Zayed International Airport – What to Expect & Planning Your Layover

Navigating the new International Airport in Abu Dhabi (AUH)

Zayed International Airport (AUH airport code) is the renamed Abu Dhabi International Airport. The fresh new Terminal A opened its glistening doors in November 2023 and is now one of the world’s premier long-haul hubs*

Home to Etihad, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, here’s exactly what you can expect using this fabulous new airport.

Arrivals into Abu Dhabi Airport – Airlines and Terminals at AUH

Zayed International Airport – the gateway to the capital of the United Arab Emirates – sees around 150,000 flights a year coming and going from its runways and in 2024, saw 29 million people passing through teh new terminal.

Arrival at the Terminal Building in AUH

The vast majority of flights into AUH arrive via an air bridge directly to the terminal building. From there, you can expect up to a 10-minute walk back to transit or passport control and bag collection. Everything in the airport is sign posted in English and Arabic.

Electric buggies are available for those with mobility issues, or you could use Salam Meet & Assist (must be pre-booked and paid). Complimentary strollers are also available for people travelling with small children.

Leaving the airport?

Passport control is usually quite speedy and is largely now e-gates. Be careful to follow the instructions given by the passport control officer and answer any questions honestly.

Once through passport control, you will be required to scan any hand luggage you may have before collecting your main luggage from the baggage hall. Porters can help with your luggage for a small fee (payable in cash only – I believe AED 40 but we’ve not used them in a while!).

Note, if you can’t find your larger items like strollers and car seats on the luggage belt, look for the oversize baggage area near belt 2 and 8.

You will find a few cafes, newsagents, toilets, and cash machines in the arrivals hall to prepare you for your onward journey. Transport connection options are clearly signposted.

Are you onward connecting to a US destination?

One of the huge draw cards of using AUH as a transit hub is that you can pass through US Customs and Border Protection (U.S. CBP) IN THE UAE! Yes!

One of the few worldwide hub airports that can offer this service means no waiting at the other end, you’re straight to baggage collection, but it does mean you need to allow extra time before your flight.

Flying with a Disability or Differently Able?

AUH excels in accessibility. They participate in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard programme and offer a Sensory Space (near Gate D43) that can be pre-booked (max 1 hour, 6 family members per room).

It’s well worth checking out all the services on offer that may assist you or your loved ones who require special assistance with your journey.

Stay in AUH Airport or Go Sightseeing on a Long Layover in AUH?

So, let’s get down to it: if you’re transiting through AUH, do you stay at the airport or take a tour around town?

It can depend significantly on your arrival time, the length of your layover, and how many people are in your traveling party.

Here, we set out what you can expect to find inside the airport terminal building and what you can do nearby, should you wish to leave the airport.

Option 1: Staying in Abu Dhabi Airport to Transit

With under 5 hours in transit, this will be your preferred option.

The airport is fairly sized and contains many cafes, a few small designer shops, and larger ‘duty-free’ stores. There is a McDonald’s, Burger King, Costa Coffee, Boots Pharmacy, and WH Smith, to name but a few of the ‘big brand’ names you might internationally recognise—plus plenty of spots to pick up your souvenirs, ‘Dubai Chocolate’, or even designer goods duty-free.

Seating is ample, including plenty of quite spaces with recliner chairs.

Airport Lounges

The airport currently offers two paid lounges for guests travelling with any airline (Pearl Lounge for credit card/lounge card holders⁺ and Diamond Lounge, a paid luxury offering).

Customers flying Business or First with Etihad, or Gold Card holders and above with Etihad Guest can use the Etihad Business and First Lounges by invitation.

We’ll shortly publish another guide for you comparing the lounges as we work our way through them all!

⁺Our experience is that if you’re flying at a busy time of the year, such as over Eid or the start of the school holidays, forget the lounges. You’ll spend half your time queuing to get in, and then there’s very limited seating inside.

Zayed Airport is undoubtedly beautiful, airy, and spacious which is great for a building you’ll be ‘trapped in’ for many hours. However, personal opinion, we’re surprised up against fierce competition from airline hubs like Dubai, Doha and Singapore that there aren’t a few more leisure facilities and gardens built into the airport’s design.

Option 2: Sleep it off at a transit Hotel in AUH

There is presently only one transit hotel inside Zayed International Airport, the AUHotel. It is basic but comes with all the mod cons you want, including Wi-Fi, tea and coffee making, and, importantly, comfy beds and showers.

There are no other hotels in the immediate vicinity of the airport if you’re looking for a land side option within walking distance (a surprising design flaw, surely?)

That said, there are many options within a 10-minute drive on Yas Island. All hotels here will give you access to a pool, restaurants and an opportunity to walk about and stretch your legs.

Free Hotel stay for long layovers?

Unlike neighbouring Dubai, where Dubai Connect is offered by Emirates to long layover passengers as a complimentary service, no such service exists with Etihad in Abu Dhabi – but read on below for Option 4!

Option 3: Layover Activities in Abu Dhabi

Ideal if you have a stopover between the hours of 8:00 am and midnight, and at least 6 hours between flights

Although Visit Abu Dhabi encourages you to leave the airport with anything more than a 4-hour layover, realistically, you’d want at least 5-6 hours to comfortably make it through customs on either end (longer if you have a US flight as you clear US customs this side of the border).

Many major tourist attractions don’t open until 9:00 or 10:00 AM, so consider leaving the airport terminal carefully.

For a short and straightforward break in the sunshine, you could spend a couple of hours at Yas Bay enjoying the many restaurants and bars – its less than 10 minutes away in a taxi.

Alternatively, you could venture to the capital’s major attraction, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, just a 15-minute taxi away, and allow at least 60-90 minutes to explore.

• See several suggestions here for ‘One Perfect Day in Abu Dhabi’ you can piece together the attractions or experiences that fit your layover timing
• This guide takes you through in much more detail 60+ attractions you could include on an Abu Dhabi stopover (some might be seasonal)

NB – if your stopover is in the dead of night and you want to get out and about, check if the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is still offering their Sura Night tours

A note on visas for short stays in Abu Dhabi

Many nationalities are entitled to a free UAE visa on arrival for 30 or 90 days. If you are not from one of these visa-on-arrival countries and need a tourist or transit visa (48 or 96 hours), you can apply here.

Transport For Short Stops

• With careful planning, you could use the free shuttle buses put on by Visit Abu Dhabi
• We have a detailed guide to Abu Dhabi transport options over here to help you with your onward journey; taxis are honestly the quickest and easiest way to get around on a short stop, but public transport does exist.

Option 4: Break up your travel with a 2-day break in Abu Dhabi?

Abu Dhabi offers every type of accommodation you can imagine, from cost-effective chain hotels like the Premier Inn, to beyond 5-star luxury hotels like the Emirates Palace.

But why spend 2 days, not just one? Because Etihad will cover your hotel!

You read that right! Whilst they don’t offer a free city tour like other layover cities, Abu Dhabi rolls out the red carpet in a different way by giving you the option to stay for a minimum of 2 nights at one of their designated hotels.

Alternatively, stay up to 4 nights from their list of 3 to 5-star hotels and save 40% booking through Etihad.

We explain exactly how this stopover package deal works in much more detail here, but the most important criterion is that you must be flying Etihad, and must stay over 24 hours!

You can find our complete guide to all the best areas to stay in Abu Dhabi here.

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