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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 10 2007, 11:56 AM EDT (current) | jimglab | |
| Jun 16 2007, 9:02 PM EDT | jimglab |
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city guides
by Marcus Webb July 2007
Getting there
Smaller than Dubai’s airport, with its permanently packed terminals, Abu Dhabi International Airport is compact and accessible. Check-in times are usually minimal, and although there is a security presence, it’s relatively unobtrusive. Within the airport, you’ll find a business center and a 24-hour travel center, so you can rent a car or secure a hotel room at any time of day.
Shower facilities are also available on-site, as well as decent (if limited) duty-free shopping. High-end brands, such as Burberry, Bulgari and D&G, have stores in the building; there’s also a gold shop and the usual stalls with perfume and sunglasses. Terminal 1 has a World of Cigars that stocks top-of-the-range Cuban varieties, including some fine Cohibas and Monte Christos.
The Al Ghazal Transport taxi service (00971 2 444 9300) is the most convenient link to the city. A one-way trip costs Dhs65 (US$18) and takes around 35 minutes. Alternatively, you can get a shuttle bus for Dhs3 (US$1) that departs from outside the arrivals terminal every 45 minutes.
Getting around
Wherever you stay, you won’t be more than 20 minutes from your next meeting. Abu Dhabi’s grid system, based on Manhattan’s, is easy to navigate, and traffic isn’t as bad as in other built-up cities. You can hire a car for approximately $60 per day from any of the major companies, including AVIS (0971 2 575 7180), Budget (0971 2 575 7188) and Hertz (0971 2 575 5331). Parking is cheap, but often you won’t be able to park right outside where you want to go. Given that summer temperatures can reach 125°F, walking isn’t always advisable. Cabs may be your best bet.
There are two kinds of cabs available: hotel and city taxis. Most four- or five-star hotels will have their own cabs outside, and these are usually luxury cars (leather seats, good air conditioning, clean, etc.), but a trip in one costs three to five times as much as a normal city cab. That said, they are still cheaper to use than standard taxis in most other cosmopolitan cities, and you’ll be able to get to most places on the main island for around Dhs25 ($6.80). Not only are the vehicles more pleasant, but the drivers also speak better English, know where they are going and can write you a receipt if you need one for business purposes.
City taxis don’t offer receipts and are becoming increasingly unscrupulous. If you do opt for a city taxi, insist that the driver use the meter, otherwise he may quote you a price significantly higher than the norm—especially if you are going to a major hotel, or he recognizes that you’re from out of town. Another tip: Despite the fact that most streets have names and/or numbers, they mean little to most drivers. You’ll have far more success by directing them to landmarks (hotels are best) or showing them the location on a map.
