Abu Dhabi Airport | ExpatWoman.com
 

Abu Dhabi Airport

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Posted on

24 July 2013

Last updated on 11 December 2017
Abu Dhabi Airport

Abu Dhabi International Airport
Abu Dhabi International Airport is located 38km South East form Abu Dhabi city center. Three main roads lead to the airport, namely 2nd Street (Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum Street), 8th Street (Salam Street) and 30th Street (Khaleej Al Arabi Road). The way to the airport is clearly marked by road signs making it virtually impossible to get lost.

abu dhabi airport

The airport has three terminals. Terminal 1 caters to most airlines, the terminal is quite small and there is not much to do there. Terminal two is the cargo terminal at the airport and does not cater to passengers. Terminal three is dedicated to passengers travelling on Etihad Airways and has counters dedicated to business and economy class. First class has a separate check in area altogether.

Abu Dhabi International Airport Expansion
If you've been wondering what all the construction work is lately in Abu Dhabi, you might find your answer here... In fact, the construction belongs to the Midfield Terminal Complex (MTC) that is part of the an overall expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport. 

Midfield terminal complex at abu dhabi international airport

Over 20 million people are expected to use Abu Dhabi International Airport as their origin, destination or transit point for international and domestic journeys over the coming years. Therefore, MTC will provide a full terminal building, passenger and cargo facilities, and duty-free shops and restaurants. The terminal will have capacity to handle 30 million passengers per year, and up to 8,500 passengers per hour. That's a huge number!

Source: 7Days

Al Ain International Airport
The airport is located a mere 13km from Al Ain city center. It is small and does not have many facilities. The airport caters to 14 flights a week and has one dedicated runway. At times it is used as a diversion airport when the fog hits Abu Dhabi International Airport so you may find yourself inadvertently in Al Ain due to the weather conditions.

Tips for Flying

  • Remember to pack all liquids over 100ml into your checked in baggage as items that are greater than this amount will get confiscated and you will not get them back.

  • Charge all electronic devices so that you will be able to use them at the airport without being stuck next to a plug point. Bring your charger as most aircrafts are equipped with plug points with each seat.

  • Make sure that you get to the airport with enough time to wait in a queue, check in luggage and go through security and do a little duty free shopping as well.

  • Always pack your own luggage; it is a security requirement of most airlines.

  • Keep your passport and boarding card in an accessible place so that you will wiz by the security points without having to dig through your bag each time.

  • Once you have passed the check points purchase a bottle of water. This way you will get your bottle refilled by the cabin crew and it will act as a reminder to stay hydrated throughout the flight.

  • Take regular walks in the cabin, or at least stretch your feet in your seat and do some light leg exercises to ensure blood circulation.


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As part of increased security at certain airports, and for passengers travelling to certain destinations, security personnel may require passengers to turn on their electronic devices including mobile phones, lap top computers, tablets and e-readers among others. If the devices do not have power, they will not be allowed on the aircraft and will be couriered to the passenger’s destination, at their expense.

Airports and destinations where checks will take place remain unconfirmed by officials. This means that all passengers should be prepared to have their mobile phones checked by security staff at the security check area, and at the gate. The checks will be random.


Electronic devices

Passengers will be informed of the new regulations at the check in desk and they will be given ample opportunity to either stow their electronic devices into their hold luggage or to retrieve a charger from their hold luggage.

We recommend that you ensure that your electronic devices are fully charged before you depart for the airport. Always carry a charger in your hand luggage. Bigger airlines aircraft have USB and plug points in every seat making charging your phone easier.

Plug points can be found at airports around the world, you may have to carry an adapter plug with you. If you find yourself with an uncharged phone see if there is an electronics retailer nearby that will allow you to use one of their chargers to give your mobile phone a bit of battery life. Many airports have charging stations installed with power cables that fit all the mayor smartphone brands.

How you can conserve your mobile phone battery    

  • If you own a smartphone turn it to “Airplane mode” when charging, your phone will charge faster.

  • Turn your cellular data off and use only Wifi, if you’re in an area with Wifi. Your battery will last twice as long.

  • If you turn your wifi and cellular data off, your phone battery life will be extended considerably.

  • Avoid playing games on your mobile phone.