Abu Dhabi International airport. How to get from abu dhabi airport to the city

The national air carriers of the United Arab Emirates are world famous thanks to modern park aircraft and the highest level of service. One of them is an airline Etihad Airways, the port of which is the capital of the country, Abu Dhabi. Through it, flights depart daily to Asia, Africa, and North America, so the transit area at Abu Dhabi Airport is perfectly adapted to such passenger traffic.

There are also a lot of Russian tourists flying through the UAE. In this regard, the question often arises whether it is necessary to draw up transit visa.

For tourists who plan to leave during the stop transit zone To see the city, you need to put a visa on arrival in your passport. This visa is issued free of charge. If the tourist remains at the airport, he has the right to visa-free transit.

It also happens that a person flies different airlines, which do not belong to the same alliance; in this case, he will have to leave the transit zone to pick up his luggage and check in for a new flight, then a visa on arrival is also needed.

Deadline for visa-free transit

The duration of such a transit is 24 hours. If the time between flights is longer or you just want to stay for a day or two to stay in this wonderful country You need to apply for a visa on arrival. This visa entitles you to stay in the UAE for up to 30 days.

Of course, the absence of a visa imposes certain restrictions. You will not be able to leave the transit zone and enter the city even to spend the night in a hotel.

If the connection is long, the 12-14 hour wait can be tiring even in such a convenient and modern airport like Abu Dhabi. It is especially worth taking care of issuing visas on arrival for those traveling with small children.

Registration procedure

You can apply for a visa on arrival at the airport for free. Outwardly, it is a stamp in the passport, on which the date of arrival is affixed.

Documents required for a transit visa

The following documents are required to obtain a transit visa:

A foreign passport, the validity of which cannot be less than 6 months after returning from a trip.

As for previous visas or marks of visiting Israel, unlike other states in the Middle East, no obstacles will be placed on you. The UAE immigration authorities understand that people can visit Israel for different purposes and allow entry to foreigners who have been there.

Visa for a child

If the child is traveling with one of the parents or accompanied by third parties, you will need to issue a notarized consent to leave.

Visa cost on arrival

Visa on arrival for visiting Abu Dhabi and the entire UAE for up to 30 days is FREE.

Existing restrictions

The maximum length of stay in the country free visa upon arrival is no more than 30 days. Such a visa is extended only once. The renewal cost is $169.

In addition, UAE immigration law allows restrictions on visa-free transit. It may be denied to unaccompanied minors, as well as girls under 30 who are traveling alone.

Arrival at the transit zone

Upon arrival at the transit area of Abu Dhabi Airport, passengers enter Terminal 3, built specifically for Etihad. A small queue to the airline counter passes quickly, here you will need to present your tickets. If you wait more than 8 hours for a flight, you will be given free meal coupons. Here you can also ask for a blanket to relax in the waiting room.

After that, you need to go through the security screening through the metal detector, and you will be taken directly to the third terminal.

To use the issued food coupons, you need to walk a little along the corridor to the round hall and go up the escalator, there you will find a food zone where you can eat. About places where you can use coupons, as well as about all other nuances, consult in advance at the airline counter.

Perhaps one of the most important transit travel– the opportunity to get some sleep and take a shower. Here, too, we tried to foresee this.

To rest, you need to go down to the first floor and go to the boarding gates. Here are the usual places for waiting, as well as reclining chairs. There are a large number of gates here, so you can always find free seats. Nearby there are toilets with showers, where you can clean up before going to bed.

Another important point– the ability to charge tablets, smartphones and laptops. To do this, there are many outlets, and adapters are not required.

Some travelers are afraid of overworking air conditioners. However, the temperature at the airport is quite comfortable. In addition, at night, the speakerphone is turned off and soft lighting is used.

In addition, Abu Dhabi Airport has a well-equipped medical center operating around the clock, a business center for business people, numerous restaurants and bars, post office, currency exchange offices, bank branches, offices where you can rent a car, ATMs and even your own mosque.

