Arriving at Abu Dhabi airport and getting to Saadiyat
Saadiyat Travel Guide editorial team · Published 2 October 2026
Abu Dhabi airport is Zayed International Airport (AUH), called Abu Dhabi International Airport until 2024, and all flights use one building, Terminal A. A taxi to Saadiyat Island takes about 25 min and costs roughly AED 75 (≈ $20) by the meter. There is no direct bus. The airport is about 30 km east of the city center.
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Abu Dhabi airport name, code and terminal
The official name has been Zayed International Airport since 9 February 2024. Many booking sites, maps and taxi drivers still use the old name, Abu Dhabi International Airport. The codes did not change: IATA AUH, ICAO OMAA. If your ticket says "AUH Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates," this is the airport.
Terminal A, built as the Midfield Terminal (some maps and older articles still use that name), opened at the turn of October and November 2023, and since 15 November 2023 every airline has used it. The old Terminals 1, 2 and 3 are closed. Etihad Airways, the national airline, is based here.
Is Abu Dhabi airport big? Terminal A covers 742,000 m² and is built for up to 45 million passengers a year. In 2024 the airport handled around 29.5 million passengers.
For a terminal map, use the airport's own website and app: gate assignments change, so we don't reproduce them here.
Which airport is in Abu Dhabi?
For most visitors, the answer is Zayed International (AUH). Dubai's airports are in a different emirate, about an hour away by road; see Dubai to Abu Dhabi.
Where is Abu Dhabi airport?
The airport is on the mainland, about 30 km east of central Abu Dhabi, which sits on its own island. Saadiyat Island and Yas Island are both closer to the airport than the Corniche. Dubai is to the northeast.
How far is Abu Dhabi airport from the Burj Khalifa? The tower is in Downtown Dubai, so allow at least an hour by road, and more at rush hour.
How to get from Abu Dhabi airport to Saadiyat Island
The quickest way is a taxi or a ride-hailing car: about 25 min, with no changes. The bus is cheapest but takes several hours.
- Airport taxi. From the official rank outside arrivals. By the meter, a trip to Saadiyat comes to roughly AED 75 (≈ $20). That is our calculation from the official tariff for 30 km without waiting time, not a fixed fare.
- Uber or Careem. Both work in Abu Dhabi and charge your card in the app. Airport trips typically cost AED 70–110 (≈ $19–30), and prices change with demand.
- Private transfer. A driver usually meets you in arrivals, and the price is fixed when you book. It makes sense with children, lots of luggage, a late landing, or a group that needs a larger car.
- Bus. There is no direct bus. The trip takes about 2 hr 47 min with two changes; city route 94 stops at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. On the island, the electric ART bus AR2 runs through the Cultural District between teamLab Phenomena, the Louvre and Saadiyat Walk every 30 min.
Saadiyat has five beach resorts, and taxi drivers know them by name: the St. Regis, Park Hyatt, Saadiyat Rotana, Rixos and Jumeirah, which stands apart on the north shore. Some resorts arrange an airport transfer for an extra charge; ask when you book.
If you land in the morning, your first beach day can start the same afternoon: Kai Beach and Saadiyat Beach Club sell day tickets, so you don't have to wait for hotel check-in.
Taxis from Abu Dhabi airport
Airport taxis have their own tariff, set by Abu Dhabi Mobility. As of October 2026:
- Flag fare: AED 20 (≈ $5)
- Per kilometer: AED 1.82 (≈ $0.50)
- Waiting: AED 0.5 (≈ $0.14) per minute
- Booking through the app: AED 4 (≈ $1) from 06:00 to 22:00, AED 5 (≈ $1) at night
The flag fare is the main difference from a city taxi, which starts at AED 5 (≈ $1). A trip into the city typically costs AED 70–80 (≈ $19–22).
The taxi rank is outside the arrivals hall, next to a free visitor information desk. You can pay in cash, with Apple Pay, Samsung Pay or PayBy, or by card through the Abu Dhabi Taxi app. Family taxis and adapted Mercedes Vito vans for wheelchair users are available if you book in advance.
Buses and public transport from the airport
Buses are the cheapest option but slow, and none goes straight to the hotels on Saadiyat or Yas.
- Airport routes A1 and A2. Both run 24 hours a day into the city; seven bus routes serve the airport in total. Check current stops and frequency on the airport website before you rely on them. A ticket costs AED 4 (≈ $1).
- Hafilat card. City buses take the Hafilat smart card, which costs AED 10 (≈ $3). You can buy one from ticket machines, SPAR and Lulu stores, and the Customer Happiness offices at bus stations and at the airport.
