Oh, dear oh dear ... ! (Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH))

Member Name: doctordarke2389

Product:	Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH)
Date:	23/07/09 (52 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Departure

Disadvantages: Crowded and smelly

Flying from Manchester Int'l UK to Bangkok with Etihad, I had NO idea what awaited me on arrival in Abu Dhabi. The central forum is dominated by a huge circular pyrotechnic/psychedelic dome that one needs to be tripping on LSD to truly appreciate! Bizarre don't quite cut it ... There isn't much to do whilst stranded there - a couple of eateries on ground level, but even more on the level below which is extremely badly signposted, in my view.

This place has the feel of an international traffic facility that has been poorly planned, indifferently built, and not yet completed, if ever. It is over-crowded and carries the slightly pervasive stink of unwashed bodies; fair enough, unchained pheromones may appeal to some, but not me after a six-hour jaunt then unceremoniously dumped into the middle of this cattle market.

For those of you so inclined (which included me) there is a VERY small bar (the Piano) that dispenses alcoholic beverages to the needy passenger. As one may imagine, this booze emporium is situated in a Muslim country so is not widely signposted. You may need to search, but it IS there.

Luckily, there are some more positives; getting to my gate for the onward journey was fairly painless, and the staff, whilst rather stern-looking and of somewhat joyless dispositions, were coldly efficient and helpful in an off-hand kinda way. Just how I like to depart a place I have not taken a shine to!

Summary: Avoid if you can ...