Most travelers give credit to both the UAE authorities and the airline representatives: Abu Dhabi Airport is trying to do everything possible for maximum passenger comfort. Few countries can boast of this. After a rest and some pleasant shopping in the local duty-free shops (the assortment and prices of which will certainly not disappoint), you will continue your journey to the country of destination.

One of my favorite vacation spots Russian tourists are the UAE. And if earlier our compatriots tried to get to Dubai for a holiday, today Abu Dhabi is more popular. The demand for this Emirate is proved by the ever-increasing flow of tourists, a large part of which comes from the Russian Federation.

Abu Dhabi airport

Interest in the capital of the UAE, one of the most beautiful and richest cities, is explained quite simply. It is in these amazing places that everyone can perfectly relax on the purest beach area, the length of which seems endless, to splash in the waters of the Persian Gulf and see places that will remain in memory for many years.

Local people firmly believe in ancient legend narrating about the founding of the capital of the UAE. According to legend, Arab hunters were brought to these Amazing places a small gazelle wade to the island in search of a source fresh water. Having discovered the precious water, the pursuers did not kill the poor animal and started building the first building near the natural stream. The settlement was named "Abu Dhabi", which means "Father of the Gazelle" in Arabic.

Long time economy ancient city hung from the fish catch, the amount of pearls collected and the cultivation of crops. However, the situation changed radically after huge oil deposits were found in these places. The extraction and sale of "black gold" not only completely changed the infrastructure of the capital of the UAE, but also turned it into an oasis unprecedented beauty once lifeless desert.

Today, the city is rightfully considered the most beautiful, with an excellently developed economy and infrastructure. And each guest will certainly be able to find entertainment to their liking and have a wonderful vacation, enjoying everything that their soul may require.

To UAE from Russia

Of course, it is more convenient for our compatriots to get to the richest city of the East on a modern airliner. The plane will take passengers to the right place not only quickly, but also in complete security. Given the statistics of accidents, the crash of airliners is much less common than, for example, car accidents.

It is most convenient for residents of Russia to arrive at the international air jetty, located just 30 km from the capital, called Abu Dhabi. The air complex is the second largest among those operating in the UAE, and the official website of Abu Dhabi Airport http://www.abudhabiairport.ae/ will help you learn in full both about the history of the creation of the complex and about convenient ways purchase of air tickets.

The harbor was built back in 1932, and over the years of its development, it had to experience many reconstructions and reincarnations. At present, it is this hub that experts consider as the most developed, and the leadership of the air hub does not stop gathering on its successes. The nearest plans are to increase passenger traffic to 45 million people, and this is a very serious indicator.

By going to the website of the aviation complex at a convenient time for themselves, users will be able to visually assess the infrastructure of the air hub by viewing numerous photos. And to know what status the desired air transport is in, the online scoreboard of departure and arrival of Abu Dhabi Airport will help.

In addition to information regarding the flight, on the site you can find the following:

approximate time of air travel;
ticket price;
allowed weight of luggage and hand luggage;
rules for transporting pets;
what services will be available to visitors to the airport.

Given the reviews about Abu Dhabi Airport, it will not be difficult for first-time passengers to find the right place on the pier. And this task will be even more simplified by the airport map posted on the company's website and available for study by everyone.

Abu Dhabi airport inside

The air terminal serves its visitors in 4 terminals located in the same room and interconnected by a spacious corridor:

The main one is considered to be 1 serving more than 20 air carriers.
Terminal 1-A serves Gulf Traveler.
The need for terminal 2 arose after it was noted that the main one could not fully serve the ever-increasing number of tourists.
The last terminal was put into operation in 2009 to serve the flights of the carrier Etihad Airways.

