Best Time to Visit

Winter is the best period to come to Abu Dhabi in terms of weather: temperatures are not too hot and not too humid, which makes this the peak season. It is advisable to avoid the extremely hot summer months, although hotel rates are at their lowest then and not many tourists will be visiting the city. Abu Dhabi can be doable in spring, between April and May, or fall, from September to October, both periods marked by pleasant weather, with prices starting to decrease in springtime, but on the rise in the fall season, as winter approaches. Also, many sporting and cultural events are held between April and May.

Passport/Visa

Citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Member states, along with nationals of most EU countries along with the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Brunei are eligible to receive an entry visa upon arrival the Abu Dhabi Airport (free of charge, onward journey tickets may be requested). Nationals of other countries will require an entry visa, which can be pre-arranged by the visitor’s travel agency, hosting hotel, or Etihad Airways (if one happens to be flying in with the airline). If none of those are viable options, a visa can also be applied for via a local UAE embassy. Always make sure you have an up-to-date passport. If you need any further information, and in order to avoid migration complications, it is recommended to contact the embassy or consulate in your country or the one closest to you.

• Web:

  www.abudhabi.ae/portal/public/en/homepage/labour-law-and-employment/work-entry-permits-business/getting-a-visa-for-abu-dhabi

Abu Dhabi International Airport

Flights arrive into Abu Dhabi International Airport from around the world. The airport, the second largest in the United Arab Emirates, lies over just 30 kilometres from the city centre, and has a full range of facilities for travellers and three main roads which will make it very easy to find: 2nd Street (Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum Street), 8th Street (Salam Street) and 30th Street (Khaleej Al Arabi Street). An efficient bus service is provided: A1 buses connect the airport and the city, while the 490 buses connect the airport with Al Ain. They both run at 40 minute intervals and the journeys take approximately 45 minutes. Bus stops are indicated with blue and white signs. A shuttle service connecting the airport terminals is also available. Abu Dhabi Airport taxis are available for journeys to and from the airport, just outside of it. For more information about fares and the limousine service, check out this page: www.abudhabiairport.ae/english/to-and-from-the-airport/services/taxis.aspx. If you're interested in renting a car, there are several possibilities to do it. Every car rental company is located in Skypark Plaza, very close to terminals 1 and 3. You will find their contacts here: www.abudhabiairport.ae/english/to-and-from-the-airport/information/car-rental.aspx.

• Web:

  www.abudhabiairport.ae

• Address:

  Abu Dhabi International Airport, Abu Dhabi

• Phone:

  +971 2 505 5555

Public Transport

The public bus system is quite well-developed in Abu Dhabi. Blue and white coloured buses run through the city regularly and tickets are available in the form of re-loadable "Halifat" Smartcards, that may be purchased from ticket vending machines located at multiple locations throughout the city (bus stations and stops, DOT Customer Service Centers). Hold your card next to a card reader installed inside the bus for validation upon entry and exit. A ferry service is provided by DOT: on many ferries you will be asked to show a valid ID and, in general, it is recommended to arrive 30 minutes before the ferries' departure. Another good way to travel around the city and avoid the congestion is by using the Abu Dhabi Metro, which serves a big proportion of passengers and connects the city with its suburbs.

• Web:

  www.dot.abudhabi.ae/en/info/Public_Transport

• E-mail:

  customer.care@dot.abudhabi.ae

Taxi

Getting around Abu Dhabi is straightforward, with most visitors opting to travel in the inexpensive taxis that constantly dart around the city. It’s a simple process of flagging a taxi down, telling the driver your destination and paying the small amount required for the ride. Taxis can be booked through several companies and have regular parking slots outside hotels and shopping malls too. Tawasul Transport +971 2 673 4444 / info@tawasul.ae www.tawasul.ae/english/index.php www.facebook.com/TawasulTransport Al Ghazal Transport +971 2 635 6060 / taxi@adnh.com (taxis) +971 2 634 2200 / rentacar@adnh.com (cars) +971 2 550 2160 / bus@adnh.com (buses) +971 2 552 8400 / limo@adnh.com (limousines) www.alghazaltransport.ae National Taxi +971 2 554 2231 (operations) / ccauh@nationaltaxi.ae www.nationaltaxi.ae/auh

Electricity

220/240 volts at 50 Hz, with square three-pin sockets.