Flights to Abu Dhabi
Which airport to land at, how far each is from the centre, and where the routes go. Live fares are booked here.
Abu Dhabi is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Zayed International Airport (AUH), 26 km (16 mi) from the centre, whose 13,471-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC, 92 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zayed International Airport | AUH | 26 km (16 mi) | 13,471 ft | 88 ft |
| Al Maktoum International Airport | DWC | 92 km (57 mi) | 14,764 ft | 114 ft |
Runway length is a practical tell: at 13,471 ft, AUH can take the largest long-haul aircraft, so direct intercontinental flights are physically possible here. The airport sits at 88 ft; that is low enough that altitude never restricts departures.
Book a flight to Abu Dhabi
Our airline partner is activating live fares for this site; the search below opens the moment that is done. Hotels can be booked now.
Routes to and from Abu Dhabi
Straight-line distance and an estimated block time for the city pairs people search for most. Each opens a page with both ends’ airports, the time-zone shift and what changes on arrival.
| Route | Country | Distance | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi to Karachi | Pakistan | 1,275 km (792 mi) | about 2 h 23 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Baghdad | Iraq | 1,386 km (861 mi) | about 2 h 32 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Tehran | Iran | 1,282 km (797 mi) | about 2 h 24 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Riyadh | Saudi Arabia | 777 km (482 mi) | about 1 h 45 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Mashhad | Iran | 1,408 km (875 mi) | about 2 h 33 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Sanaa | Yemen | 1,468 km (912 mi) | about 2 h 38 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Hyderabad | Pakistan | 1,413 km (878 mi) | about 2 h 34 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Quetta | Pakistan | 1,398 km (868 mi) | about 2 h 33 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Isfahan | Iran | 950 km (590 mi) | about 1 h 58 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Karaj | Iran | 1,307 km (812 mi) | about 2 h 26 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Basrah | Iraq | 937 km (583 mi) | about 1 h 57 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Madinah | Saudi Arabia | 1,496 km (929 mi) | about 2 h 40 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Dammam | Saudi Arabia | 484 km (301 mi) | about 1 h 22 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Shiraz | Iran | 603 km (374 mi) | about 1 h 31 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Karbala | Iraq | 1,359 km (844 mi) | about 2 h 30 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Sadr City | Iraq | 1,385 km (861 mi) | about 2 h 32 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Sulţānah | Saudi Arabia | 1,498 km (931 mi) | about 2 h 40 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Abū Ghurayb | Iraq | 1,398 km (869 mi) | about 2 h 33 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Qom | Iran | 1,183 km (735 mi) | about 2 h 16 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Ahvaz | Iran | 947 km (589 mi) | about 1 h 58 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Muscat | Oman | 419 km (260 mi) | about 1 h 17 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Buraydah | Saudi Arabia | 1,067 km (663 mi) | about 2 h 7 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Shanghai | China | 6,539 km (4,063 mi) | about 9 h 8 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Chongqing | China | 5,157 km (3,204 mi) | about 7 h 22 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Chengdu | China | 4,906 km (3,048 mi) | about 7 h 2 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Guangzhou | China | 5,943 km (3,693 mi) | about 8 h 22 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Shenzhen | China | 6,040 km (3,753 mi) | about 8 h 30 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Ho Chi Minh City | Vietnam | 5,704 km (3,544 mi) | about 8 h 4 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Wuhan | China | 5,876 km (3,651 mi) | about 8 h 17 min |
| Abu Dhabi to Lahore | Pakistan | 2,108 km (1,310 mi) | about 3 h 27 min |
Distances are straight-line; road and rail routes run about 15–25% longer. Times are estimates from distance and typical speeds, not timetables.
Common questions
Which airport should I fly into for Abu Dhabi?
Zayed International Airport (AUH) is the closest large airport at 26 km (16 mi). The others, DWC, are further out and worth it only when the fare or the airline makes them so.
How far is AUH from Abu Dhabi city centre?
26 km (16 mi) in a straight line; the road or rail distance is somewhat longer.
Can I book flights to Abu Dhabi on this site?
Very soon: our airline partner is switching live fares on for this site. Hotels can be booked now.
How are the journey times on this page worked out?
From straight-line distance and typical speeds for each mode, so they are estimates for planning, not timetables. Road and rail routes run 15–25% longer than the straight line.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.