Travel tip! The map of terminals will help you to navigate upon arrival more easily:

Terminal 1

Terminal 2

Terminal 3

Services for airport visitors

Waiting for takeoff or landing air transport Visitors to the airport can take advantage of numerous services. They help make waiting more comfortable and convenient:

Ordinary, but very comfortable halls, as well as rooms superior comfort at extra charge.
Free Internet and Internet portals operating throughout the harbor area.
Convenient trolleys for transporting luggage. The porter will help carry the tourist's things to right place at extra charge.
You can exchange currency at ATMs located in terminals 1 and 2.
IN air zone and in the first 2 terminals, the smallest visitors to the pier will find entertainment for themselves. On playgrounds children will be able to choose toys for themselves, ride on a small swing and watch exciting cartoon films.
Tourists arriving at the air hub with small children can rent baby strollers for free, use the services of specially equipped rooms for mothers and children.
Fragrant freshly brewed coffee, hot lunches and all kinds of snacks await everyone in modern restaurants and coffee houses.
An employee of the air hub or a special information desk will help you get any information you need.
Paid luggage storage and a medical center are located in Terminal 1.

medicines are sold in pharmacies operating both in the 1st and 2nd terminals;
the transit area of Abu Dhabi airport is equipped with special smoking areas;
SPA services can be used by every visitor of the harbor in terminals 1 and 3.

It should be noted that air conditioners are constantly working on the territory of the pier, so average temperature in the waiting rooms does not rise above 18 * C. For those who love warmth, it will be useful to have a couple of the warmest outerwear with you.

Airport hotels

Visitors to the pier can relax in 2 hotels operating on the territory of the aviation complex:

More than 50 comfortable rooms offering rooms of various classes await visitors at Aerohotel:

the cost of a luxury room varies from 850 to 900 AED;
for an XS class room, great for tourists who prefer to relax in a relaxed atmosphere, you will need to pay approximately 470 AED;
for those who just want to have a good sleep while traveling alone, it is best to stay in the S room, paying about 350 AED for the rest.

Room rates are for a 6-hour stay, including payment of all taxes and services.

Premier Inn - perfect place for tourists seeking maximum comfort and convenience. Travelers can get to the hotel through the passage from 1 or 3 terminals.

Each room provides: free internet access, comfortable upholstered furniture and a full range of services for a comfortable pastime. By booking a room, you will have access to the swimming pool and the well-equipped gym. Using the services of a special shuttle, hotel guests can get to any place in the city for free, where they can relax and have fun.

From the airport to the city

To the city limits from the pier or to reverse direction Tourists can get there in several ways:

On regular bus No. 901, leaving the route every 30 minutes, is the cheapest way to get to the center of the capital of the UAE (for only 3 AED).
Using the services of a taxi, after about 40-45 minutes, tourists will be in the city, paying for the service from 60 to 75 AED.
The most comfortable option is to order a transfer on the airline's website. By making a rental in advance, you can choose the most suitable brand of car for yourself and not worry that after the air transport lands, it will have difficulty arriving in the city. After all, after ordering a guest, the driver will be waiting at the exit of the terminal, holding a sign with his initials, in order to take you to the right place in complete safety.

You need to choose a ground carrier yourself, while deciding what is more important - comfortable ride or the safety of funds.

Air carriers using the airport

The Abu Dhabi air hub is the main base for Royal Jet and Etihad Airways. In addition to the main companies, almost all air carriers use the pier, servicing flights in the direction of the Middle East, because quite often there is a second transfer at the airport in Abu Dhabi. Acquainted with complete list airlines using one of the largest air hubs in the world, the official portal of the complex will help.

Summing up, we can come to the following conclusion: the Abu Dhabi air terminal does not stop at its achievements, it strives to further improve the infrastructure and service sector. And confirm this fact as numerous positive reviews about Abu Dhabi Airport, posted on many travel sites, and countless awards. After all, more than once the pier has received a well-deserved prize in the nomination "The Best Air Hub in the Middle East", and this fact already says a lot.

Have you checked into Abu Dhabi Airport? Please share your impressions in the comments.

In contact with

Abu Dhabi airport, if you look at it from above, it resembles a floating sailing ship. In fact, the airport building is a kind of two parts independent of each other. I silently called them the ship's bow (the part that resembles the top of a fortress tower) and the sail (the part made in the form of a camomile).

Abu Dhabi Airport is a harsh building. Severe, first of all, for those who fly in transit and sit at the airport for a long time, waiting for the desired flight.

The building, in principle, is modern, and everything would be fine, but the temperature …

The air conditioners here work conscientiously, and this is why the airport is not like in the Sahara, but like at the North Pole. In short, full well ... And not just well ..., but well ..., having spent several hours on an ice chair. I sat, froze - well, who is in transit? Join now!

