Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer Guide
🇦🇪 Zayed International (AUH) — Updated 2026
Zayed International (AUH, formerly Abu Dhabi International) is 32 km east of central Abu Dhabi — a 25-45 min drive on the Sheikh Zayed Highway. Yas Island (Ferrari World, Yas Marina F1 circuit, Yas Mall, Warner Bros World) is just 7 km from AUH — only 10 min. Saadiyat Island (Louvre Abu Dhabi, beach resorts) is 25 km, 30-45 min. AUH has a new Terminal A (opened November 2023, 742,000 m² — huge), consolidating all operations from previous T1/T2/T3. Pre-booked transfers AED 90-220 are competitive with taxi (AED 100-200) + offer meet-and-greet + flight tracking.
32 km central / 7 km Yas Island / 25 km Saadiyat / 140 km Dubai
Pre-book your Abu Dhabi airport transfer
English-speaking driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign. Fixed prices, flight tracking, free cancellation up to 24h.
- Flight tracking — delay-aware pickup
- Fixed price · no surge · free cancellation
- Cars, vans, minibuses for 1–8 passengers
via Welcome Pickups · AUH
Abu Dhabi airport transfer options compared
| Option | Cost | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Pickups (pre-booked) | AED 90–220 | 25–60 min | Meet-and-greet, fixed fare, English driver, flight tracked. |
| Kiwitaxi (pre-booked) | AED 85–210 | 25–60 min | Marketplace, instant quote. |
| Abu Dhabi Taxi (silver) | AED 100–200 | 25–60 min | Metered + AED 25 airport surcharge. |
| Careem / Uber | AED 70–180 | 25–60 min | App-based, occasional surge. |
| Public bus A1 / A2 | AED 4 | 60–90 min | A1: AUH→central Bus Station. A2: AUH→Yas Mall. Every 30-45 min. |
| Etihad Coach (Dubai) | AED 35 | 90–110 min | Direct AUH→Dubai (Bur Dubai bus station). Hourly. |
Top destinations from AUH
Corniche / Central Abu Dhabi
32 km, 25-45 min — most hotels + Emirates Palace.
Yas Island (F1, theme parks)
7 km, 10-20 min — closest major destination.
Saadiyat Island (Louvre, beach)
25 km, 30-45 min — luxury beach resorts.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
12 km, 15-25 min — must-see attraction.
Dubai (cross-emirate)
140 km, 80-110 min — frequent cross-emirate transfer.
Booking tips for Abu Dhabi
- → Yas Island arrivals (F1 weekend, Ferrari World): pre-book — taxi queue can hit 45 min at peak
- → New Terminal A consolidated all AUH operations Nov 2023 — old T1/T2/T3 closed
- → Etihad Coach is unique: direct AUH→Dubai (AED 35, 90 min) — for Dubai visitors flying Etihad, this beats Dubai-area airports
- → Friday lunchtime + Saturday/Sunday weekend brunch traffic peaks — add 20-30 min buffer
Hotels in Abu Dhabi
Find hotels in Abu Dhabi
Hotels, hostels & more · Trip.com
FAQ
AUH or DXB for Abu Dhabi visits?+
AUH: in Abu Dhabi, 32 km to central, all Etihad flights + most international. DXB (Dubai): 140 km from Abu Dhabi (90-110 min drive), more flight options + connection variety. For Abu Dhabi visitors flying Etihad: AUH is obvious. For other carriers: DXB might be cheaper but the 90-min ground transfer (AED 280-450 or AED 35 Etihad Coach) eats into savings.
Yas Island for F1/Ferrari World — how to plan?+
AUH is just 7 km from Yas Island (10-min drive). For F1 weekend (typically late November/early December): hotels on Yas Island sell out 6+ months ahead. Pre-book transfer 4+ weeks in advance — F1 weekend transfer demand spikes 3x. Yas Mall + Ferrari World + Warner Bros + Yas Waterworld all within 5 km of Yas Marina circuit.
Etihad Coach to Dubai — worth it?+
Etihad Coach is a free service for Etihad Airways passengers (with onward Etihad flight) connecting AUH to Dubai Bur Dubai bus station. For non-Etihad passengers it's AED 35 (~$10), 90-110 min, hourly 06:00-23:00. For Dubai visitors flying via AUH: cheaper than transfer + faster than driving in summer heat. Confirm seat 24h ahead.
Saadiyat Louvre Abu Dhabi — half-day from AUH?+
Saadiyat Island is 25 km from AUH (30-45 min). For a 5-6h stopover: pre-book transfer AUH→Louvre Abu Dhabi (AED 130-200), allow 2.5-3h at the museum, return AED 130-200. Total ~4h + AED 260-400 transfer. Stay22 has Saadiyat beach resorts available for actual stays — many include free AUH transfer.
Mobile data for the United Arab Emirates
Get mobile data for the United Arab Emirates set up before you land.
Airport lounges at Zayed Airport
Wait for your flight in a lounge — one membership covers lounges at airports across the country and worldwide.
Airport transfers in other cities: