Docking in Abu Dhabi what to do. Getting a visa in Abu Dhabi: how to apply

We flew to Vietnam with Eitihad Airways. This is not the first time we have traveled with this company, but we chose it not because we already knew, but for more banal reasons - the cheapest way was to fly from Krasnodar to Ho Chi Minh with Etihad Airways

If we were flying from Moscow, there would be more choice and I think the route would be much cheaper. But the very direction Krasnodar-Moscow and back is terribly expensive. And in recent years it has become more and more expensive. Resorts Krasnodar Territory, What did you want…

The price for tickets for three Krasnodar-Ho Chi Minh City and back is 69,000 rubles. Not really super budget. But acceptable.

But the path itself, to put it mildly, is not very comfortable. If in Moscow the transfer is only more than two hours, just the time to stretch our legs, then in Abu Dhabi we had to spend about 12 hours there and about 8 hours back. And both times the transit was at night.

I remember we somehow flew through Beijing to Thailand, so we still managed to wander around Beijing and overeat in a Chinese cafe while we were waiting for the plane to Bangkok.

What to do in Abu Dhabi at night? In addition, a transit visa is required to enter the city. It costs money, specifically $68 per person. We decided that a night in Abu Dhabi was not worth that kind of money and planned an overnight stay at the airport.

By the way, if you are flying by the Emirates or Eitihat, you have a chance to get a room at the airport hotel absolutely free of charge. Three conditions are needed for a free overnight stay at a hotel in Abu Dhabi:

• hotel availability,
• inclusion of your destination in a special list to whom you can give toll-free numbers at all
• and luck.

The fact is that on the Etihad Airways website it is completely unambiguously made clear that economy class passengers should not count on any privileges in the form of a hotel, even if the transfer is very long.

But however there are many cases when the numbers were given. Again, it all depends on direction and luck. If you are flying to the Seychelles, it is quite possible to get a number. But if you are heading to Bangkok in economy class, in any case, you will not be provided with a hotel, even if the connection is a day.

To find out this question, you need to call the Moscow office of Etihad Airways no earlier than a month before departure and no later than five days. Explain the situation and wait for the verdict.

We somehow hoped that we would be lucky, but alas and ah - no, no luck. The direction Moscow - Ho Chi Minh City is new for the Eitihads and everything is still not clear with them. If you are reading this and heading to Vietnam, I think you should already try to get free seat for rest, suddenly more lucky.

Free food at Abu Dhabi Airport

But at the Abu Dhabi airport you can dine and dine for free. If you have more than 4 hours of transit, go to the Transit construction site at the airport, show boarding passes and you are given vouchers for free meals at the airport cafe. You can eat at establishments such as McDonald's, King Burger, Pizzeria. We were given coupons for lunch and breakfast.

These food stamps are issued at Abu Dhabi Airport

Three portions of food for free vouchers turned out like this

Portions are large, one liter Cola is worth something, plus a bunch of potatoes and a burger.
Nothing is said about vouchers and free meals on the official website. I was told about the vouchers by a nice girl who works in the Moscow office of the Eitihad airline.

Blankets are also given out at the transit counter.

Here you can get food stamps and blankets

It is best to sit at Abu Dhabi Airport on reclining seats. These are available in every airport terminal. I think it's better to walk and look than to add up not to understand how uncomfortable the seats are. If the sunbeds are occupied at one end, there are free ones at the other.

And you can sit right on the floor. Even more comfortable than chairs

You can also take a shower at the airport. Oh well, after a long flight. The shower is clean and there are paper towels. We had our own towels and slates. (Well, yes, we trudged to Vietnam with our flip flops))

Conclusion:
It is quite possible to survive a long connection at the Abu Dhabi airport. There is a shower, there is free food, there are sunbeds with blankets. It remains only to take a little whiskey sleeping pills - and the next flight will come very soon.

