the arrivals and departure zones.
GETTING TO THE ABU DHABI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
The Abu Dhabi International Airport is located in the heart of the capital city, right opposite Masdar City. Its central location makes it easily accessible by public buses, taxis and even private chauffers services. Here’s a closer look at all the transportation options available to access the airport in Abu Dhabi.
Taxi: Taxis are the easiest way to travel to and from the Abu Dhabi International Airport. Travellers exiting at the Abu Dhabi Airport arrivals gate at Terminals 1 and 3, can get a cab from the taxi pick-up area at the lower curbside outside Arrivals Hall. As for the AUH Terminal 2, taxis are stationed outside the Terminal 2 Arrivals area. If you are headed to the Abu Dhabi Airport departures gate from anywhere in the city, taxis can be booked by calling the TransAD hotline 600-535353, or, hailed on the go.
Bus: Abu Dhabi city has air-conditioned buses that travel to and from Abu Dhabi International Airport, costing AED 4 for a one-way trip. Bus stops are located outside the Abu Dhabi airport arrivals and departures terminals and can be identified by the blue and white signs. Some of the bus routes that stop at the Abu Dhabi airport include A1, 490, 211, 240 and X8. These arrive at 40-minute intervals. You will need a Hafilat smart card to access the bus. To know more check out our Abu Dhabi Public Transportation guide.
Car rentals: There are plenty of international and local rental car companies at the Abu Dhabi International Airport. These are open 24/7 and can be found at the Skypark Plaza, opposite Terminal 3. Skypark Plaza is a short walk from Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. For passengers coming from Terminal 2, Skypark Plaza is a 5-minute ride or a 1km walk. Here are some of the car rental companies in Abu Dhabi airport.
- Avis
- Dollar Rent a Car
- Europcar
- Hertz
- Thrifty Car Rental
- Fast Rent A Car
- Payless
Etihad chauffeur and coach: This is a special service offered exclusively to passengers of Etihad Airways. Guests travelling by First or Business Class can avail of the free Etihad Chauffeur services for departure and arrival transfers, anywhere in the UAE. Guests travelling by Economy Class only have free Etihad coach services to Dubai and Al Ain, when arriving or departing from Abu Dhabi International Airport. The Etihad Chauffeur services can be booked online up to 24 hours prior to the flight.
ABU DHABI AIRPORT TERMINALS
The international airport in Abu Dhabi is the second largest among the airports in the UAE, after the Dubai International Airport. Over 30 airlines service the airport, travelling to 120 destinations across the world. The Abu Dhabi International Airport currently has three terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3.
Abu Dhabi Airport Terminal 1 – T1
Built back in 1974, this is the first terminal to service residents travelling to and from Abu Dhabi city. It is divided into Terminal 1A and Terminal 1B. Although it is the oldest facility in the airport, it features modernised check-in and arrivals facilities to manage the steady flow of passengers. This terminal also features the iconic circular gate area, which connects to the location where the departure gates bridges are located.
Abu Dhabi Airport Terminal 2 – T2
Terminal 2 is the second terminal at the airport in Abu Dhabi. It is located in a separate building, on the west of Terminal 1 and mainly services budget carriers. The Abu Dhabi Terminal 2 is the smallest of the three with 19 check-in counters, three bus-boarding gates and two baggage claim belts.
Abu Dhabi Airport Terminal 3 – T3 (Dedicated for Etihad Airways)
Terminal 3 in the Abu Dhabi airport is dedicated to serving the national carrier, Etihad Airways and its Airbus A380s. Built as an expansion to Terminal 1, this is the newest of the three terminals. The Abu Dhabi airport terminal 3 features departure gates 28–35 and 58–61, a large duty-free and food court area with many dining options.
OTHER FACILITIES AT AUH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
The Abu Dhabi International Airport boasts some of the best facilities at both the arrivals and departure gates for travellers to access. Take a look at what this airport in Abu Dhabi has to offer.
ABU DHABI DUTY FREE
With 119 retail and 24 food & beverage outlets across the three terminals, the Abu Dhabi Duty Free is the perfect spot to get some shopping done while you’re at the airport. These Abu Dhabi airport shops are perfect spots to pick up your favourite fragrances, watches, jewellery, souvenirs, toys, and other products from international and local brands. Abu Dhabi Airport Duty Free even offers an online shopping option, where travellers can purchase items from an online catalogue and later collect it upon arriving at the airport! Orders can be placed up to two weeks or even four hours prior.
AUH AIRPORT LOUNGES
One of the best things to do in the Abu Dhabi airport is unwinding at the airport lounges. Abu Dhabi’s airport lounges are ideal for travellers who want to experience premium hospitality services. Al Ghazal, Al Reem, Etihad and Al Dhabi lounge are some of the lounges that offer complimentary snacks and beverages, WiFi and shower facilities for the guests. These Abu Dhabi airport services are extremely useful for passengers who want to get some rest for catching their flights.
