Abu Dhabi Airport review - Brian Corrigan

8 April 2008    Customer Rating :

Spent 4 hours there in Business class lounge which was a huge disappointment, seating limited, food very average and the poor people who had to sit in the main terminal which was smoky and smelly from age. They really need to get their act together on this one and speed up the building of the new terminal. I flew Etihad which was okay, but no service offered by ground crew telling us if boarding had commenced and their attitude left a lot to be desired towards Business/First class passengers.

Abu Dhabi Airport review - J Sabaduquia

2 April 2008    Customer Rating :

A 5 hour layover in Abu Dhabi - my flight was from MNL-JFK and it needs a layover in Abu Dhabi when we arrive there was no assistance not even 1 staff guiding us were to go. When we arrived at the airport, waiting near the duty free it smelled like cigarette and very uncomfortable,. Airport was very crowded but seats in the waiting are were comfortable. When we boarded the plane there was no priority boarding for first, business and passengers with children. All in all AUH airport is one of the worst airport, glad they are making a new terminal.

Abu Dhabi Airport review - J Wright

12 March 2008    Customer Rating :

4 hour stopover connecting on Eithad Airways between SYD-AUH and AUH-LHR flights in the early hours of the morning. One plus is that the terminal is very small so not too far to walk (though I was subjected to a long bus ride from the aircraft to the terminal on arrival) and staff available to assist and ask questions once inside the terminal. There are also free internet terminals and plasma screens showing BBC World, however, it really is a boring and very small airport to spend a few hours in - there really is nothing to see or do. Take your iPod or a good book and be prepared for a crowded and noisy experience. I was relieved when I found my next flight was boarding. I found Etihad Airways to be excellent but I'd consider flying another airline to avoid Abu Dhabi airport until they've completed the new terminal.

Abu Dhabi Airport review - S Cooke

7 March 2008    Customer Rating :

A spectacular mosaic work of art doubles as the International terminal. A dozen free Internet terminals are available, and free wireless Internet - but unfortunately my browser was unable to make a connection. If I have one serious complaint it is the non-stop tannoy - so loud it was difficult to hold a conversation. Plenty of plasma screens advised when our connecting flight was boarding. All the gates are visible from each other and only a short walk away.

Abu Dhabi Airport review - K Burnie

30 January 2008    Customer Rating :

We spent 2 hours on the way to Sydney in Abu Dhabi airport and then 4 hours on the way back, it is small, only one place to get a drink or food. There is not enough seating. When you then go to the boarding gate it was a joke, there was not enough seats. I will not be using Abu Dhabi airport again.

Abu Dhabi Airport review - Ziyad Khan

2 January 2008   Customer Rating :

AUH-JED. Had an 8 hour layover, which was awful. Airport is too small for the volume of passengers it is handling. Many flights leaving after 0100; all to destinations with extremely high loads like Munich, Toronto, New York, Dhaka, Karachi etc. All these flights leave within couple of minutes of each other creating havoc in the airport for couple of hours.

Abu Dhabi Airport review - D Fay

23 October 2007   Customer Rating :

Had a 2-hour layover at AUH in both directions flying with Etihad DUB-SYD. The airport is OK for about 2 hours but the facilities are pretty limited: the Piano Bar has about 10 seats! It seems small and congested for the volume of passengers being handled and I would not have fancied a longer stay.

Abu Dhabi Airport review - David Allan

24 May 2007   Customer Rating :

Arrived in AUH last weekend - spotlessly clean; efficient and friendly immigration with no queues - perfect welcome. Spent a few hours in the airport while waiting to board my Etihad flight back to CGK - spotlessly clean, sufficient if not expansive shopping facilities available. A bit crowded around 1.00am (many in transit en route to EU/SE Asian destinations - many flights departing around 2.00am), but not intolerably so. In brief - a nice, compact airport which is hassle free unlike DXB.