INSTRUCTIONS HOW NOT TO GET LOST AND WHAT IS FREE FOR TRANSIT PASSENGERS

-- - the oldest airport in the United Arab Emirates, built in 1982. Every day it serves about 40 airlines flying to more than 54 countries of the world.

In 2011, Abu Dhabi Airport was awarded the prestigious "The best airport in the Middle East" as well as the airport the best zone stores duty free, which was built in 1985 and already then received an award in Cannes as the best in the world. Since that year, the duty-free zone has been in constant development, various programs are being carried out to reconstruct and improve it.

Flights from Russia operated by Etihad Airways make a transit stop at Abu Dhabi Airport.

Arabic service is immediately felt on board Jet Air aircraft: a luxurious menu (breakfasts, lunches and dinners) in Russian, comfortable seats with lateral head support, individual screens with a multimedia system. There are films and programs in Russian. Each seat has a European socket.

Throughout the flight, passengers receive unlimited soft drinks, wines (Chile), canned beer. In general, ALL INCLUSIVE!

TERMINAL 1 Built in 1982, serves more than 20 airlines from different countries.

Sometimes flights from Russia arrive here. Upon arrival, for further travel, transit passengers need to go to Terminal 3 through the glass passage, which is immediately to the right, on the second floor. The whole journey will take no more than 7-10 minutes.

In the first terminal you can find Duty Free shops, cafes and restaurants, restrooms and much more. There are two lounges in the same terminal: on the first floor of Al Rim, on the second floor of Al Dhabi. From terminal 1 and 3 you can get to hotels Premier Inn Abu Dhabi International Airport and Abu Dhabi airport transit hotel.

TERMINAL 2 Put into operation in 2005, serves about 12 airlines on domestic routes. A free shuttle runs between Terminals 1 and 2. The journey will take about 5 minutes.

TERMINAL 3 Terminal 3 has several lounges, first and business class lounges, restaurants and cafes, a medical center, prayer rooms and duty free shops.

Transit zones for passengers or what to do during the docking?

In some forums, we are told that Abu Dhabi airport is not hospitable and everything is inconveniently located, and there is nothing to do there, and nowhere to sleep. It's not like that at all. The airport has a beautiful Departure Arrivals Area, where excellent conditions for relaxation are created.

The most common Burger King in the Terminal is 3 on the second floor.
International cuisine (pizza, sandwiches, salads) Terminal 3
American junk food at Mc Donald's - Terminal 1. There are only 5-10 positions, but there is an Arab innovation - shawarma

Where to charge your phone or find wi-fi?

Wi-Fi is free throughout the airport. There are special counters for Internet users. Skype and a number of other sites are closed.

To charge your mobile phone, I advise you to immediately buy an adapter in duty free (300 - 400 rubles), since all sockets have triple inputs.

Where are the smoking areas at the airport?? There are much more smoking rooms compared to Dubai airport. And they are located on the second floor of Terminal 3 and Terminal 1, towards McDonald's. All of them are marked with special signs.

If you are traveling with children, then you have the opportunity to use baby carriages, which are located almost everywhere in special racks and children's rooms.

On the territory of the international airport are also located: a medical center, prayer rooms - separately for men and women, individual shower rooms, currency exchange and a huge number of bars and restaurants. Well, the huge zone of duty-free shops will especially please.

Where is the best place to sleep at the airport? The easiest and fastest option is free and quite comfortable sunbeds for transit passengers located in all terminals.

In Terminal 3, in the bow of the airport, it is warmer, there are chairs for sleeping. Terminal 1 (which looks like a camomile) is more comfortable. Lots of seating, nice coffee shops, and fewer people.

Passengers “Without complexes” they sleep on the floor, since in all waiting rooms the floor is covered with carpet and you can stretch out to your full height.

Be sure to bring a jacket or a blanket with you (if you are flying with Etihad, blankets can be obtained at special counters. Throughout the airport, and especially in recreation areas where large cluster people, VERY COLD!