- City fares. AED 2 (≈ $0.54) boarding plus 5 fils per km, capped at AED 5 (≈ $1) per trip. Children under 10 ride free, and up to two transfers within 60 minutes count as one trip. A 7-day pass costs AED 35 (≈ $10).
- Main bus terminal. Intercity buses to Dubai leave from Abu Dhabi's Central Bus Station. If you are going to Dubai straight from the airport, the AUH Express (below) is simpler.
With luggage and two changes, the bus to Saadiyat takes about 2 hr 47 min. For most arrivals, a taxi saves more than two hours.
Abu Dhabi airport to Dubai
- AUH Express bus. Runs 24 hours a day from the airport to Ibn Battuta bus station in Dubai, next to a metro station. The fare is about AED 35 (≈ $10) and the trip takes 90–120 min.
- Taxi. About 1 hr for 111 km, at roughly AED 250–300 (≈ $68–82).
- Train. Etihad Rail now runs between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but its Abu Dhabi station is in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, not at the airport.
All the options, including the train and intercity buses, are compared in Dubai to Abu Dhabi.
Hotels at and near Abu Dhabi airport
Is there a hotel at Abu Dhabi airport? Yes. AUHotel is inside Terminal A, in the airside transit area, so you can stay without going through immigration. According to the airport, it offers 6-, 12- and 24-hour stay packages for layovers, a 24-hour front desk and in-room dining. Because it is airside, it is meant for passengers with an onward flight: check the booking conditions before you reserve.
If you want to sleep landside, you have three choices:
- Premier Inn Abu Dhabi International Airport. About 6 km from the airport, with a free shuttle to Terminal A that runs 24 hours a day, according to Premier Inn. It is a plain hotel for one night before an early flight.
- Khalifa City. A residential district near the airport with cheaper hotels. They are places to sleep, with little to do nearby.
- Yas Island, about 15 min from the airport: theme parks and around ten hotels, with a free airport transfer for guests of Yas hotels.
For more than one night, an island is usually the better base. Saadiyat Island is about 25 min away: beach resorts, plus the Louvre and the other museums of the Cultural District. See all Saadiyat hotels. For the city's other areas, see where to stay in Abu Dhabi.
Etihad stopover and layovers at Abu Dhabi airport
The airport is a hub, and layovers are common. If you fly Etihad return and stop in Abu Dhabi for at least 24 hours, the airline's stopover offer gives you one or two free hotel nights at selected hotels, as of October 2026; breakfast is not included, and you reserve at least 72 hours before you arrive. Check eligibility and hotel list on etihad.com. If your passport needs a visa to leave the airport, arrange it first: see the visa guide.
For a connection of a few hours, you stay airside. What the airport itself lists for transit passengers:
- Wi-Fi. Free and unlimited throughout the airport.
- Luggage storage. A secure storage facility, open 24 hours, for a few hours or several days.
- Money. Travelex exchange desks in arrivals, departures and the transit area, open 24 hours, and bank ATMs in the terminal.
- Sleep and showers. AUHotel sells short stays (see above). Showers are available in the lounges and in AUHotel rooms; the airport's website lists current facilities.
- Information. A digital information stand in the duty-free area.
Terminal A has 163 shops and restaurants. If you booked the whole journey on one ticket, the airline sells only connections it considers workable and rebooks you if the first flight is late; two separate tickets carry no such protection.
On a long layover, if your passport lets you enter the UAE, Saadiyat's museums are within reach: the Louvre Abu Dhabi is about 25 min away by taxi. Allow at least two hours in the museum, plus the round trip and time for security on your return. Other museums are listed in things to do on Saadiyat.
Lounges in Terminal A
Terminal A has several lounges, and whether you can use one depends on your ticket:
- Etihad lounges. The First Lounge and the Business Lounge are for Etihad First and eligible Business passengers and for Etihad Guest members of the right tier, according to Etihad. A separate Etihad lounge serves passengers on flights to the US, with direct boarding on selected flights.
- Pearl Lounge. Run by the airport, open to all travelers, and accepted by Priority Pass. Without a membership you can pay at the door, subject to space: AED 265 (≈ $72) for three hours, as of October 2026. It has a buffet, drinks, Wi-Fi, a terrace and a family area.
- Diamond Lounge. A private lounge that the airport describes as exclusive; check its page on the airport website for access.
Visa and arrival basics
Many nationalities get a free entry stamp on arrival at Abu Dhabi airport, but the rules depend on your passport; check them in our UAE visa guide before you fly. The visitor information desk is in the arrivals hall, next to the taxi rank. If you want mobile data from the moment you land, set up an eSIM before departure.
Flight schedules: as of October 2026, some flights run on adjusted schedules. Check your flight status with the airline before you go.
To plan the rest of the trip, start with our Abu Dhabi travel guide or the island map.
