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Access and logistics

The country's gateway is Dubai, not the capital: DXB holds first place worldwide for international traffic. Journey times below are by road from Abu Dhabi — the Etihad Rail passenger service had not opened when this page was built. Airport figures are each airport's own; the civil aviation authority counts on a different perimeter, so the two sets are never added together.

Airports

AirportCodeEmiratePassengers 2025Role
Dubai Internationalمطار دبي الدوليDXBDubai95 200 000Hub
Zayed Internationalمطار زايد الدوليAUHAbu Dhabi32 500 000Hub
Sharjah Internationalمطار الشارقة الدوليSHJSharjah19 480 000Hub
Ras Al Khaimah Internationalمطار رأس الخيمة الدوليRKTRas Al Khaimah1 300 000Regional
Al Maktoum International (Dubai World Central)مطار آل مكتوم الدوليDWCDubaiRegional
Al Ain Internationalمطار العين الدوليAANAbu DhabiRegional
Fujairah Internationalمطار الفجيرة الدوليFJRFujairahRegional
Al Bateen Executiveمطار البطين التنفيذيAZIAbu DhabiExecutive aviation

Figures are each airport's own published total. The civil aviation authority publishes emirate-level totals on a different perimeter — 104.5 million for Dubai against 95.2 for DXB alone, 16.9 million for Sharjah against 19.48 from the airport itself — so the two sets are never mixed or added. A dash means the airport publishes no annual passenger figure.

From Abu Dhabi by road

DestinationEmirateJourneyLink
Saadiyat Islandجزيرة السعدياتAbu Dhabi20 minRoad
Yas Islandجزيرة ياسAbu Dhabi30 minRoad
Dubai (Downtown)دبيDubai1 h 30Road
Al AinالعينAbu Dhabi1 h 30Road
Dubai (Palm Jumeirah)نخلة جميراDubai1 h 45Road
SharjahالشارقةSharjah2 h 00Road
Madinat Zayed (Al Dhafra)مدينة زايدAbu Dhabi2 h 00Road
Abu Dhabi ↔ Dubai intercity bus (E100/E101)حافلة أبوظبي دبيDubai2 h 00Intercity bus
AjmanعجمانAjman2 h 10Road
Umm Al Quwainأم القيوينUmm Al Quwain2 h 25Road
Liwa Oasisواحة ليواAbu Dhabi2 h 30Road
Al Marjan Islandجزيرة المرجانRas Al Khaimah2 h 40Road
Ras Al Khaimahرأس الخيمةRas Al Khaimah2 h 50Road
Sir Bani Yas Islandجزيرة صير بني ياسAbu Dhabi2 h 55Ferry / boat
FujairahالفجيرةFujairah3 h 00Road
HattaحتاDubai3 h 00Road
KhorfakkanخورفكانSharjah3 h 10Road
Dibba Al Fujairahدبا الفجيرةFujairah3 h 20Road
KalbaكلباءSharjah3 h 20Road
Jebel Jaisجبل جيسRas Al Khaimah3 h 25Road
Delma Islandجزيرة دلماAbu DhabiFerry / boat
Etihad Rail passenger serviceقطار الاتحادRail — not yet open

Free-flowing traffic, private car. The Etihad Rail passenger service had not opened when this page was built, so no rail times are quoted. Sir Bani Yas and Delma are reached by boat from the mainland.