Where to sleep well or pass the time more comfortably $? Terminal 3. Separate luxurious lounge areas are provided for First and Business class passengers. Staying in them is included in the cost of the flight.

For economy class passengers: second floor of Terminal 3, Ghazal Lounge (Gazal) and Airport Hotel Lounge– cost of 4 hours stay per person approx. USD 28. The price includes buffet meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), satellite TV with plasma screens, smoking and non-smoking areas, a bar with soft, hot and alcoholic drinks, use of showers. Lounge seating is more comfortable than shared lounges.

Al Reem Lounge (Al Rim Lounge) - the cost of 4 hours of stay is 30 USD / person. Al Dhabi Lounge (Al Dhabi lounge) - the cost of 4 hours of stay is 50 USD / person. The price includes: use of a business center with Internet access, buffet meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), bar with hot and cold drinks, comfortable reclining chairs, duty free shop, use of a children's room. Additional charge for use of the fitness center (7USD).

Abu Dhabi Airport's innovation is " interesting chairs for sleeping in the transit area(A picture of such a chair can be seen above.Go Sleep chairs are located in Terminal 3 behind gate 31. There are currently about 20 chairs in total, but every year there are more and more of them. This easy chair unfolds into a full-fledged single bed. Inside there is the Internet, touch screen, sockets for recharging. A clean sheet, pillow and blanket are included. From above the chair is closed by roller shutters.Cost $12.5 per hour.

Another option isbook a hotel room, on the territory of the airport Abu Dhabi airport hotel, races located in Terminal 1. For a long transfer Etihad airline will give you this hotel free of charge if available. Reservations must be made 30 days prior to departure. And so, the cost per room (2 people) from 77 dollars. There are 40 rooms in total.You can try to book a hotel by this link.

Another option isbook a hotel room outside the airport Premier Inn Abu Dhabi International Airport.The hotel is equipped with a pedestrian crossing from Terminals 1 and 3 through the Skypark shopping corridor. Need a visa. You can book a hotel using this link.

And of course, the most important part of this article is the visa.There are special rules and many recommendations for its design and receipt. If we are talking about a transit visa, this is type of visa is popular among those tourists who intend to visit the UAE on their way to other countries and duration of stay in the country on this visa - 96 hours, then you can get it in the UAE in the following ways:

Tour operator "7teams" wishes you not to get lost at Dubai International Airport!

National carriers of the United United Arab Emirates known all over the world thanks to the modern fleet of aircraft and the highest level of service. One of them is Etihad Airways, whose port is the capital of the country, Abu Dhabi. Flights to Asia, Africa, and North America depart daily through it, so the transit zone at Abu Dhabi Airport is perfectly adapted to such passenger traffic.

Russian tourists A lot also flies through the UAE. In this regard, the question often arises whether it is necessary to issue a transit visa.

For tourists who plan to leave the transit zone during a stop to see the city, it is necessary to put a visa on arrival in their passport. This visa is issued free of charge. If the tourist remains at the airport, he has the right to visa-free transit.

It also happens that a person flies with different airlines that do not belong to the same alliance; in this case, he will have to leave the transit zone to pick up his luggage and check in for a new flight, then a visa on arrival is also needed.

Deadline for visa-free transit

The duration of such a transit is 24 hours. If the time between flights is longer or you just want to stay for a day or two to stay in this amazing country You need to apply for a visa on arrival. This visa entitles you to stay in the UAE for up to 30 days.

Of course, the absence of a visa imposes certain restrictions. You will not be able to leave the transit zone and enter the city even to spend the night in a hotel.

If the connection is lengthy, the 12-14 hour wait can be tiring, even at an airport as convenient and modern as Abu Dhabi. It is especially worth taking care of issuing visas on arrival for those traveling with small children.

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Registration procedure

You can apply for a visa on arrival at the airport for free. Outwardly, it is a stamp in the passport, on which the date of arrival is affixed.

