Abu Dhabi

• Follow signs to passport control immediately on landing
• Have onward boarding pass and hotel/address ready for questions
• Smart Gate (biometric eGates) in Terminal A arrivals is open to UAE residents, GCC nationals, and passport holders from the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, NZ, Japan, and several others. Most eligible travelers clear in under 5 min off-peak. Manual counter queues can run 15-25 min on simultaneous peak arrivals from Europe and Asia. The customs declaration is digital; fill it out onboard or via the UAEICP app before landing.

Official taxi rank is curbside outside Terminal A arrivals. All taxis are metered and no negotiation is needed. A1 Express Bus stop is outside arrivals pillar 1; a Hafilat card costs AED 5 (refundable deposit) plus AED 4 fare, paid at the bus counter. Careem and Uber pickup zones are in short-term parking (pillar 8). The AED 20 airport exit toll is already included in metered taxi fares.

• Leave enough buffer - trains run to a schedule and can be delayed
• Buy your return ticket in advance if possible
• Set an alarm 75 min before your departure gate closes

• Re-entry security at AUH typically takes 10-20 min
• Check your gate - it may have changed while you were out
• Liquids bought in the city cannot pass security - finish or bin them