AVIS Car Hire at Abu Dhabi Airport

Abu Dhabi's airport is a short drive from the capital, so the sooner you have your keys, the sooner the city is yours. With Avis car rental at Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport, you can collect your car at Terminal A and be on your way without waiting for a taxi.

Abu Dhabi rewards drivers. The roads are wide and well signed, the beaches and cultural sites are spread across islands and desert, and the best of it is easier to reach in your own car. 

Choose how you collect your car

• Collect at the desk. Our Terminal A desk is on Level 1. Check in for a friendly welcome and local advice on your trip. The desk is open 24 hours a day.
• Join Avis Preferred. Free to join, with priority service, faster collection and member rates.
• Have your documents ready. Driving licence, passport or Emirates ID, and the payment card used for the booking. 

Top car rental locations around Abu Dhabi

• Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH), Terminal A, Level 1 (24 hours) 
• Abu Dhabi Main Office, Al Otaiba Building, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street 
• Ruwais (Al Dhafrah) 
• Musaffah Operation Office

Where to find us at Abu Dhabi Airport 

Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (formerly Abu Dhabi International Airport) is the main gateway to the capital and the home base of Etihad Airways. Terminal A is the airport's modern main terminal, and our desk is on Level 1. The desk is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call +971 4 518 6866 or email abudhabiairport@avisuae.ae.

Returns 

Return your car to the Avis return area at the airport and then proceed to departures. Allow extra time for the vehicle check.

Discover cars to rent at Abu Dhabi Airport

Abu Dhabi's wide, smooth roads suit comfortable cruisers and SUVs. If you are planning a day at the Yas Island theme parks with a family, an SUV or people carrier keeps everyone and the luggage together. For business travel, our saloon range is quiet, comfortable and easy to park. Contact us to confirm the models available for your dates.

Plan your journey from Abu Dhabi Airport

From the airport, Abu Dhabi city centre is around a 30-minute drive. On the way, Yas Island is close to the airport, with Ferrari World, Yas Marina Circuit and Yas Waterworld on the doorstep.

In the city itself, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the main stop, a marble landmark open to visitors outside prayer times and well worth a morning. On Saadiyat Island, Louvre Abu Dhabi sits beneath a vast latticed dome that casts patterned light across the water, and the Cultural District is growing around it. Along the Corniche, a long waterfront promenade with beaches and cafés, you can walk, cycle or simply sit and watch the sunset. Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace, is open to the public and one of the most impressive buildings in the capital.

For something quieter, Mangrove National Park and the Jubail Mangrove Park offer kayaking and boardwalks within minutes of the city.

Top tips for driving in Abu Dhabi

Which side of the road? In the UAE, drive on the right.

Road rules

• Handheld phone use is illegal and fined.
• Seatbelts are compulsory for everyone in the car.
• Children under 10 must not sit in the front seat, and younger children need an appropriate child seat.
• Zero tolerance for drinking and driving. 
• Speed limits are posted and enforced by cameras. Highways reach 120 km/h, with lower limits in the city. 

Tolls

Abu Dhabi uses an electronic toll system called Darb at certain points around the city.

Parking 

Paid parking in Abu Dhabi is managed by the Mawaqif system and is charged by zone and time. Pay by SMS or the app, and always check the signs. 

Beyond Abu Dhabi with your rental car 

Head inland to Al Ain, about 90 minutes from the capital, a UNESCO World Heritage city of oases, forts and the Jebel Hafit mountain road, one of the best driving roads in the country. Further into the desert, the Liwa Oasis marks the edge of the Empty Quarter, where towering dunes and the Qasr Al Sarab resort sit far from any city lights. Heading the other way, Dubai is around an hour and a half along the E11.

If you have booked a cross-border rental, Al Ain is also a convenient starting point for crossings into Oman. Speak to our team at least 72 hours before you travel.