Abu Dhabi Airport review by Leonard Haid

14 May 2007   Customer Rating :

I had a 13-hour layover, and unfortunately my airline couldn't provide a free hotel room. The transit hotel is expensive, so I thought I'd hang out at the airport. I lasted about 4 hours. The seats all have immovable armrests, so you can't stretch out, and I didn't see anyone sleeping on the floor. That's a no-no, I guess. So, if you face a long layover and need a good sleep to stay sane, and don't want to pay big bucks for a hotel, and want a little adventure, get a free tourist visa at Immigration and take a 20 dollar taxi to the city. Stay at a reasonably- priced hotel, which you can find beforehand on the Internet, or ask about at the airport. Explore the city for a while after you rest up, then head on back to the airport in time for your plane. In summary: The airport's just fine, but not a great place for sleepyheads on a tight budget.

Abu Dhabi Airport review by Gavin Stewart

5 May 2007   Customer Rating :

Abu Dhabi is now no smoking all the way except for designated pens. The airport has character and that circular tiled jelly-mould at the centre is quite something to see. Arrivals are extremely quick at getting you through. Passport guys friendly and chatty. Going the other way, check- in is really fast, ditto security in my experience. There is a good local's cafe upstairs on landside with nice views and which is a lot of fun. The whole place is a long way from sanitised identikit airports you get most places. Shopping is nice and compact, good handicrafts upstairs if you're into that. There is more shopping than you first realise. Piano Bar, halfway down the stairs, hilarious - every airport should have one. My one overriding tip is, don't bother going down to the gate until the last second. The satellites are very small, can get a bit stuffy and you may be lucky to sit on anything except the floor. Also the boarding pass checks on the ramp down to the satellites are a bit of a mess. Frequently done by plain clothes operatives who could be anyone, and with no actual airline desk pax often wonder what's going on and why. Stay in the jelly mould and do some people watching - even when packed it's a fun buzzy place to be rather than a hassle. Etihad connections to Dubai are quick and plentiful by coach - a nice way of reaching Dubai whilst avoiding DXB.

Abu Dhabi Airport review by Tim Howson

24 March 2007   Customer Rating : n/a

I travel through Abu Dhabi airport on a weekly basis and it is great. The speed in which you are processed is remarkable both in and out. For those who want to shop it may not be the best, however they have everything that anyone would require from airport shops. I try to get in and out of airports quickly and not stop to do my weekly shopping. I find that the officials can sometimes be a bit abrupt but it is not their intention to be rude. The seating is lacking but that depends on the time of day, much the same as any other airport in the world. Smoking areas have now been established which will make a cleaner environment for non-smokers. The facility is compact and there are no huge distances to walk to get anywhere, unlike other airports where you can walk for miles to get a drink or a plane. Construction is underway to upgrade the airport and I am sure it will be first class. Do not compare Abu Dhabi to Dubai, they are chalk & cheese, with AD being smaller and more cautious on their infrastructure design and city development. Whilst the airport is out of town, it must not be forgotten that the city is expanding rapidly and it only takes 30 minutes into the centre. It can take 2 hours to get from Dubai airport to Jumeriah.

Abu Dhabi Airport review by Chris Bridge

13 February 2007

Man-AUH-BKK with 2 hour stopover in Airport . I call this airport the "Donut". Quick off the flight and quick on the next leg. Duty free was good, Cheap. Food was ok and the staff were efficient. As a smoker this place is paradise but noticed some No-Smoking areas if you looked for them.

Abu Dhabi Airport review by Beth Brewis

9 January 2007

We arrived about 2am and it was smokey and there were a few people lying on the floor but it wasn't packed. However, after about half an hour in the transit queue to get our boarding passes for the Bangkok flight, we were issued with a voucher from Etihad Airways for a night at the transit hotel, which is within the airport complex so we were able to have a very comfortable rest, shower, breakfast and just turn up at the gate the next morning for the flight. No check in or hassle. We didn't expect or ask for that so good for Etihad - Brilliant service! On the way back we had a one hour stopover so we made our way to the transit hotel, used the facilities to freshen up and had plenty of time to go back and make our duty free purchases. This time it was mid afternoon and very quiet. I wouldn't dispute any of the comments already made because it is so small with poor ventilation and would be quite unable to cope with large numbers of people and especially lots of smokers. I could see it would be a nightmare, we were just lucky.

Abu Dhabi Airport review by Frank Aylett

1 January 2007

I've been through Abu Dhabi airport this year and will be there early next. Its small, but its also functional. I'm an ex-smoker of many years but didn't notice the problems others have with smoke. The rest rooms were not dirty either. I would say that because of its size the airport is a bit limited for eating but hardly as bad as many European airports - and not as anything like as bad as many American airports which for all their size are very lacking. The security people were fine with me as were the customs and immigration.