What is most interesting, there are no rooms in the building where you can hide from the cold. A cold windmill literally blows in all halls.

Already after 10 minutes of being at the airport, people take out shirts, sweaters and blankets stolen from airplanes. Those who managed to steal blankets on planes are the happiest. These are mostly nosy Chinese. All the rest, and these are mostly honest Russian citizens, give oak.

The only windproof place in the "fore" part of the airport is the waiting room opposite the exit from the duty-free zone (there is a small souvenir shop in the entrance to the hall). This room is always full of people. At first it seems that the people are lazy and simply do not want to wander into distant halls. But no! After sitting in the distant halls for about ten minutes, you go to the very first one and understand why there are so many people here. The people are looking for where it is warmer, and they find it! In the same hall there are eight chairs for sleeping. They are elongated and flat. However, to "fuck" one of these chairs is a great success, they are always busy.

So most of The population sleeps like this, in coma.

Another set-up of the Abu Dhabi airport is sockets. Well, firstly, they are three terminals, and secondly, the size between the terminals is very small. So our two sticks do not climb into them, push do not push. Well, not only ours, Chinese too. This is so, by the way, maybe someone will console. In short, we are not the only ones suffering. Here a wrinkled Chinese woman stands on all fours and for 5 minutes tries to push the fork into any pair of holes. There are only three combinations, but the Chinese woman does not give up and wonders why she does not succeed ...

This dude from the African continent helped me. Gave an adapter and then patiently waited until my old Nokia swallowed electricity.

Internet desks are located almost throughout the airport, but mostly along the entire waiting area.

The Internet is free everywhere, but, alas, not all racks work. Well, how could it be otherwise: thousands pass through the airport and every second tries to feel the counter, and every third - to fuck on it. So best option- find a stand on the outskirts. Away from people mostly workers.

And in all halls of the airport there is free Wi-Fi.

There are business lounges in the area of gates 20-21. However, there - either with a business class ticket, or for money.

The second part of the airport - "chamomile" or "sail" is more humanized. So my advice... If you have a departure from the "bow" part, but there is a lot of time before the departure of the flight, then move to the "chamomile", it is more pleasant there in all respects.

Pedestrian from one part to another - 10-15 minutes.

First you will find yourself in the duty free zone, do not be alarmed. There is nowhere to sit down. To get settled, you need to go up to the 2nd floor.

What's better here? Well, first of all, it's a little warmer here, Big hall expectations and a lot of fast food.

There is even a McDonald's.

The range, however, is very poor - five to ten positions. New in the Arabic "McDonald's" - shawarma. Arab managers get 5 points for smartness.

And most importantly, it's more beautiful here!

At 04.30 - be ready! Airport speakers explode with prayer. Good morning to everyone who slept: gentlemen Muslims, Christians and Buddhist citizens, of whom there are also in large numbers. Don't relax!

Abu Dhabi Airport left me with an ambivalent feeling. He seemed to me somehow awkward, unexpectedly stingy.

Lots of empty space. The lack of design solutions in a rich country is a little shocking. Avarice and desert! Associations are rather not with the UAE, but with Dushanbe.

Large long corridors to overcome. The conveyor belt found here and there does not save the situation. All this absurdity is brightened up by the grandeur of the central hall.

ABOUT duty free I can't say anything good. The range of goods in fact is quite scarce. The prices are very high, and the equipment is generally outrageous. In Moscow, I bought a decent camera. In Duty Free airport Abu Dhabi, it cost more than 110 dollars!!!
Eating at the airport is very difficult. Prices are appropriate.

After a personal search, you find yourself in a narrow, long corridor with large windows and armchairs, in which you are waiting for a bus to the plane.

There is no drinking water and you can not buy it. If you ask, you will be asked to go back to the screening area. Accordingly, then repeat the procedure. I waited in this corridor for 1.5 hours.

At the airport, the time is automatically updated and corrected on the cell phone. This is useful if you are flying from Thailand as in the Emirates, Moscow time.
It was not hot, but there is a powerful "condo".

