Abu Dhabi International Airport - Flight Information and Guide (AUH)

How to get to Abu Dhabi International Airport

Abu Dhabi city centre (Corniche) is approximately 32-35 km from the airport: the transfer takes approximately 27-40 minutes by taxi.

By Car

Visitors arriving by car reach central Abu Dhabi in approximately 27-40 minutes.

By Train

The airport remains outside the railway network.

By Bus

Some public bus lines connect the airport to the city centre, a more economical but time-consuming option.

💡

Tips Taxis operate 24 hours a day from Terminal A ranks: the starting fare (flag fall) is fixed at 20 AED day and night, plus 1.82 AED/km.

Average travel time to AUH

TrainNot available

Shuttle busService available, longer times

Taxi / Private hire27-40 minutes (85-160 AED)

Parking near Abu Dhabi International Airport

A multi-level car park is adjacent to the terminal.

The rates are in line with standards for a major international hub.

How to get to Abu Dhabi from AUH

By Train

The airport is not connected to the rail network.

By Bus

Some public bus lines connect the airport to the centre, the most economical option.

By Taxi

The meter starts at 20 AED (day and night) plus 1.82 AED/km; roughly 85-120 AED for the Corniche/centre, 35-60 AED for Yas Island (closer to the airport).

Airport transfers you can book in advance

Shuttles and private transfers you can book online, picked from the best rated by travelers.

From AUH to the most sought-after destinations

If you want...	Choose	Approximate cost
Spend the least possible	Bus A1/A2 with Hafilat Card (45-60 min)	~4 AED
Reach the Corniche or city center with no changes	Direct taxi (27-40 min)	~85-120 AED
Reach Yas Island (Ferrari World, Warner Bros World)	Direct A2 bus (30 min)	~4 AED
Continue right away to Dubai	Budget bus (over 3h) or direct taxi/transfer (about 80 min)	6-10 AED (bus) / 370-470 AED (taxi)

Abu Dhabi → Corniche and city center

With no railway line, taxi remains the most direct route to the Corniche: meter starting at 20 AED plus 1.82 AED/km, arriving in 27-40 minutes depending on traffic on Sheikh Khalifa Highway.

Abu Dhabi → Yas Island

The A2 line connects the airport to Yas Island in about 30 minutes with the same budget bus ticket, convenient for those heading straight to Ferrari World, Warner Bros World or Yas Marina circuit; by taxi the journey is shorter (20-30 minutes) but more expensive, roughly 35-60 AED.

Abu Dhabi → Saadiyat Island (Louvre Abu Dhabi)

The A1 line also stops at Saadiyat Island, but with limited service (few departures per day); for those wanting to visit the Louvre Abu Dhabi or the island's beaches without time constraints, taxi is the most practical option, about 25-35 minutes of travel.

Abu Dhabi → Dubai

Those arriving in Abu Dhabi but needing to continue to Dubai (144 km) have two extremes: the public bus, economical but slow (over 3 hours with possible changes), or a private taxi or transfer direct, about 70-80 minutes but with a much higher fare, roughly 370-470 AED.

Car rental at Abu Dhabi International Airport

Major car rental operators manage a desk in the arrivals area.

Documents required are driving license, passport, credit card, plus IDP in nearly all cases.

Hotels near Abu Dhabi International Airport

The terminal stands 32-35 km from the Corniche, with no train or metro: a taxi takes 27-40 minutes and the bus much longer. That is why distance weighs on the choice more than at other Gulf airports. Those with a layover of a few hours or a night departure can stay in the airside area, while for a single night between two flights Yas Island, 20-30 minutes away, makes sense. The Corniche and the centre are for those staying a few days who accept half an hour by taxi on arrival and departure, a time cost to factor in for early-morning flights.

At the airport

The hotel is in the Terminal A transit area, after the checks; on arrival you need a boarding pass valid for a flight departing from AUH.

Best for: Long layovers with a connecting flight from AUH, without going through immigration.

Pros

From bed to gate without leaving the transit area
Stays of 6, 12 or 24 hours and a reception open 24 hours a day

Cons

Entry only with a boarding pass for a flight departing from Abu Dhabi
You cannot go out and see the city: it is a break between two flights

Recommended hotels

AUHotel Abu Dhabi - Airport Transit Hotel Hotel in the Terminal A transit area, open 24 hours a day, with packages of 6, 12 or 24 hours; it requires the boarding pass of a flight from AUH. View availability

See more hotels in this area

Airport area

Airport area and Yas Island

From the airport area and Yas Island it takes about 15-30 minutes by taxi: the Crowne Plaza is 8.5 km from the terminal, the Premier Inn about 6 km.

Best for: A night between two flights or a morning departure, or a stop with Ferrari World and the circuit.

Pros

A shorter transfer than any hotel in the city
Yas Island offers parks, restaurants and a beach, without travelling all the way to the centre

Cons

Few alternatives on foot outside the resorts: you depend on taxis
The historic centre and the Corniche remain 30-40 minutes away

Recommended hotels

See more hotels in this area

Neighbourhood

Khalifa Park and Zayed Mosque

Park Rotana is about 15 minutes from the airport according to the official website, by taxi or private car.

Best for: Business travellers or those who want to reach the Grand Mosque with a hotel halfway from the airport.

Pros

About 15 minutes from the airport, half the time compared with the Corniche
Five minutes from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Cons

A residential and business district, with little evening life on foot
For the Corniche and the Louvre you need another 20-30 minutes by taxi

Recommended hotels

Park Rotana Abu Dhabi 318 rooms behind Khalifa Park, five minutes from the Grand Mosque and about 15 from the airport; five restaurants, pool and spa. View availability

See more hotels in this area

City centre

Corniche

By taxi it takes 27-40 minutes; there is no train and the A1/A2 buses are slower but cheap.

Best for: Stays of several days, with the sea, a seafront promenade and the centre within taxi reach.

Pros

Beach and seafront a few steps away, with the old town close by
More choice of restaurants and hotels in different price ranges than elsewhere

Cons

Up to 40 minutes by taxi from the terminal, to be planned for early flights
For Yas Island and the parks you need another half-hour ride

Recommended hotels

Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort, Abu Dhabi Corniche A seafront resort with pools and sea access; the parking and the Thursday jazz are among the aspects guests mention most. View availability

See more hotels in this area

Airport services

This is the UAE's second-largest hub, connecting Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas via Etihad Airways.

Shopping & Duty Free

The duty-free area offers gold, electronics, perfumes, and luxury goods.

Lounges & relaxation

In Abu Dhabi all the lounges are in Terminal A and stay open day and night, so the flight time does not limit the choice. The offer is dominated by Etihad, with Business and First lounges between piers C and D and a lounge for those flying to the United States after the preclearance checks. Those travelling in economy with Priority Pass, LoungeKey or DragonPass find the Pearl Lounge near gate D43, where you can also get in by paying but with a length-of-stay limit.

lounges: 4
with Priority Pass: 1
open 24 hours: 4

Which lounge to choose: full comparison

Connectivity & Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi coverage extends throughout the entire terminal.

Families & Children

Travelers with children benefit from play spaces and dedicated family assistance.

Terminal guide

The terminal, expanded with the new Zayed International structure, is among the most modern in the region.

A 3-hour advance is recommended for international flights.

Map of Abu Dhabi International Airport

Frequently asked questions

Q. What is Abu Dhabi's new Terminal A?

Opened in 2023 as part of Zayed International Airport, it is one of the largest single-building terminals in the world, designed to double the airport's capacity and support the growth of Etihad Airways' hub.