Abu Dhabi Airport review by Chris Stoever

3 December 2006

The airport Abu Dhabi is just hell! In peak times totally over-crowded, too few seats and full of smokers - as there are no non-smoking areas. Biggest problems are the dirty lavatories. For the main toilets on ground floors you have to queue up. Anyway, on the 2nd floor are also toilets available- but no signs at all guiding to these. And this is the next big problem. No signs at all to important facilities. Eg: signs to the transit hotel are only available outside the main hall! This airport is in an urgent need for a refurbishment as it will takes years until the new terminal will be opened!

Abu Dhabi Airport review by Peter Beddoes

14 July 2006

Have flown into AUH twice now last year and the year before that. AUH is old and in need of some refurbishment but the speed in which you are processed when arriving is excellent. on both occasions within 20 minutes of the doors opening we have been in a car on the way to Dubai. The return is always interesting. Seems the staff (acting for BA) wanted to create a coral but as there were a number of passengers waiting already they tried to work around them with hilarious results. The terminal is lacking in facilities and the restrooms are functional rather than clean. Seats are at a premium and drinks etc are few and far between. Could be the time we travelled as European flights in the very early hours also clash with South Asia morning flights so lots of people and bags. Security staff are disappointing on the way out they need some customer care lessons as they seem to treat everyone with little courtesy or respect. Mind you time from plane to hotel seems to be about the same as DXB to hotel and the journey up from AUH is pleasant. Lower your expectations and you won't be disappointed.

Abu Dhabi Airport review by Peter Coates

24 June 2006

Been using this airport since 1983. While building is the same the services have improved, gone is the central fountain, replaced by shops. Not enough seating, and too many smokers. Smaller but quicker than Dubai.

Abu Dhabi Airport review by Robin Dixon

15 March 2006

The satellite design is weird and at times must be very crowded. However, we travelled home on Gulf Air's lunchtime flight to Heathrow and the place was pleasantly quiet. Duty Free shopping is much more limited than Dubai's but adequate enough. Check-in was very quick and easy (no queues at all), as was Immigration and there is no long walk like there is at Dubai. High point was the deserted Ghazal Lounge, accessed using my Privilege Pass. We were able to await departure in considerable comfort with excellent service. Unusually, there was a full meal (chicken and pasta or vegetable curry and rice) to go with the snacks and free drinks. Internet access too, TV's, a large aquarium and all close to the departure gate. Having read all the reports about AUH on this excellent website, it really wasn't as bad as expected and under an hour's drive from our Jumeirah Beach hotel. Dubai airport can take that long from Jumeirah in the horrible traffic!

Abu Dhabi Airport review by Ian Milligan

12 January 2006

Disappointingly pathetic. Two tier departure area, full of small shops with overpriced goods inside. Only two eating areas, which appear to be filled with cigarette smokers! Very limited seating and also very noisy, especially late at night.

Abu Dhabi Airport review by Samir Vora

2 January 2006

In transit from GVA to BOM. Congested transit area. Filled with smoke. No separate areas for smoking and non smoking passengers. Only two Cafes which serve few items besides drinks. Shopping is limited, sitting areas are on upper level. Between 11 pm and 1 am the airport is packed.

Abu Dhabi Airport review by Kurt Müller

8 December 2005

Arrived at 7.30 p.m. on EY from GVA. Passed through immigration in less than 3 minutes. Waited 10 minutes for luggage, during which period I felt like a laboratory animal subjected to a secondary cigarette smoke test. Once you exit the customs area and are landside, the terminal looks more like a temporary exhibition hall. The booths for foreign exchange, information, landside transport etc. all look alike - more prominent signage would help. Found taxi for ride to Dubai immediately and got there within 70 minutes.

Abu Dhabi Airport review by Steve Kenowen

10 July 2005

I fly to Abu Dhabi twice a year and have done so since 2001. The first time one lays eyes on the terminal is a rather strange experience- you'll either love or hate its design. I fall into the hate category. The previous comment made about its circular design not providing any secluded areas is completely accurate - there is no quite part of the terminal. At busy times, finding a seat can be a harrowing experience. The shopping is pleasant enough, but the dining options (or should I say option) is terrible - a small cafe with about 20 seats trying to serve around 200. The smoking has never bothered me - it does seem like they do a good job of recycling the air. The secondary security screening on the jetway is obnoxious and could be eliminated if they did a half decent screening at the first checkpoint. All in all, it's managable for an hour or two. Lately though, I've started flying into Dubai.