I will try to add a few “spoons of honey” to this “barrel of tar”.
Despite the abundance of empty space, you will not be allowed to get lost! From the bus met an Arab and showed the direction of movement. At all the forks there were the same "pointers". If you want to get lost, then it does not matter. We approach any employee of the airport and say: "Bangkok transit." And you will be saved. 1.5 hours before departure, the number of the exit to the aircraft lights up on the scoreboard.
In the waiting corridor I described, there is a service that touches all Russian tourists. This is an opportunity to take a shower. To find it, after a personal search, move along the corridor to the right to the toilets. We go there and ... here it is! Personally, I took advantage while the other passengers came to their senses and thought “is it really true?”, “Is it possible?” etc. I just want to warn you. Paper towels, disposable. It will be difficult to dry long hair. I haven't checked, but rumor has it that there is a hair dryer in the women's bathroom.

They don't really look at anything in person. I had a bottle of champagne and 2 bottles of wine from Domodedovo Dutik in my bag. The packages were not opened, but they were in a closed bag. And in this form, they successfully passed the scanner. Shoes are not removed there, but belts are forced to be removed. Only on the way there the customs officer was very interested in a small "handbag".

An attempt to explain that there my "mobile" led to the opposite result. What was the amazement of the Arab when he really took out a cell phone from there.
My Transit Conclusions:
As a transit, Abu Dhabi can be considered, but only on condition of a short, no more than 2-3 hour wait. It is better not to count on Duty Free and cheap snacks. Screening at Abu Dhabi airport was no problem. Airline "ETIHAD" did not cause any complaints.

So here we are in Abu Dhabi. We got here with the help of the Arab airline Etihad Airways, which makes a transfer here on the way to Bangkok. Last time we flew Emirates and stopped for a transfer in another Arab city of Dubai.

Today my husband and I had a unique opportunity to compare these two airlines. What can I say. Firstly, by choosing one of them, you will definitely not be bored during the flight, because. there is a unique multimedia system on board the aircraft, in which each passenger will definitely find something for himself: films in many languages of the world (including Russian) of all genres, music, computer games, cartoons, etc. and so on. However, the Emirates multimedia system is clearly more advanced - there is much more choice, plus it is possible to turn on the view from the aircraft camera located outside. In general, according to our impressions, Etihad Airways is slightly inferior to Emirates in everything, however, both of these airlines are an order of magnitude (if not five) higher than Aeroflot, not to mention our other or European air carriers.

By the way, if you have to wait long enough for your connecting flight at the airport, you can get a voucher for a free lunch. At Emirates you are eligible for a voucher if the transfer takes more than 4 hours, at Etihad - more than eight. However, in this case, Etihad was much more generous for lunch, giving us the opportunity to choose almost any dish + salad + drink in any of the four restaurants. Emirates, on the other hand, clearly regulates what you can take, and as a result, you get an order of the three cheapest dishes. Of course, you can eat them, especially for free, but if there is something to compare, then in this case Etihad clearly wins.

At the airport in Abu Dhabi (as well as in Dubai) it is simply unrealistically cold, it seems to me that no more than 15 degrees. Everyone walks, sits and sleeps wrapped in blankets, but everyone's teeth are still chattering, tk. the air conditioners blow just icy air, and they are literally located at every step. So keep this fact in mind if you make a transfer at one of these airports and it’s better to immediately take a blanket at the airline counter (photo above).

If you fly through Abu Dhabi or Dubai and want to go to the city, then you will need to take care of purchasing a transit visa in advance (the cost of a visa is about $ 70). Getting it is quite simple if you do it through the airline. Moreover, both Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airlines can obtain a visa for free by booking a room in a certain hotel. However, it is worth noting that if Emirates Airlines has a large selection of hotels, then Etihad Airlines has no choice, because. only one Radisson hotel is offered, although it is of a very good level and for a fairly small amount of money by the standards of the United Arab Emirates. We took a standard double room for $ 140 (the cheapest in this hotel), but in terms of its level, it clearly pulled on a junior suite. In Dubai, for the same cost, the room was many times worse.

