Travel to Abu Dhabi

Flying to Abu Dhabi

British Airways and Etihad Airways operate direct flights to Abu Dhabi from the UK. Etihad Airways runs direct flights from the USA. KLM, Lufthansa and Qatar Airways are among the other carriers that serve the capital. Flights vary in price, and are particularly high at the start of the summer, when many leave Abu Dhabi, and in autumn, when many of the capital’s big-draw events take place.

Flight times

From London - 7 hours; New York - 13 hours; Los Angeles - 16 hours; Toronto - 13 hours; Sydney - 14 hours 45 minutes.

Travel by road

In recent years, significant improvements have been made to the road network in and around Abu Dhabi to improve traffic flow.

The minimum legal driving age is 17.

Traffic drives on the right, with speed limits of up to 60kph (37mph) in built-up areas, up to 120kph (75mph) on major roads and up to 140kph (87mph) on motorways. These must be observed as penalties for speeding are severe and rigorously enforced. Speed cameras can be found on most major roads, and breaking the limit by more than 20kph (12mph) can result in a week in prison and the car being impounded for a month. The new motorway between Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia - known as Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road - was opened with a 160kph (99.5mph) speed limit.

Under no circumstances should you leave the scene of a motor accident or move the vehicle before the police have arrived, as this is an offence. There is zero tolerance for drinking and driving in the UAE.

Emergency breakdown services

Arabian Automobile Association (tel: 800 4900, in the UAE).

Routes

The three main roads leading into and out of the emirate (Khaleej Al Arabi, Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum Street and Salam Street) merge into one main highway that links the city to the airport. There are few street names in Abu Dhabi, so make sure you know the closest landmark to your final destination.

Coaches

Dubai Bus (tel: +971 800 9090; www.dubai-bus.com) runs regular inter-emirates buses between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. From Dubai, there are coach services to Muscat, Oman.

Time to city

From Dubai - 1 hour 30 minutes; Al Ain - 2 hours.

Travel by Rail

Services

A new railway network is under construction which will offer freight and passenger services within the UAE and eventually to neighbouring countries.

Operators

Etihad Rail (tel: +971 2 499 9999; www.etihadrail.ae) runs the new rail network, but there are currently no passenger services in operation.