Al Ain International Airport is the smaller of two airports located in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, roughly eight miles (18km) northwest of the resort city of Al Ain. The Al Ain Airport (also known as Matar al-Ayn ad-Dowaly Airport in Arabic) has only one terminal, one runway and an airline taxiway. At present seven airlines operate from this small airport.
With only a few regional carriers using this modest airport (most others choose the large and glitzy Abu Dhabi International Airport instead), passengers have a limited choice of destinations. Most flights to Al Ain Airport come from regional or neighboring countries such as India, Qatar, Pakistan and Jordan.
There is a large expansion program set for this airport, which promises to include the Al Ain Aerospace Cluster – a center for economic development, technology and innovation.
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Bus: The hourly Al Ain Municipality Airport Bus costs just AED 5 (about £0.80) from the airport into town.
Taxi: The Al Ghazal Transport Company offers taxis into town at a fixed rate of AED 40 (nearly £7). The eight mile (18km) trip takes approximately 15-20 minutes.
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Perhaps the biggest draw card for Al Ain Airport is that parking is free. The parking bays are just across from the terminal building.
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Money and communications: A bank, ATMs and an exchange facility are all available at the airport.
Luggage: While there are no facilities for left luggage, trolleys are available in the terminal at no extra charge. Lost luggage must be reported to the airline in question.
Conference and business: The Al Ain Airport does not have any business or conference facilities. However, the city of Al Ain is a short drive from the airport and both the Hilton and the Intercontinental Hotels have facilities available on their premises.
Other facilities: The airport has a medical center as well as restaurants, public telephones and postal services on site.
Wi-Fi: There are currently no public Wi-Fi facilities at Al Ain Airport.
Shopping: There are a number of duty-free shops in the modestly-sized duty-free complex at Al Ain Airport. Passengers can shop for gifts, local souvenirs and alcohol both on arrival and departure in the duty-free sections of the airport. The Goodbuy shop close to the check-in counter is a firm favorite, and with a name like that, how could it not be? Many of the prices of duty-free items at the airport are similar or more expensive than the same items bought at one of Abu Dhabi’s shopping malls away from the airport. The selection also isn’t as great as that available at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Food and drink: A couple of restaurants are situated in the transit areas of the airport, as well as in the main lobby. There is also a coffee shop at Al Ain Airport and the self-service cafeteria is open 24 hours a day.
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