Documents required for a transit visa

The following documents are required to obtain a transit visa:

• A foreign passport, the validity of which cannot be less than 6 months after returning from a trip.

As for previous visas or marks of visiting Israel, unlike other states in the Middle East, no obstacles will be placed on you. The UAE immigration authorities understand that people can visit Israel for different purposes and allow entry to foreigners who have been there.

Visa for a child

If the child is traveling with one of the parents or accompanied by third parties, you will need to issue a notarized consent to leave.

Visa cost on arrival

Visa on arrival for visiting Abu Dhabi and the entire UAE for up to 30 days is FREE.

Existing restrictions

The maximum stay in the country on a free visa on arrival is no more than 30 days. Such a visa is extended only once. The renewal cost is $169.

In addition, UAE immigration law allows restrictions on visa-free transit. It may be denied to unaccompanied minors, as well as girls under 30 who are traveling alone.

Arrival at the transit zone

Upon arrival at the transit area of ​​Abu Dhabi Airport, passengers enter Terminal 3, built specifically for Etihad. A small queue to the airline counter passes quickly, here you will need to present your tickets. If you wait more than 8 hours for a flight, you will be given free meal coupons. Here you can also ask for a blanket to relax in the waiting room.

After that, you need to go through the security screening through the metal detector, and you will be taken directly to the third terminal.

To use the issued food coupons, you need to walk a little along the corridor to the round hall and go up the escalator, there you will find a food zone where you can eat. About places where you can use coupons, as well as about all other nuances, consult in advance at the airline counter.

Perhaps one of the most important moments of a transit trip is the opportunity to get some sleep and take a shower. Here, too, we tried to foresee this.

To rest, you need to go down to the first floor and go to the boarding gates. Here are the usual places for waiting, as well as reclining chairs. There are a large number of gates here, so you can always find free seats. Nearby there are toilets with showers, where you can clean up before going to bed.

Another important point is the ability to charge tablets, smartphones and laptops. To do this, there are many outlets, and adapters are not required.

Some travelers are afraid of overworking air conditioners. However, the temperature at the airport is quite comfortable. In addition, at night, the speakerphone is turned off and soft lighting is used.

In addition, Abu Dhabi Airport has a well-equipped 24-hour medical center, a business center for business people, numerous restaurants and bars, a post office, currency exchange offices, bank branches, offices where you can rent a car, ATMs and even your own mosque.

Most travelers give credit to both the UAE authorities and the airline representatives: Abu Dhabi Airport is trying to do everything possible for maximum passenger comfort. Few countries can boast of this. After a rest and some pleasant shopping in the local duty-free shops (the assortment and prices of which will certainly not disappoint), you will continue your journey to the country of destination.

We flew in Etihad economy, after disembarking the plane on the eve of the upcoming 9-hour docking, we turned to the AK counter with a question about a free hotel or lounge for the duration of the docking.
The answer was that there were no places in the hotel or lounge, only food stamps ... Well, at least food. Upon presentation of tickets, we received the following green coupons for breakfast:

After receiving tickets, we moved to the waiting room. On the territory of the waiting rooms there are two types of benches - with ordinary chairs and "dentistry". The latter are only in the main hall on the second floor around the central column (see first photo). It is impossible to sleep in ordinary chairs. We were lucky and we found free "dental".
By the way, from the experience of the previous docking, which took place at the same airport, we remembered that the building was very cold. People wrap themselves in jackets, air conditioners spit to the fullest. Therefore, blankets were prudently captured from the plane, with which it was at least somehow tolerable. Dental chairs and blankets:

If you are a very experienced tourist and are not too lazy to carry foam and a rug with you, you can get even more comfortable. On the territory of the AP, near the central column (in the title photo), a niche was found where you can sleep and charge the batteries. As you can see, someone successfully uses it:

Further, the essence of the travelhack - after sleeping a couple of hours on the "dental" chairs and coming to our senses, we decided to cash out food stamps. Turning to Briccocafe - one of the two cafes (the second Mcdonald's) that accepts these coupons, we realized that you can only wipe yourself with Breakfast coupons (that is, get a croissant and a cup of tea):

Somehow poor for a 9-hour docking of such an important AK as Etihad, we thought. Maybe some mistake?
We decided to go to the Etihad desk again, but in a different room. And lo and behold, there we received new food stamps. No record of ticket numbers was made at the counter - they just issued new breakfast coupons and that's it. Two coupons for breakfast for one person - it’s already pulling for a small travel hack, but, nevertheless, it’s still not a lot.