RESTAURANTS IN ABU DHABI AIRPORT
Whether you want to have a quick bite to eat or an entire meal, there are plenty of restaurants in the Abu Dhabi Airport. Here’s a list of Abu Dhabi airport restaurants where you can dine at when you’re waiting to catch a flight or returning home after a long journey.
Terminal 1
- Flavours
- Jaipur Indian Food
- McDonald’s
- Naan Indian Kitchen
- Sky Bar
- Bricco Café
Terminal 2
- Cinnamon City Café & Restaurant
Terminal 3
- Grab & Fly
- Lavazza Espression
- Montreux Jazz Café
- Negroni
- O’Learys Bar & Restaurant
- Shawarmanji
- Yum Cha
- Urban Food Market
- Burger King
SLEEPING FACILITIES IN ABU DHABI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Apart from the lounges and hotels, there are sleeping pods available at the Abu Dhabi International Airport. These sleeping pods fold flat and come with baggage storage facilities to store any luggage. Having such helpful Abu Dhabi airport facilities cater to passengers are travelling long distances or catching red-eye flights. The sleeping pods can be found before and after passport control, between the Etihad transfer desks, arrivals corridor and 2nd floor of Abu Dhabi airport Terminal 3.
FAQ
WHAT’S THE ABU DHABI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CODE?
The IATA code for Abu Dhabi International Airport is “AUH” and the ICAO code for the Abu Dhabi airport is “OMAA”.
HOW MANY AIRPORTS DOES ABU DHABI HAVE?
Including the main Abu Dhabi city airport, there are a total of five airports in Abu Dhabi. They are:
- Abu Dhabi International Airport
- Al Ain International Airport
- Al Bateen Executive Airport
- Sir Bani Yas Island Airport and
- Delma Island Airport
ARE THERE ANY HOTELS NEAR ABU DHABI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT?
Aerotel Abu Dhabi and Premier Inn Abu Dhabi are two of the closest hotels near AUH Airport.
WHAT CAN I DO WHEN IN TRANSIT AT THE AIRPORT IN ABU DHABI?
You can relax at any of the premium lounges in the airport, shop at the Duty Free shops, or grab a bit to eat at any of the cafés and restaurants in the airport. If your transit time exceeds four hours, you can apply for a transit visa and explore all the free things to do in Abu Dhabi.
WHAT ITEMS ARE BANNED IN THE AUH AIRPORT?
Items banned in Abu Dhabi are similar to the banned items in DXB Aiport. This includes narcotic drugs, weapons, duplicate or forged currency, goods from boycotted countries, certain medicines and even live animals such as bats and swine.
HOW CAN I GET A VAT REFUND AT ABU DHABI AIRPORT?
Tourists should visit any of the following tax refund service counters at the Abu Dhabi airport.
- T1 next to Etihad Airways Transfer Desks (After Immigration).
- T1 next to Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (Before Immigration).
- T3 opposite Costa Coffee (After Immigration).
IS THERE AN ABU DHABI AIRPORT LOST AND FOUND?
If you have lost anything at the AUH airport, you can get in touch with the Baggage Services staff who are located in the Arrivals Hall or contact the concerned airline to locate any missing items.
- Etihad Airways lost bag: +971-2-511-2170 from 08:00 am – 08:00 pm
- Other airlines : + 971-2-505-2063 from 08:00 am – 04:00 pm
IS THERE PARKING IN THE ABU DHABI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT?
There are dedicated parking spaces in the AUH airport for all the terminals. The Abu Dhabi airport parking charges start from AED 5 and can go up to AED 240 if you are parking for the whole day.
HOW CAN I CONNECT TO THE ABU DHABI AIRPORT WIFI?
You can connect to the WiFi in Abu Dhabi airport using the following steps:
- Open your settings and search for the available wireless networks from your device or laptop.
- Choose the network named “ADAC Free Wireless.
- After being redirected to the welcome screen, choose “ACCEPT”.
- Once you fill in the required details you will have internet access.
HOW DO I CONTACT THE ABU DHABI AIRPORT?
For any urgent queries, travellers can call on the Abu Dhabi Airport Phone Number – +971-2-505-5555. This line is available to passengers 24/7.
WHERE CAN I FIND THE ABU DHABI AIRPORT MAP?
The AUH Airport’s official website has an interactive map of the Abu Dhabi Airport and its terminals which you can use to locate any of the terminals, facilities and more.
That concludes this Abu Dhabi airport guide. We hope this is informative enough to plan your next trip to the UAE. The capital city has a lot to offer tourists. Here’s a look at all the amazing attractions in Abu Dhabi you can visit while in the city.