In general, the difference between Dubai and Abu Dhabi is felt even at the airport. Firstly, the airport in Abu Dhabi is several times smaller than Dubai and, again, unlike Dubai, there are practically no people in it.

Secondly, the difference in employees between these two airports is simply striking, as if you find yourself in two different countries. In Dubai, everyone is gloomy, angry, with all their appearance showing how tired they are of everything, especially the Arabs working at passport control. It is absolutely normal there if, in front of a huge line, an Arab customs officer simply gets up and slowly leaves for an indefinite time. This is not the case in Abu Dhabi. In any case, we have not seen anything like this, but rather the opposite: as soon as the queue begins to gather, other windows immediately open. In addition, the customs officers here are cheerful and good-natured, laughing and joking.

By the way, if you happen to go through customs in one of these cities, please note that before going to passport control to enter the city, you need to do a retinal scan. This is done close to passport control, and without it you will not be able to go through customs. Moreover, in Dubai, the line for scanning is simply huge, and last time we stood in it for an hour and a half, so you need to run immediately after landing the plane to get a visa, and then also run to take the queue. It is impossible to take a queue and leave, as is customary with us. Another point in Dubai airport the queue is sometimes divided into male and female. So be careful. In Abu Dhabi, there are practically no queues anywhere. Everything is quiet and calm.

By the way, one important point. At Abu Dhabi Airport, all outlets have three inputs. However, the solution to the problem was found quite simply: adapters are sold in the Duty Free shop, which sells all kinds of equipment. They cost about 400 rubles in our money. and fit all types of sockets and plugs. I highly recommend purchasing this adapter. Extremely useful thing. In addition, we then saw a similar adapter in Thailand for 900 rubles.

Well, now about Abu Dhabi itself. The first thing you should pay attention to is the exorbitant prices for everything except for a taxi (it is a little more expensive than in Bangkok, but much lower than in Moscow). So be prepared to leave at least $ 350 for a hotel, travel and food here for a day for two (this is without entertainment, shopping, etc.). After two big transfers in two Arab cities we decided that the next time we flew over United Arab Emirates we’d rather buy a more expensive air ticket with a small transfer than go out into the city. Save by taking inexpensive ticket With long transplant, in the case of the United Arab Emirates, it definitely won’t work, but it will come out the other way around, more expensive. Moreover, if Dubai is really worth a visit to be surprised by the incredible skyscrapers, ride the subway, which is controlled automatically, without a driver, walk along the huge shopping malls and envy smooth as a mirror roads, then there is practically nothing to do in Abu Dhabi.

USEFUL PAGE

On the right side of the page there is a search engine for cheap flights. Looks for almost all airlines in the world. Only if you have found a good flight option, then try to buy a ticket right away. Tickets have a feature to end. Planes, alas, are not dimensionless ...All you need to order is a bank card or an online wallet.

If you are planning a trip to Abu Dhabi, a hand-picked selection of various maps of the city will be an indispensable tool in your journey. This article is the result of a careful search for detailed geographic and tourist maps, plans and diagrams with various data printed on them, allowing you to find out where this or that attraction is located, how to get to the desired street, how the airport terminals are arranged, and what is available in the vicinity of your hotel. Some tagged titles have been translated into Russian. Well, if on some maps they are presented only in English, you can print them out and make all the notes you need.

Abu Dhabi City - administrative center United Arab Emirates, a state located in Southwest Asia, occupying eastern part Arabian Peninsula. Below is a map of the world, which clearly shows Abu Dhabi.

But before exploring the capital itself, it is worth mentioning the emirate itself. Abu Dhabi is the largest of all the emirates that make up the UAE. Its area is 80,000 km², which is 85% of the entire territory of the state.

It is noteworthy that Abu Dhabi is not located on the mainland, but on a T-shaped island, separated from it by a 250-meter strait. We recommend that you carefully consider its schematic plan, presented in several versions.

Distance from Abu Dhabi to neighboring emirates: Dubai - 150 km, to Sharjah - 170 km, Ajman - 180 km, Umm al Quwain - 205 km, Fujairah - 250 km, Ras al Khaimah - 255 km.

