Facilities Ranking
Safety Ranking
Environmental Ranking
• Region: Middle East
• Country/State: United Arab Emirates (Emirate of Abu Dhabi)
• City/Town: Abu Dhabi
• Website: https://www.abudhabiairport.ae
• Type of Airport: International
• Airport code/s:
o IATA: AUH
o ICAO: OMAA
• Terminals:
– Terminal A (Zayed International Airport main terminal, opened 2023; all passenger operations consolidated)
• Passenger numbers:
– ~27–30 million passengers (calendar year 2024)
Parking
• Short-term: Multi-storey short-stay parking directly connected to Terminal A
• Long-term: Long-stay and economy parking areas with shuttle and covered access
• Valet: Official valet parking service available (premium paid)
Hotel
• On site:
– No airside terminal hotel
• Nearby:
– Numerous international hotels on Yas Island and within Abu Dhabi city (shuttle services available)
Other facilities
• Restaurants/cafes: Extensive Middle Eastern, Asian and international dining throughout Terminal A
• Bars: Licensed bars and lounges available (alcohol served in accordance with UAE regulations)
• Lounges: Etihad Airways lounges (First, Business), airline partner lounges, premium independent lounges
• Duty-free shops: Large Abu Dhabi Duty Free retail zones in departures and arrivals
• Gift shops/newsagent/chemist: Souvenirs, luxury retail, convenience stores and pharmacies
• On-site travel agent: Limited; airline service desks and airport information counters instead
• Help desk/Lost & found: Airport information desks and centralised lost & found service
• Car rental: Major international and regional car-rental companies on site
• Taxi/transport to city: Taxis, ride-hailing services, airport buses; rail/metro links planned
• Baby/parent room: Family rooms, nursing facilities and children’s play areas throughout terminal
• Business center/free-Wi-Fi/charging: Free high-speed Wi-Fi airport-wide; extensive charging points; business services via lounges
• Gym: No public terminal gym; wellness facilities available in nearby hotels
• Beauty center/hairdresser: Spas, grooming and wellness services available
• Other facilities: Medical clinics, prayer rooms (extensive), art installations, observation areas
• Biometric check-in: Biometric self-service check-in and boarding widely used by Etihad Airways
• Biometric customs: Biometric immigration e-gates for eligible travellers
Disabled/accessibility
• Free PRM assistance available; request via airline in advance
• Wheelchair assistance from curbside to gate and arrival halls
• Fully step-free terminal design with ramps, elevators and wide circulation areas
• Accessible parking spaces close to terminal entrances
• Accessible toilets throughout terminal
• Priority security and immigration processing available
• Assistance dogs permitted (subject to UAE regulations)
• Support for non-visible disabilities via trained staff
• Terminal transport systems equipped with tactile paving and audible announcements
Runways
• Runway 13L/31R
• Runway 13R/31L
Length/Width
• Both runways: ~4,100 m × 60 m
• Runways support Code F aircraft operations (A380-capable)
Grooving of runways
• Grooved runway surfaces to enhance wet-weather braking performance
• Advanced drainage systems mitigate hydroplaning risk during rare heavy rainfall
• Surface specifications published in the UAE AIP
ILS/CAT capability
• ILS installed on both runways
• CAT II and CAT III capability available
• Approved for CAT III low-visibility autoland operations for suitably equipped aircraft and crews
Navigation aids
• Full ILS coverage with PAPI
• VOR/DME navigation aids
• RNAV (GNSS-based) SIDs and STARs
• Advanced surface movement radar and A-SMGCS
Low-visibility operations
– Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) in place
– CAT II/III operations during dust, haze and rain
– Enhanced ATC separation and surface monitoring applied
On-time departures (OTP) data
• Airport-specific annual OTP figures not routinely published by operator
• OTP influenced by:
– Extreme heat and regional weather
– Long-haul hub-banking activity (Etihad Airways)
– Regional airspace congestion
Airfield restrictions
• No formal slot controls; capacity managed operationally
• Preferential runway use based on wind and temperature
• Temporary operational procedures during peak travel periods
• Planned runway and taxiway maintenance managed via NOTAMs
Aircraft maintenance
• Aircraft maintenance facilities on site
• Major maintenance base operated by Etihad Engineering
• Line and heavy maintenance available for narrowbody and widebody fleets
• Oversight by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA)
Eco-efficient operations (e.g., energy use, carbon minimization, waste management, etc.)
• Abu Dhabi Airports targets net-zero carbon emissions for airport operations (Scope 1 & 2) by 2030
• Extensive use of fixed electrical ground power and pre-conditioned air reduces aircraft APU usage
• High-efficiency HVAC systems designed for extreme heat environments
• Comprehensive waste reduction, recycling and wastewater-treatment programs
Renewable energy use
• Large on-site solar photovoltaic installations supporting terminal operations
• Increasing procurement of renewable electricity aligned with UAE Net Zero 2050 strategy
• Energy efficiency remains a primary emissions-reduction lever
Availability of biofuel alternatives
• Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) available on a pilot and airline-driven basis
• Etihad Airways actively participates in SAF trials and long-term offtake agreements
• No airport-mandated SAF blending requirement currently in place
Conservation of biodiversity [actual programs]
• Environmental management of desert and coastal buffer zones
• Wildlife hazard management balancing aviation safety and conservation
• Environmental impact assessments mandatory for all major developments
Sustainable transportation
• Airport bus services and shared transport reduce private vehicle dependence
• Electrification of airport-owned and ground-service vehicle fleets underway
• EV charging infrastructure available in airport parking areas
• Integration planned with future Abu Dhabi rail and metro networks
Green building design
• Terminal A designed to advanced sustainability and energy-efficiency standards
• Extensive use of natural daylight combined with solar shading
• Smart building-management systems reduce energy and water consumption
• Lifecycle carbon reduction embedded in all Abu Dhabi Airports capital projects
