Quite often, travelers who make long flights in various directions, in order to transit and transfer to the next flight, get to the international airport of Adu Dhabi. Even a short stay in this air harbor is usually remembered for a long time by passengers. Therefore, we offer today to learn more about this airport, its history, structure and the services offered here.
Short description and history of the air harbor
Many airports in the world, and especially those located in the Middle East, amaze their guests with a luxurious and sophisticated design. Sometimes it seems that you plunged into an oriental tale. Abu Dhabi airport is no exception to this rule. This is a very beautiful and modern complex of structures, which allows all arrivals to immediately realize that they have stepped onto the ground of one of the richest states in the world, the bowels of which are literally overfilled with oil.
This air harbor is the second largest in the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi International Airport was built in 1982. Today it is one of the fastest growing air harbors in the world. It is interesting that the airport located in Abu Dhabi is often jokingly called the "center of the world", because there is a kind of buffer zone connecting the east and the west. Every year, the air harbor serves more than fifteen million passengers. However, construction of new terminals and structures continues here, so the management expects to increase passenger traffic to twenty million people a year in a few years. In 2010 and 2013, the Abu Dhabi airport was recognized as the best air harbor in the entire Middle East.
It is interesting that in 2009, for the first time in the world, modern technology began to be applied, which allows for the identification of a person’s identity with one hundred percent probability. A special program creates an ultra-precise electronic copy of the face based on measuring the distances between the eyes, ears and nostrils. Also taken into account are the features of a person's facial expressions, the shape of his nose, the location of the bones of the face, and other individual and anatomical features of his appearance.
Abu Dhabi Airport: Flights
This air harbor of the United Arab Emirates is used by more than thirty airlines from around the world. Abu Dhabi Airport operates flights to more than 150 international airports in different parts of the world. Among them are Chicago, Baghdad, Casablanca, Islamabad, Alexandria, Manchester, Delhi, Moscow, Istanbul, Kiev, Tehran, New York, Tokyo and many others. Also, the largest UAE airline, Etihad Airlines, is based here. All necessary information about flights, timetables, as well as an online arrival and departure scoreboard can be found on the official website.
Abu Dhabi Airport Scheme
To date, the air harbor includes three large, modern terminals. The first two of them are involved in servicing flights of 32 international airlines. Terminal No. 3 was built specifically for the needs of the airline from the United Arab Emirates - Etihad Airways. In addition to this, the construction of the fourth terminal is underway, which will increase passenger traffic to twenty million people a year. Since the terminals are very large, and the transition from one knowledge to another can take a long time, it is recommended to carefully select flights that involve connecting at this airport so as not to be late for the next plane.
As for the runways of the Abu Dhabi airport, they are designed to receive all types of aircraft, including bulky liners.
How to get to the air harbor?
If you come to the United Arab Emirates for a few days, you can get from the airport to the city of Abu Dhabi in several ways: by taxi, by car with a personal driver, by bus or by renting a car. All prices will be indicated in dirhams (dirham to ruble exchange rate is approximately 1: 9). We offer more details on each transportation option.
Taxi
There are several taxi companies in Abu Dhabi. However, only two of them are allowed to carry out passenger transportation to the airport. Upon arrival, finding a taxi rank is not difficult: it is located at the exit of the arrivals hall. In order to avoid misunderstandings, it is recommended to immediately discuss the cost of the trip with the driver, although there are standard fees. For example, a taxi company "Al Gazelle" will take you to the city for 75 dirhams. You will spend about 40 minutes on the trip (the distance is about 35 kilometers). About the same cost will have to pay the taxi driver of the Meredyd company. Their parking is located a little far from the exit from the terminal.
Car with a personal driver
The company "Al Gazelle" also offers customers to use the services of a comfortable car with a driver. This option is more convenient than a taxi, but it will also cost more. So, for such a trip you will have to pay about 110 dirhams.
Bus
There are excellent transport links between Abu Dhabi Air Harbor and the city center. So, public buses run around the clock here (they are painted in white and green). All are air-conditioned and very comfortable for passengers. You can also get to the city by bus number 901, departing every 30-45 minutes throughout the day. It costs only three dirhams.
If you flew to Abu Dhabi by plane from Etihad Airlines, regardless of the class of flight, you will be provided with a free shuttle to the city center and back. The shuttle leaves from the main car park in front of the air harbor, located near the car rental office.
Car rental
If you want to immediately hire a car upon arrival at the airport in Abu Dhabi, then it will not be difficult to do so. Here are several offices of the largest rental companies, where you can pick up a car for every taste.
Infrastructure
Since Abu Dhabi is a large and modern airport, it offers its guests the most diverse infrastructure, allowing to make the stay of passengers in the air harbor pleasant and extremely comfortable.
So, at the airport you have access to wireless Internet access, international telephone communications, showers. In addition, you can go to the spa, fitness club or even play golf. There are special smoking areas for smokers. A medical center is constantly operating on the territory of the airport, where any passenger can turn in case of deterioration of health. For business people there is a business center equipped with all necessary modern equipment.
Terminal No. 3, serving Etihad Airlines, has its own medical center, which operates round the clock. In addition, there are bank branches and ATMs, currency exchange offices, a post office, offices of companies providing car rental services, and even a mosque. On the territory of this terminal there are a lot of various shops, including duty-free. Catering points here can be chosen for every taste: restaurants, bars, cafes, sandwiches, fast foods. There is even an English pub.
If you have to wait for connections for a long time, you can check into a hotel at the Abu Dhabi airport. It is located in the transit zone of terminal No. 1. The hotel has 40 comfortable rooms, which have everything you need. Also on its territory there is a business center, a jacuzzi, a sauna, a playground and a gym. Transit passengers staying at a hotel in the Abu Dhabi airport note its convenience, spacious rooms equipped with everything necessary (from hygiene items to drinks), comfortable beds, excellent sound insulation and properly functioning air conditioners.
People traveling with young children can use the family lounges in the waiting rooms for first and business class passengers. Here, little travelers will be offered a children's menu, various books, toys, a TV with cartoons, etc. For passengers of other classes, the airport offers lounges where children can stay unaccompanied by adults. You can also rent a stroller here.