A very informative map with streets, house numbers and shopping centers.

Location of the most famous hotels And hotel complexes see here. You may be comfortable in these areas in terms of movement, and you want to stay in one of them.

"Must have" for any tourist - artistic map with sights.

Today, one of the most popular attractions is Ferrari Park. It is truly huge, so its scheme will definitely come in handy.

layout amusement park ""Ferrari World"" on Yas Island 10 km from Abu Dhabi

Perhaps some of you will deign to visit the neighboring town of Al Ain, famous for its amusement parks. Therefore, catch in addition his card.

Well, for a "snack" - a detailed plan of the three terminals capital airport , which is air gate Russian airline"Transaero".

We hope you found what you were looking for with us!

Transit through Abu Dhabi - the capital of the UAE - "threatens" you when flying with Etihad Airways, for which Abu Dhabi Airport is the base. Hundreds of flights land and take off here every day. Personally, I flew in transit through Abu Dhabi Etihad from Moscow to Bangkok. To be precise, the flight looked like this: Moscow - Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi - Bangkok. Connecting between flights usually ranges from 50 minutes to several hours, but it happens that you have to wait for the departure of the second segment for 6-10 hours, or even almost a day. In this case, my post will be useful, because from it you will learn what to do at Abu Dhabi airport and whether it is worth going to the city.

How I flew from Moscow to Abu Dhabi is described in a separate article -. In the same post I will talk about transit through Abu Dhabi and the intricacies of being at its airport, especially if you have to wait a long time for your next flight. In my case, it was about 14 hours. Fortunately, I was not traveling alone, but with a company of five people, so we entertained each other.

Almost all passengers on Etihad flights at Abu Dhabi Airport first enter Terminal 3. It was specially built for this airline. And the counter of this carrier is the first goal upon arrival here. Finding it is not difficult - you get to the terminal from the airfield, if a bus brought you from the plane to the building and go along the main corridor. Along the way you will meet a toilet and a fountain with drinking water next to him. Smokers were also thought of: the smoking room is located to the left of the Etihad Airways counter (about 50 meters away).

We arrived in Abu Dhabi at about nine in the evening, went the above-mentioned route and, despite the evening time, found a line of 50 passengers at the airline counter. When the queue has reached, we show our air tickets and if the wait until the next flight is more than eight hours, you will be given coupons for food. In our case, each received two coupons - for dinner and breakfast. You can also ask for a blanket to cover yourself while relaxing in one of the waiting rooms. By the way, the blanket can also be taken directly from the plane.

Important! Information for passengers flying to Bangkok with Etihad Airways in transit through Abu Dhabi. On the Internet, you can find information that the carrier provides a free room at the hotel at the airport. It's not: in the direction of Bangkok none free hotels long gone and no one will provide it to you, even if the waiting time is 24 hours. Such a service was once provided and even exists now, but for other destinations: less massive and more expensive.

But the Etihads want to say thank you for the blanket with free food vouchers. Having received everything you need, you need to pass the counter, turn left and go down. There is an inspection point here, metal detectors are installed. After passing them, you will directly enter the area of terminal 3 with its numerous duty free shops.

Food Court and Lounge at Abu Dhabi Airport

After dinner, my friends and I set off to look for a place to "lodge". To do this, you need to go down to the first floor and go along the right side of the round hall to the passage. It leads to the gates - near each there are dozens of places to wait and several reclining chairs that resemble sunbeds. Immediately after the corridor, there were a lot of people near the gates, so we moved on. We got to gate 31, where there were practically no passengers. Here they immediately found six free reclining chairs, which were installed near the window - it overlooked the runway.

A big plus of our location was that next to the 31st gate there is a shower (!). It is marked with a special icon, it is easy to find. We pass a small duty free, on the right we find the stairs down, go down and immediately we find a prayer room and toilets equipped with showers. Freshen up after the flight and at the same time get ready for bed - that's what you need! True, I didn’t have a towel with me, I had to buy it at the nearest duty free for 23 dirhams (about 230 rubles). But what a buzz you experience after taking a shower! And the long hours of waiting until the next flight are not terrible.

