Although it is possible to reach Abu Dhabi by sea or land, most visitors arrive via air at Abu Dhabi International Airport. There is no regular, reliable public transportation other than the airport shuttle within the city, so getting around means taking a taxi or renting a car. There are irregular public buses to other cities and towns in the Abu Dhabi emirate, while long distance taxis and minivans travel to Dubai and Sharjah.

Airports
Located on the mainland, approximately 30kms from the city centre, Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) is the preferred gateway for most visitors to the emirate. There are direct flights between Abu Dhabi and many regional, European and Asian aviation hubs such as London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Frankfurt and Singapore. There is even a direct flight to Toronto, Canada. The Dubai airport is approximately two hours drive from Abu Dhabi.

The modern airport has a great range of facilities and amenities that are constantly being upgraded and added to including a post office, bank, bureau de change, restaurants, bars, cafés, duty-free and regular shopping outlets, a luxurious airport hotel, which has great business and conference facilities, and even a golf course!

A novel idea Abu Dhabi has come up with is to allow departing travellers to check in and await their flight in the city itself, at the City Terminal. The City Terminal has all the amenities and facilities of an airport VIP lounge including showers and rooms. The City Terminal is free for first-class and business-class passengers, and economy class passengers can use it for a very reasonable charge. It is conveniently located in town near shopping centres and hotels.

The airport of Abu Dhabi offers a convenient Meet & Assist Service for reasonable rates, which helps make your arrival and departure smooth, fast and easy. Services include personal assistance with arrival and departure formalities and use of the VIP Lounge. Contact Golden Class Service on (+971) 02 575 7466 for more information. Dubai Airport is serviced by Marhaba Services www.marhabaservices.com.

Getting to and from the airport terminal is simple, with a city-operated shuttle running between the airport and the city 24 hours. Those not wanting to wait for the bus can take a taxi or limousine, while guests of better hotels can arrange a courtesy shuttle at the time of booking or prior to arrival. Limousines and white Al Ghazal taxis operate on a fixed rate while the orange and white public taxis should be metered.

Those wishing to drive themselves can rent a car from a booth at the airport. The airport is situated on its own dedicated highway, which splits into three highways leading to different parts of the city. Road conditions are good, however people drive very fast and somewhat carelessly.

For the most part, public transportation in Abu Dhabi is irregular and difficult to use, other than the 24-hour airport shuttle. Most visitors opt to use taxis or hire their own vehicle to get around the city. There are buses travelling to towns and villages through the emirate from the city's main bus terminal, although this form of transportation is unreliable. A better choice is to head to the long-distance minibus and taxi station, situated near the main bus terminal, where you can arrange travel to almost anywhere in the UAE including Dubai and Sharjah.

Unless you are on a very tight budget, it is best to stick to private taxis or hiring your own vehicle. Orange and white metered taxis can be flagged almost anywhere, while the more posh Al Ghazal taxis can be called in advance on 02 444 7787 and operate on a fixed rate. Taxi fares, whether metered or fixed, are quite reasonable.