Abu Dhabi Airport arrivals guide (Zayed International)
Shuttlix teamUpdated October 7, 2026 · 2 min read
Abu Dhabi’s airport is called Zayed International Airport and its code is AUH. All passenger flights use one building, Terminal A, which makes arriving simpler than at many large airports.
From the aircraft to the arrivals hall
- Passport control. Eligible passengers can use the automatic gates. Others queue for an immigration officer.
- Baggage reclaim. Screens show the belt for your flight.
- Customs. Most passengers walk through the green channel.
- Arrivals hall. Here you find currency exchange, mobile SIM counters, car hire desks and the meeting point for drivers.
Allow 40 to 60 minutes from landing to the arrivals hall, and longer when several wide-body flights land together.
How far is Abu Dhabi Airport from where you are staying?
| Destination | Drive time |
|---|---|
| Yas Island | about 15 minutes |
| Saadiyat Island | about 25 minutes |
| Abu Dhabi city and the Corniche | about 30 minutes |
| Dubai Marina | about 75 minutes |
| Downtown Dubai | about 90 minutes |
| Al Ain | about 100 minutes |
Ways to leave the airport
- Taxi: official Abu Dhabi taxis wait outside arrivals and use the meter.
- Bus: public buses run from the airport to the city. They are the cheapest option, but slow with luggage.
- Private transfer: a driver waits in the arrivals hall with your name on a sign and the price is fixed before you fly. See Abu Dhabi Airport transfers.
Staying on Yas Island or Saadiyat
Yas Island, with its theme parks and the Yas Marina Circuit, is the closest resort area to the airport. Saadiyat Island, home of the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the beach resorts, is a little further. We have fixed prices for both: Abu Dhabi Airport to Yas Island and Abu Dhabi Airport to Saadiyat Island.
Flying into Abu Dhabi, staying in Dubai
Many visitors to Dubai land in Abu Dhabi because the fare was better. The drive to Dubai Marina takes about 75 minutes and there is no direct train. A metered taxi charges for the whole distance, so a fixed price is useful here. See Abu Dhabi Airport to Dubai.
Connecting to a flight from Dubai
If your onward flight leaves from Dubai International, allow at least five hours between landing and take-off: you must enter the UAE, collect your bags, make the drive and check in again. The reverse journey is covered on our Dubai Airport to Abu Dhabi Airport page.