Abu Dhabi Airport review by Sascha Menzendorf

7 June 2005

In my opinion, AUH is one of the worst und uncomfortable airports conceivable. As I currently work in Abu Dhabi, I spent quite some time at the airport, and, it is always a pain. Very rude staff (which is not due to cultural issues!!!), very scummy terminal, far to overcrowded and the worst restrooms one can imagine. The airport construction itself seems very mangy and inappropriate for an international airport. Moreover, the security measures in place are an absolute joke. It happened twice that based on my European origin, I wasn't checked at all even though the detector signaled. Once, the final check (and only serious check) before entering the aircraft wasn't occupied as the officers on duty preferred to smoke. I travel a lot, but I haven't seen something like this before. By all means, try to avoid this airport if somehow possible.

Abu Dhabi Airport review by Jay Sangha

30 March 2005

A complete hive of an airport. Smoking is not permitted but forced upon you from secondary inhalation. Security staff are very rude and have no manners at all. Airside, limited eating options, poor seating and no place to escape the smoke, especially when you have young children. Shopping is limited with a handful of shops that sell virtually everything although prices are competitive with western shops.

Abu Dhabi Airport review by R Castillo

30 March 2005

During my brief stopover (20mins) in Abu Dhabi to Heathrow - I had a nerve wrecking experience when the gate personnel held me for questioning of my transit without visa status to London. As per British High Commission's advice in Brunei (point of origin) I am exempted to secure a transit visa for as long as I will not stay over 48hrs in London, given that I have a valid US visa. Based on my confirmed ticket to US from Gatwick, London - I need to transit 30 hrs in London. The gate personnel told me that they are only aware of the 24hr. transit without visa policy- but when they verified with Heathrow Immigration there seemed to be no problem about the less the 48hrs. transit. It was more than an inconvenience to be held and to undergo interrogation. I hope that they will take my case as an experience and that they should take initiatives in updating themselves with other countries' new immigration policies than dealing with it upfront or only when the need arises.

Abu Dhabi Airport by Patrick Van Reusel

14 March 2005

I had a 4 hour stopover in Abu Dhabi airport. The shape of the airport: sort of mix between a swimming pool and a circus tent? The airport was overcrowded. I guess this is the only airport in the world where it is allowed to smoke. So after 4 hours there I was smelling like I spend the whole night in a sleazy bar. They accept Euro currency and even give change coins in Euro. The "Jewel on the crown" at the airport was the security. Before boarding everybody was checked by security officers in military uniforms. Because I carry a pacemaker, I am not allowed to pass the metal detector gate. After I told the security officer about the pacemaker, he told me he never heard of a pacemaker so he told me to pass the metal detector. I told him that it was his job to know about a pacemaker and the risks involved in combination with a metal detector. After some argue with the first officer, he sent me to the second one. And again the same story, he wanted me to pass the metal detector. Then he asked me a document to proof that I have a pacemaker. I gave him the pacemaker ID card. After having a short look at it, he threw it away on the table, ordered to take off my shoes and did a manual body search. This body search was done in a very hard and rude way, like he was angry and wanted to hurt me. Finally he had to let me go to the airplane.

Abu Dhabi Airport review by Vernon Noronha

28 January 2005

Spent 4 hours here in November 2004. It was dire. The toilets are primitive and dirty, the eating options are few, the shopping is limited, and the seating is scarce. There are throngs of people milling about and we were so happy to get to our connecting flight.

Abu Dhabi Airport review by Chris Carre

1 November 2004

I had to wait in Abu Dhabi for six hours connecting from Kathmandu to London. I have never been so bored in my life - there is nothing to do. The airport is very small and was so busy there were not enough seats to go round so people were sitting on the floor. The duty free is advertised as being one of the best but is just a small collection of small shops. I tried the piano bar but this is 5 stools against a very short bar on a small landing half way down a staircase with no staff present. The worst part was that the small terminal is circular so no matter where you sit it all seems to look the same, and there is no quiet corner where you can find some peace and quiet from the crowds (at 2AM).For a two hour transit outbound it was fine , but for a long stay when I had already seen everything on offer on the way out it was torture.

