Abu Dhabi – A city like one from Arabian Nights! And it is not just a city somewhere in the desert; it is the capital of the UAE! Our members Marlin and Jonas frequently visit Abu Dhabi and created a guide for this worth seeing city. The capital airport is the home of the world’s fastest growing airline, Etihad Airways. Being a base for EY, Abu Dhabi airport makes most of its profit from the national airline of the UAE.But there are also 32 other airlines flying into AUH. Several carrier from nearly every corner of the world are being linked with Abu Dhabi, most of them are Etihad Airways partner like Air Berlin, Jet Airways, Air Seychelles, Philippine Airlines or Virgin Australia. Abu Dhabi has got three terminals and a large freight sector. A fourth terminal is under construction and is expected to be opened up in 2016.

Abu Dhabi Airport offers two runways and three terminals. For a safe spotting trip please read the safety advice carefully and obey those tips and instructions.

Written by Marlin & Jonas Lehmann, Jeremy Denton and Julian Mittnacht (last update February 2025)

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
13L/31R	4.100 m (13.451 ft)
13R/31L	4.100 m (13.451 ft)
Terminals
Terminal 1	PIA, Air India Express, MEA, Gulf Air, Etihad (middle east)
Terminal 2	not really in use and just a small building
Terminal 3	Etihad and Partner Airlines
Terminal 4	Midfield, Opening 2019 (Etihad Airways)
Spotting Information
Ladder	There is no need for it
Car/Public Transport	Car is strongly recommend to use (serves as protection)
Restrooms	Available at all publicly accessible buildings like restaurants or inside the terminal building
Drinks/Food	There are supermarkets nearby the airport and food is available inside the airport’s terminals and around the airport are restaurants
Hotels	There are two hotels nearby the airport. The “Airport Hotel” (*****) is immediately inside Terminal 1. Especial Recommendation: Premier Inn Hotel Abu Dhabi International Airport (***)
Season	When visiting the UAE in the summer time, massive heat haze will be a problem which is far lesser in winter. Traffic is not dependent from season, Abu Dhabi Airport’s traffic is constantly the same during the year.
Security	Spotting in the UAE is neither supported nor understood nor tolerated. Especially taking pictures evincing airport buildings or facilities will may cause problems and punishments (which can range from a check by police to imprisonment in worst case) by the police or airport authorities. we will not be liable for any inconviniences with local authorities. Spotting at Abu Dhabi airport AUH is at your own risk. Keep a low profile wherever you are. Information: our team hasn’t yet experienced any problems at Abu Dhabi airport which is attributable to extremely cautious behaviour and obeying of security tips. Please always adjust your behaviour when travelling into the middle east states including the uae to aviod inconveniences with the police. General tip for spotting in the middle east area: if you have a car, stow your camera underneath the seat or in the glovebox of the car. Have a map with you to fake a glitch or for an alleged planning of a route. +++ SPOT AT YOUR OWN RISK IN THE UAE +++ UPDATE – PLEASE NOTE: As of 30APR2015 we now caution you against doing spotting in the UAE as the situation has worsened sharply. Photography of airplanes in the United Arab Emirates is avenged and punished when being caught by authorities or police. Spotting in the UAE has become extremely dangerous and we advise everbody to keep this in mind when planning to go spotting at any UAE airport. At Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ayn and Fujairah, spotting is highly hazardous. Dubai Airport is being checked by the police more regularly than ever before. Not even photographs not including airport facilities are not tolerated anymore. To learn more about the current circumstances, please refer to this link.
Runway Usage
13R/31L	Depends on wind direction. Major runway as it is the closest one to active Terminals 1-3.
13L/31R	Depends on wind direction. Not really in use as it is too far away from the Terminal 1-3. Whit the opening of the new midfield terminal 4 this will change.

	Spot #1 – Crowne Plaza Hotel Yas Island – 13R arrivals
WHERE	You can easily spot airplanes directly from your hotel room at Crowne Plaza Hotel Yas Island. Ask rooms in the west wing of the hotel (additional building) as rooms in the eastern wing apparently do not offer a view onto approaching aircraft.
WHAT	Flight arrivals of runway 13R can be observed from here. Departures from runway 31L are high already and in a unprofitable angle.
TIME	From noon to sunset
MISC.	Angle is quite steep
FOCAL LENGTH	70-400mm – An aircraft such as a Boeing 777 may need 170mm, the Air Astana jet was taken at 250mm

	Spot #2 – Yas Marina F1 track – 13R arrivals
WHERE	This spot is located at the entry of Yas marina Formula F1 track. There are bus connections to Yas Marina Circuit. Google Maps coordinate: 24.474400, 54.602459
WHAT	You can take photos of aircraft approaching runway 13R
TIME	Best light conditions are from sunrise until mid-day
MISC.	Refer to the red box above for current spotting info! This spot offers aplenty of institutions such as restaurants, bars or restrooms.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300 – Boeing 777: 190mm; Airbus A330-300: 220mm; Airbus A320: 290mm

