Abu Dhabi Airport

You expect to be ripped off a bit when you're at an airport, obviously rental costs for vendors are high, but Abu Dhabi takes this to a whole new level. AUD$7 (USD$5) for a small tub of take-away yogurt is a bit much. Want some chocolates? Be prepared to fork over about $4-$5 for a small bar. Didn't experience the overcrowding at the gate this time, but on our last trip there was about 1 seat per 2 people at the gate. The transfer between gates was no problems on either trip. Duty Free? Forget about it. Just wait until you get home and go to the most expensive retailer you can find for pretty much any product on offer. Lots of work going on, so you'd expect things to be improving, but I can't imagine the prices dropping anytime soon.

Abu Dhabi is easily the worst international airport I have used. We were in transit at from Amsterdam on our way to Bangkok, and it was a nightmare. Way too crowded, dirty toilets, hardly any seating facilities and to top it all, rude staff. I can't believe that this could even be a hub for a reputed international airline company. I know there's a new airport terminal on it's way, but how does one get over the experience of the old one which includes inefficient staff who will most probably be transferred to the new facility once it is ready? Security screening for transit passengers was long and arduous. Hardly any staff to control the surge. The security staff are rude and inefficient. They hardly care for customer experience. The smoking lounge opens up into the terminal building, and one can hardly tell the difference between the smoking area and the rest with the smell. Avoid this at all cost. Not sure if I would ever want to travel through this airport again.

Security and immigration in Abu Dhabi Airport went seamlessly however, the airport is too crowded, decor is tired and food choices sub optimal. The food court is laughable - overcrowded and overpriced. Even shopping was disappointing. I usually like to browse around, then eat. I used one of the lounges but that too fell really short of expectation. If I have a choice, I will avoid flying in and out of this airport.

Transit within Terminal 3 (incoming and outgoing flights). Security check queue between flights took half an hour. Many people very frustrated. Even worse was the totally inadequate toilet facilities. I tried two separate male toilets in T3 departure areas before giving up and deciding to wait until later. Men were queuing two deep outside some cubicles. These facilities were strangely lacking for such a busy international airport.

I have travelled through the airport twice in the last month in transit from Manchester to Kathmandu. Going out saw me have to use the older terminal 1 and in fairness, the place coped well and didn't seem too busy. I had no issues with security and the staff were helpful in answering one or two questions that I had. Coming back was a different matter entirely as I had to use terminal 3 late at night and the place was crowded, signage confusing, the toilets were in a sorry state but the best bit was that over a hundred odd people had congregated at Gate 34 in readiness for the Manchester departure only to be told by surly staff that we all had to vacate the lounge in order that passport and boarding passes be checked. There were some unhappy and tired passengers at that moment in time. The powers that be want Abu Dhabi to be a world class airport but it has got some way to go before it becomes one.

✅ Verified Review | Further to my review posted in March 2016: transitting through Abu Dhabi airport in April on a very long journey from Melbourne to Manchester, I naively thought the airport owners would have read its reviews over the last six months and acted on them. This is not the case. So during a 3-hour layover we experienced the same overcrowding, ignorant staff, overpriced and stale snacks, dirty and dingy washrooms and inadequate seating described by many customers in 2015 and 2016. One apparent manager at my gate suggested I complain via the website. I did this via smartphone on the spot. The website feedback link is well-hidden, goes to an auto-complete form - which then fails to submit. The staff I showed this too really couldn't have cared less. I found the airport's corporate website and used their contact form to submit a complaint. There has been no response to this. Avoid, avoid.

What a terrible airport this was. I have done my fair bit of travelling and this airport has to rank as one of the worst. Chaotic, lack of signs, unhelpful staff, overpriced, lack of availability at the restaurants and bar available and a lack of seating. Absolutely freezing - I really cannot comprehend why the air conditioning is cranked up so high, just a general disaster all round. I will avoid this airport in future.

Second time of transit, and just as disappointing as before. Lots of shiney marble doesn't mean its fine to dispense with courtesy. Paid £25GB in local currency for 2x stodgy indifferent sandwiches and small water. Washrooms wet on floors and counters, malodorous and dirty, maybe signage should explain where used toilet paper is correctly deposited as all stalls were overflowing. Many male employees at security checks are ill mannered. Completely pointless second bag search on entering gate seating area. This seemed aimed at preventing bottled water being taken through - why? Airport marketing and strategy appear centred on getting you to pay for premium lounges, with any other customers being herded like cattle. Avoid this airport if viable alternatives appear.

Although a lot of effort is undertaken to promote the airport as a leading international airport, the facilities of AUH are average and compared with top-notch airports in Asia well below average. Abu Dhabi International Aiport is not only uncharming, but also provides only minimal guest services. Dining options are poor and waiting areas will remind passengers of a hospital or a bus station. Moreover, airport staff are unfriendly and at times rather incompetent. However, there is one positive aspect, wifi coverage is fair througout the airport. In conclusion, try to avoid the airport if you have other travelling options.

A new airport but a complete fiasco. Already saturated and undersized. Corridors too narrow. Long queues at security screening. We landed late from Ho Chi Minh City. Connection to Paris had been removed from screen as gate 34 was officially closed. Etihad staff were only assisting passengers connecting to a few destinations. Others were left with a: "run to the gate" which was not on the screen. Staff really need more training in technical and customer service. On both ways, we had to use a Cobus. On our way back, we were leaving from the old terminal. Gate 37. Seating was not suuficient for even one plane. Passengers to Munich who were waiting for gate 38 to open were rudely yelled at by a man to "move out of the gate and wait in the main terminal". He didn't tell them that there was no seats available in that terminal. Very cheeky. A very average and stressful experience. I will avoid this airport in future especially that service to/from Paris was average. Meal service takes far too long the way that it has been set by management.