Abu Dhabi Airport

T3 is bright clean with speedy security and passport controls. The transit zone before/between flights is not a place to spend more than 2 hours (limited choice of food and shops) but not a bad experience either. T1 is in an another league: old and worn okay for arriving at but not a nice place to depart from. All in all a basic but efficient airport as long as you pass through T3.

Transfer at AUH from LHR enroute to CMB and on return journey. Arrival at AUH Terminal 3 - this is the first time in many years I'd passed through Abu Dhabi and T3 was new to me. Fairly typical modern airport terminal - clean spacious lots of steel and glass. 10 minute walk to Terminal 1 for connecting flight - while still architecturally eye catching showing its age and feeling a bit sticky. 10 or so free internet terminals several of which weren't working. On the return flight we taxied to a remote stand and were bussed to a gate close to terminal 1. Long layover of 6.5 hours. While deciding what to do I was approached by a friendly airport employee who explained my options including (as a UK passport holder) the option to pass through immigration and leave the airport if I so wished. In the end decided to find somewhere quiet to try and catch up with my sleep. Rather than proceed to my departure gate I went up the elevator to the arrivals floor and walked back towards terminal 3. Limited seating en-route and no facilities other than toilets but very quiet and I was largely undisturbed for several hours. I noticed a room full of seating close to the transfer desk. Approaching departure time I made my way back to the departures level and through security (peculiarly I don't remember needing to do this on the outward leg). Once through security the route inevitably winds it's way through a huge shopping area before reaching the T3 departure gates. As is the case with T1 there were several free internet terminals. Plentiful seating at the gates themselves.

Terminal 1 is horrendous in every way and spending any more than 1 hour there is excruciating. A few days ago I had a 5-hour layover in Abu Dhabi airport not knowing which terminal the departure would be from upon landing. Knowing what terminal 1 was like I feared the worst. Thankfully it was from the new T3 which is a huge improvement. I must say the "most improved airport" award that AUH has gotten is really deserved. T3 has plenty of shops plenty of places to eat (which is severely lacking in T1) and plenty of computers with free internet (there were never any lines). It is also clean and looks very modern with actual windows unlike the old terminal. Staff were also quite friendly. When looking at the departure board a staff member immediately approached me and asked me where I was travelling and directed me towards the appropriate gate. I wont mind transiting through this airport for future journeys as long as it is through T3.

The new Terminal 3 is a huge improvement on Terminal 1 with upgraded facilities and overall good passenger experience. Not much to complain about other than the limited seating provided for passengers at T1 and then some rude abrupt and unfriendly police at security checkpoints who has the ability to make any traveller feel most unwelcome for using this airport for travelling purposes.

After a 14+ hour flight I was looking forward to getting a hot shower and a relaxing nap in the airport hotel or at least in one of the pay-for-service lounges during my 8 hour layover. We landed in the new terminal (3?) and whilst at first glance its nice clean and new looking I soon discovered there were very few directional signs no shower facilities no airport hotel or lounge facilities (unless you're Etihad silver or gold member) hardly anywhere to sit nothing to do at all except buy duty free items or line up for 30 minutes of free internet and finding an open information desk was a huge achievement. I was eventually told I would have to go back though security and walk over to the old terminal if I wanted a shower but after having dealt with the rude security staff I declined. Its a real pity that the new terminal is so poorly outfitted will make me seriously reconsider flying Etihad if I have a long layover again.

I am surprised at how a major airport hub like AUH could run with no facilities whatsoever apart from the free internet. I had a very long 12 hour transit in AUH en-route to Cairo from Sydney and was ashamed at the service of facilities. I admit the new terminal 3 is a big push into the skies from the old terminal 1 but there's still more pushing up to do if they want passengers to enjoy their transit in AUH. I have also departed and arrived in AUH and would give them a thumbs up at the services offered during departure and arrival but check in is a nightmare with all Etihad flights checking in from the same line of desks.

Part of an airport's ranking and reviews should depend on how they deal with a medical emergency. I was flying from AUH 2 weeks ago and a passenger in his late 50's dropped to the floor in the duty free. It took almost 15 minutes for a doctor to arrive at which point the passenger had died. A person approached the airport manager about this delay and was told if he did not mind his business he would be detained by the police. Abu Dhabi airport is tiny compared to other major airports where medical staff reach the scene within 3 minutes.

Etihad staff nice but the equipment is dysfunctional. Then there's all the back and forth between the new terminal that is fairly nice and the old terminal which is a dump with a glittery paint job. There are some pluses though: a special business/first class check-in in a separate space and a dedicated immigration officer that covers all airlines. One staffer there was kind enough to go track down a lost sketchbook for me after I had already gone through immigration. The business lounge for BA and other airlines was too small for the number of flights served at peak.

In transit only although a change of terminals was required in both directions. Terminal 1 is the old terminal which is short on seating although architecturally interesting with the tiled mushroom in the centre. However seating is limited food choice is limited and the place is kept over-airconditioned. Terminal 3 is the new terminal and is more spacious with better facilities and a greater choice of eating places: if you are in transit it may be better to stay in Terminal 3 until an hour before your flight and then head across to Terminal 1. Security for transfer passengers changing terminals is reasonable with plenty of space and barriers to direct passengers. I was quite impressed.

Transited AUH both ways. Modern airport with what seems like miles to walk from arrival gate to security and back to departure gate. Long queue for transit security. Usual duty free shops but not very cheap. Free wi-fi signal very weak in food court area. Smell of tobacco smoke everywhere despite the airport being non-smoking in public areas the sliding doors to the smoking booths do not close fully allowing the smoke and smell to permeate through into the rest of the airport.