Night at the airport: inconvenient, but where to go

After all the hygienic procedures, our company in full force settled on reclining chairs, covered itself with blankets and dozed off. Of course, it is difficult to sleep in such a bed, but it is quite possible to relax. Fortunately, the waiting rooms are illuminated at night with a soft, unobtrusive light and no announcements are made over the speakerphone.

In the morning we took a shower again, brushed our teeth, and went to breakfast - up to the round hall and up the escalator. Breakfast turned out to be richer - scrambled eggs, fried bacon, mushrooms and sausages. Plus coffee. After breakfast, there were still about three hours left before departure. We spent them walking around duty free. Last hour sat in the gate, from where the boarding was supposed to begin.

She was delayed for about an hour due to a dust storm and in the end, the Abu Dhabi airport began to irritate little by little. Still, 15 hours at the airport is not the easiest pastime. The thought crept into my head that even for the sake of cheap tickets in this way I would no longer fly. But to be honest, it evaporated after a few days. Knowing what and how is arranged at the airport, as well as traveling in a company, you can survive all this. The flight from Abu Dhabi to Bangkok was the same as from Moscow to Abu Dhabi, except that it lasted an hour more. And the same friendly flight attendants, tasty food and an entertainment system for each passenger.

Summing up: briefly about Abu Dhabi Airport

To consolidate the information, I will cite the main points of the stay at the Abu Dhabi airport, described above or not noticed in the text, in the theses.

Upon arrival at Abu Dhabi airport, we first find the Etihad Airways counter: find out about coupons, ask for blankets, find out other necessary information.
The food court is located on the second floor, but not all places can eat with coupons.
Empirically, we have calculated that one coupon is equal to the cost of food for about 20 dirhams.
It is not difficult to find seating and reclining places at the airport: there are a huge number of waiting rooms near the gates.
You can charge your smartphones, tablets or laptops using any free outlet that catches your eye. They are at Abu Dhabi airport, although they do not look like Russian ones, but no adapters are required.
During the long wait, the shower will become great way to relieve fatigue and put yourself in order. It is located in several places. I found it near gate 31.
There are many dutiks in the third terminal of the Abu Dhabi airport, but the prices leave much to be desired. I do not recommend purchasing equipment, perfumes and jewelry here. But you can stock up on alcoholic drinks.
Throughout the third terminal there are free wi-fi. Access point - ADAC Free Wireless. On the welcome page, click Accept and that's it.
There are reviews on the Internet that air conditioners at the airport do not work like children and it takes a few minutes to freeze here. My experience and the experience of my friends says otherwise: the air conditioners work here, of course, but the temperature is quite comfortable. Even after a shower, the halls are not cold, maximum fresh.

In general, Abu Dhabi Airport, and to be precise the third terminal, left me with a positive impression. Everything is done for people and even a long waiting time does not give rise to thoughts of suicide. :)

From Abu Dhabi airport to the city: how to get there, do I need a visa

Many tourists who have bought flights with long connections (10 hours or more) want to spend their time usefully and decide to go see Abu Dhabi or even book a hotel in the city to relax between flights. Especially after February 1, 2017, when the United Arab Emirates introduced a free visa-free entry to the country for the Russians. Previously, it was necessary to buy a transit visa lasting 96 hours, which cost a lot of money. So if you are transiting through Abu Dhabi and decide to leave the airport, you can do it without any problems. The main condition: a passport that is valid for the next 6 months.

How to get from Abu Dhabi airport to the city

Two main options

Public transport.
Taxi/transfer.

You can leave Abu Dhabi Airport for the city by bus around the clock. Several routes go to the city (the fare is the same for everyone, in 2017 it is 4 Arab dirhams). For more information about each of the routes, see the airport website (in English).

Please note that there are shuttles between Abu Dhabi Airport terminals free shuttles, the frequency of movement is every 15 minutes.

Abu Dhabi airport transfer

Transfer from Abu Dhabi to the city can be booked in advance online. For example, through (see the cost there). The advantage is that the price is final and will not increase, while local taxi drivers can easily cheat by taking it in a roundabout way so that the final amount comes out more.

There, on the service website, you can order or, conversely,