During the receipt of coupons, we noticed that a group of Muslims who looked like guest workers were given coupons of a different color - they had the word "dinner" (Dinner) written on them.
By a happy coincidence, we have hand luggage there was such a Muslim cap-tubeteika. Pashka bought it in the Crimea many years ago and often wears it in hot climates. Pashka in a tubeteika:

God is one and we are outside of any confessions, so we put a hat on Pashka and send him to the Etihad counter for the third time (he has not yet been seen there). Inshala - the Arab administrator tells him and at the request to issue food stamps issues Dinner coupons without question, 3 pieces. At the same time, he marks the numbers of the tickets presented (when issuing coupons for breakfast, nothing was marked anywhere):

For dinner gallons, you can get pizza, salad and tea in the cafe, which is clearly richer than a miserable croissant for breakfast. Let's go and get trays of nauseas:

So we got 2 breakfast vouchers and one dinner voucher per person. Coupons and a lifesaver hat:

Dinner plus a couple of times to drink tea and coffee with a croissant or get ice cream at Mcdonald's is quite bearable for a 9-hour connection. Such a sudden "religious" travelhack.

Quite often, travelers making long flights to various destinations end up at Adu Dhabi International Airport for the purpose of transit and transfer to the next flight. Even a short stay in this air harbor, as a rule, is remembered by passengers for a long time. Therefore, we offer today to learn more about this airport, its history, structure and services offered here.

Brief description and history of the air harbor

Many airports in the world, and especially those located in the Middle East, amaze their guests with luxurious and sophisticated design. Sometimes you get the impression that you plunged into an oriental fairy tale. Abu Dhabi airport is no exception to this rule. This is a very beautiful and modern complex of buildings, which allows everyone arriving to immediately realize that they have set foot on the land of one of the richest countries in the world, the bowels of which are literally overflowing with oil.

This air harbor is the second largest in the territory of Abu Dhabi was built in 1982. Today it is one of the most dynamically developing air harbors in the world. Interestingly, the airport located in Abu Dhabi is often jokingly called the "center of the world", because there is a kind of buffer zone connecting east and west. The air harbor serves more than fifteen million passengers annually. However, the construction of new terminals and facilities continues here, so the management expects to increase passenger traffic to twenty million people a year in a few years. In 2010 and 2013, the airport located in Abu Dhabi was recognized as the best air harbor in the entire Middle East.

Interestingly, in 2009, for the first time in the world, modern technology began to be used here, which makes it possible to identify a person's identity with one hundred percent probability. A special program creates ultra-precise electronic copy faces based on measuring the distances between the eyes, ears and nostrils. Also, the features of a person’s facial expressions, the shape of his nose, the location of the bones of the face and other individual and anatomical features of appearance are taken into account.

Abu Dhabi Airport Flights

This air harbor is used by more than thirty airlines from around the world. Abu Dhabi Airport has flights to over 150 international airports in different corners the globe. Among them are Chicago, Baghdad, Casablanca, Islamabad, Alexandria, Manchester, Istanbul, Kiev, Tehran, New York, Tokyo and many others. Also based here largest airline UAE - Etihad Airways. All the necessary information about flights, schedules, as well as an online scoreboard of arrivals and departures can be found on the official website.