AUH-Spot2

AUH-Spot2

AUH-Spot2

	Spot #3 – Morning spot 31L arrivals
WHERE	Difficult of explanation but this spot is parallel of E11 to Dubai next to a huge palace at a roundabout. The street is not much frequented but stay in your car and always keep a low profile. Check maps.google.com for this coordinate: 24.421146, 54.679024 UPDATE 23JAN2017: FELLOW SPOTTERS HAVE NOW ADVISED THAT THIS SPOT CANNOT BE USED ANY LONGER/FOR THE TIME BEING BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION ZONES – TO BE UPDATED
WHAT	From this spot you can take pictures of all flight arrivals of runway 31L. When 13s are in use, heavy aircraft can be photographed from here when they are fully loaded.
TIME	Best light conditions are sunrise until mid-day
SECURITY	Refer to the red box above for current spotting info! This spot is rather safe. Keep in car though and keep a low profile as set out above. Fake a glitch in case of checks by the police.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm – Boeing 777: 160mm Airbus A319: 280mm – Airbus A330-200: 200mm – Airbus A340-600: 160mm

AUH-Spot5

AUH-Spot5

AUH-Spot5

	Spot #4 – Breakdown lane E11 – 31L arrivals
WHERE	This spot is located right on a breakdown lane on highway E11. If this is too risky for you, check Google Maps coordinate 24.410694, 54.682598.
WHAT	Flight arrivals of runway 31L
TIME	Mid-day until sunset
SECURITY	Please note: Refer to the red box above for current spotting info! This spot is advisable for a short stop only! Fake a glitch and keep a low profile. Misuse of a breakdown lane in the UAE is illegal.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm – Airbus A340-600: 85mm – Airbus A320: 160mm

AUH Spot 4

AUH Spot 4

AUH Spot 4

	Spot #5 – Premier Inn Hotel Pool Roof
WHERE	+++ PLEASE NOTE: As of 24FEB2015 spotting from Spot #5 is strictly prohibited. The Abu Dhabi Airport Aviation Authority has forbidden any photography from the Premier Inn Pool deck. ‘No photography’ signs warns you of any inconveniences with hotel staff or ADEC. We are in contact with the hotel and hope this to have beneficial effects +++ You can easily spot airplanes directly from your hotel pool at Premier Inn Hotel Abu Dhabi International Airport. It’s best to take photos from the roof top. Taking photos from any room is not possible because of a building which blocks the view onto the airfield. There is a window in the level below the pool area (Level 5) which offers a view onto the runways and the maintenance area but taking photos from there is rather unprofitable.*
WHAT	Flight arrivals of runway 31L/13R, taxiing airplanes to the terminal and all flight operations at Abu Dhabi Airport including the Presidental Flights. Be warned that you might experience strong heat haze with your shots taken during the day, even the larger aircraft can be affected by that. Days with strong winds will often result in less heat haze. Please note: Runway 31L/13R was renewed until late 2014 and is still closed sometimes. It seems to be open for peak times.
TIME	All day long. But heat haze will be less in the later evening.
SECURITY	Spotting is safest from here. Smile and behave to make sure spotting remains tolerated by the hotel management. Hotel staff is very friendly and do support the hobby of plane spotting with huge interest.*
FOCAL LENGTH	70-400mm. Widebody aircraft can easily be photographed at 300mm and less. Taxiing aircraft in a size of a B777 may need 160mm and runway 31L/13R shots up to 250mm. Smaller aircraft like the Dash 8s can be photographed at 400mm but heat haze could be a major problem.

AUH Spot 3

AUH Spot 3

AUH Spot 3

AUH Spot 3

AUH Spot 3

AUH Spot 3

	Spot #6 – The Great Ghaaf Tree on a Hill – Afternoon 31R arrivals
WHERE	This spotting location is great for rwy31R arrivals afternoon. The location is under construction so rather a safe area. Not much traffic as well. Park your car next to the road on the dirt. To find the location we advise you to mention the name of the spot and you’ll just have to drive a few more meters down to the road. We advise not to spot at the hill as you’ll attract too much attention.
WHAT	Runway 31R arrivals, it is the main used runway for arrivals by civilians and military jets.
TIME	Winter: From 10h30 until sunset. Summer: From 12h30 until sunset.
SECURITY	This spot is rather safe. Keep in car though and keep a low profile as set out above.
FOCAL LENGTH	200mm = B781 / 350mm = A321 & 400mm = A320

AUH-Spot6

AUH-Spot6

AUH-Spot6