Quite often, travelers making long flights to various destinations, for the purpose of transit and transfer to the next flight, end up at Adu Dhabi International Airport. Even a short stay in this air harbor, as a rule, is remembered by passengers for a long time. Therefore, we offer today to learn more about this airport, its history, structure and services offered here.
Brief description and history of the air harbor
Many airports in the world, and especially those located in the Middle East, amaze their guests with luxurious and sophisticated design. Sometimes you get the impression that you plunged into an oriental fairy tale. Abu Dhabi airport is no exception to this rule. This is a very beautiful and modern complex of buildings, which allows everyone arriving to immediately realize that they have set foot on the land of one of the richest countries in the world, the bowels of which are literally overflowing with oil.
This air harbor is the second largestlargest in the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi International Airport was built in 1982. Today it is one of the most dynamically developing air harbors in the world. Interestingly, the airport located in Abu Dhabi is often jokingly called the "center of the world", because there is a kind of buffer zone connecting east and west. The air harbor serves more than fifteen million passengers annually. However, the construction of new terminals and facilities 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 airport located in Abu Dhabi was recognized as the best air harbor in the entire Middle East.
Interestingly, in 2009, for the first time in the world, modern technology began to be used here, which makes it possible to identify a person with one hundred percent probability. A special program creates an ultra-accurate electronic copy of the face based on measuring the distances between the eyes, ears and nostrils. 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 appearance are also taken into account.
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 has flights to over 150 international airports around the world. Among them are Chicago, Baghdad, Casablanca, Islamabad,Alexandria, Manchester, Delhi, Moscow, Istanbul, Kyiv, Tehran, New York, Tokyo and many others. The largest airline in the UAE, Etihad Airways, is also based here. All the necessary information about flights, schedules, as well as an online arrivals and departures board can be found on the official website.
Abu Dhabi Airport Map
Today, the air harbor includes three large modern terminals. The first two of them serve flights of 32 international airlines. Terminal 3 was built specifically for the needs of an airline from the United Arab Emirates - Etihad Airways. In addition, the construction of the fourth terminal is currently underway, which will increase the passenger flow to twenty million people a year. Since the terminals are very large and it can take a long time to move from one knowledge to another, it is recommended that you carefully select flights that connect at this airport in order not to miss the next plane.
As for the runways of Abu Dhabi Airport, they are designed to receive all types of aircraft, including large liners.
How to get to the air harbor?
If you come to the United Arab Emirates for a few days, then 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 (the exchange rate of the dirham to the rubleapproximately 1:9). We offer a closer look at each transportation option.
Taxi
There are several taxi companies operating in Abu Dhabi. However, only two of them are allowed to carry passengers to the airport. Upon arrival, finding a taxi rank is not difficult: it is located at the exit from 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 also standard rates. 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). Approximately the same cost will have to be paid to the taxi driver of the Metered company. Their parking lot is located a little far from the exit from the terminal.
Car with a personal driver
Al Gazelle Company also offers its customers 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
Between the air harbor of Abu Dhabi and the city center is well established transport links. So, municipal buses run here around the clock (they are painted white and green). All of them are air-conditioned and are 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 to ride it.
If youflew to Abu Dhabi on an Etihad Airlines aircraft, and regardless of flight class, you will be provided with a free transfer to the city center and back. The shuttle departs from the main car park at the front of the air harbor located near the car rental office.
Rent a car
If you want to rent a car immediately upon arrival at the airport located in Abu Dhabi, then this will not be difficult. Several offices of the largest rental companies are located here at once, where you can pick up a car for every taste.
Infrastructure
Because Abu Dhabi is a large and modern airport, it offers its guests the most diverse infrastructure to make the stay of passengers in the air harbor pleasant and exceptionally comfortable.
So, on the territory of the airport there is wireless Internet access, international telephone connection, showers. In addition, here you can go to the spa, fitness club or even play golf. There are designated 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 he alth. For business people, there is a business center equipped with all the necessary modern equipment.
Terminal 3, serving Etihad Airlines, has its own 24/7 medical center. In addition, there are bank branches and ATMs, currency exchange offices, a post office, offices of car rental companies, and even a mosque. On the territory of this terminal, there are also a lot of various shops, including duty-free ones. Here you can choose catering points for every taste: restaurants, bars, cafes, sandwich shops, fast foods. There is even an English pub.
If you have to wait a long time for a connection, you can check into a hotel at Abu Dhabi Airport. It is located in the transit area of terminal No. 1. The hotel has 40 comfortable rooms, which have everything you need. Also on its territory there is a business center, jacuzzi, sauna, playground and gym. Transit passengers staying at the Abu Dhabi Airport hotel note its convenience, spacious rooms equipped with everything you need (from hygiene items to drinks), comfortable beds, excellent soundproofing and properly working air conditioners.
People traveling with young children can use the Family Lounges in the First and Business Class Lounges. 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 waiting rooms where children can stay unaccompanied by adults. You can also rent a stroller here.