Abu Dhabi airport map

Today, the air harbor includes three large modern terminals. The first two of them are engaged in servicing flights 32 international airlines. Terminal 3 was built specifically for the needs of the airline from the United Arab Emirates - Etihad Airways. In addition, the construction of the fourth terminal is currently underway, which will increase the passenger flow to twenty million people a year. Since the terminals are very large and it can take a long time to move from one knowledge to another, it is recommended that you carefully select flights that connect at this airport in order not to miss the next plane.

As for the runways of Abu Dhabi Airport, they are designed to receive all types of aircraft, including large-sized liners.

How to get to the air harbor?

If you are coming for a few days, then there are several ways to get from the airport to the city of Abu Dhabi: by taxi, by car with a personal driver, by bus or by renting a car. All prices will be indicated in dirhams (the dirham exchange rate to the ruble is approximately 1:9). We offer a closer look at each transportation option.

Taxi

There are several taxi companies operating in Abu Dhabi. However, only two of them are allowed to carry passengers to the airport. Upon arrival, finding a taxi rank is not difficult: it is located at the exit from the arrivals hall. In order to avoid misunderstandings, it is recommended to immediately discuss the cost of the trip with the driver, although there are also standard rates. For example, a taxi company "Al Gazelle" will take you to the city for 75 dirhams. You will spend about 40 minutes on the trip (the distance is about 35 kilometers). Approximately the same cost will have to be paid to the taxi driver of the Metered company. Their parking lot is located a little further from the exit from the terminal.

Car with a personal driver

The Al Gazelle company also offers customers the services of a comfortable car with a driver. This option is more convenient than a taxi, but it will also cost more. So, for such a trip you will have to pay about 110 dirhams.

Bus

Between the air harbor of Abu Dhabi and the city center is well established transport connection. So, municipal buses run here around the clock (they are painted white and green). All of them are air-conditioned and are very comfortable for passengers. You can also get to the city by bus number 901, departing every 30-45 minutes throughout the day. The fare on it costs only three dirhams.

If you flew to Abu Dhabi on an Etihad Airlines aircraft, and regardless of the flight class, you will be provided with a free transfer to the city center and back. The shuttle departs from the main car park at the front of the air harbor located near the car rental office.

Car rental

If you want to rent a car immediately upon arrival at the airport located in Abu Dhabi, then it will not be difficult to do this. There are several offices of the largest rental companies here, where you can pick up a car for every taste.

Infrastructure

Since Abu Dhabi is a large and modern airport, it offers its guests the most diverse infrastructure to make the stay of passengers in the air harbor pleasant and exceptionally comfortable.

So, on the territory of the airport you will find wireless Internet access, international telephone communication, shower cabins. In addition, here you can go to the spa, fitness club or even play golf. There are special facilities for smoking passengers. On the territory of the airport, a medical center is constantly working, where any passenger can apply in case of deterioration of health. For business people, there is a business center equipped with all the necessary modern equipment.

Terminal 3, serving Etihad Airlines, has its own 24/7 medical center. In addition, there are bank branches and ATMs, currency exchange offices, a post office, offices of car rental companies, and even a mosque. On the territory of this terminal, there are also a lot of various shops, including duty-free ones. Here you can choose catering points for every taste: restaurants, bars, cafes, sandwich shops, fast foods. There is even an English pub.

If you have to wait a long time for connections, you can check into a hotel at Abu Dhabi Airport. It is located in Terminal 1. The hotel has 40 comfortable rooms, which have everything you need. Also on its territory there is a business center, jacuzzi, sauna, playground and gym. Transit passengers staying at the Abu Dhabi airport hotel note its convenience, spacious rooms equipped with everything you need (from hygiene items to drinks), comfortable beds, excellent sound insulation and properly working air conditioners.

People traveling with small children can use the rooms family vacation at the waiting rooms for first and business class passengers. Here, little travelers will be offered a children's menu, various books, toys, a TV with cartoons, etc. For passengers of other classes, the airport offers waiting rooms where children can stay unaccompanied by adults. You can also rent a baby stroller here.