Abu Dhabi Airport by Maarten Visschers

11 October 2004

Had to wait 4 hours at Abu Dhabi Airport for my connecting flight to Kathmandu. The airport is the worst I've ever been, and absolutely not comparable with DUB or BAH. The building resembles something in between Starship USS Enterprise and a swimming pool. I was there in the evening, it was extremely crowded, and you could hardly hear any announcements as the echo was terrible. Also, there are hardly any windows.

Abu Dhabi Airport by E Euwen

18 March 2004

I travelled through Abu Dhabi airport in July 2003 with a 2 hour stopover - it was wonderful! An oasis of an airport. Not bad, considering we arrived late at night and were expecting everything to be closed. The airport is small enough to get around easily and unlike other comments I thought the Duty Free shops were pretty well-priced and had a good selection. The design of the airport (which others have criticised) is very pleasant and I actually DO think this makes a difference. Lots of places to sit and the shops/coffee stands accept all different currencies with the minimum of fuss.

Abu Dhabi Airport by Nessa Keogh

31 October 2003

I found my stopover in Abu Dhabi very pleasant indeed. It was greatly helped by its beautiful architecture in soothing colours (some won't agree with this!), and ease of getting around. Given its size, it offered a pretty wide selection of duty free goods. While I thought that electronic items were fairly expensive (esp in comparison to Bahrain), watches were very good value and certainly a good deal cheaper than UK high street prices. The ladies' toilets could do with some improvement, but I know few airports where these excel. I notice that some of the previous comments refer to it as "empty", but when I was there (for 4.5 hours), it was abuzz and all the shops and facilities were open when I left at 2.30am. The departure gate was also very pleasant, with very comfortable seating.

Abu Dhabi Airport by Mehtab Rahman

8 October 2003

The Abu Dhabi airport is one of the most disappointing airports I have been to. Upon entering the main terminal, I was quite surprised to see a very 'tacky' green umbrella like structure rising from the duty free floor, which I was informed later is supposed to resemble a flower (?). The range of duty free is quite poor, the prices quite high compared to other duty free, and a very limited selection of food available at the tiny food court. The italian coffee shop is passable, but then again, not very impressive. All in all, you will become bored of the airport within half an hour of your transit time. On the good side, the boarding & the transit procedures are quite quick, and because there are not many passengers transiting at AUH, the airport is quite peaceful. Personally, I definitely would not want to transit at AUH again - DXB is way better!

Abu Dhabi Airport by Michael McAdam

15 September 2003

I think one of the major annoyances at Abu Dhabi airport is that because of the lovely design of the building, it is practically impossible to hear any of the announcements being made. They all sound the same as the echo is just awful. Architecturally it may be very clever, but it's one of those buildings where the architects should be forced to use it.

Abu Dhabi Airport by Shabab Attarzadeh

9 May 2003

AUH is the capital of the United Arab Emirates but has a compact airport compared to Dubai. It lacks many facilities and is old. Even though they are starting to build a new terminal, it's about time.

Abu Dhabi Airport by Richard Thompson

20 September 2002

Reference Sadiq Hassan's comments - the major advantage Abu Dhabi has over Dubai is that it is comparatively small and prides itself on very quick processing. It can take ages to clear Dubai on arrival as the new terminal goes on forever and ever. I rate quick and efficient processing higher than duty free facilities etc as I want to minimise the time I spend at the airport but I guess it's a matter of personal preference. On the downside Abu Dhabi Airport is miles out of town whilst DXB is very central. By the way AUH is tendering for an additional terminal with extensive duty free etc.

Abu Dhabi Airport by Sadiq Hassan

14 September 2002

I flew Swiss, ZRH AUH KHI and compared to my normal route via Dubai, the AUH airport standard was considerably lower than Dubai. Firstly the airport was like a ghost town, with fewer than 20 people in view. Although the interesting architecture was there, (the airport is shaped like a flower) the duty free was sparse. In conclusion, Abu Dhabi is only suitable for people that have 1hr transits or less or have to use it.