This post is my review of a recent stay at the AUHotel Zayed International Airport Abu Dhabi.
The AUHotel is the airside transit hotel in Terminal A at Abu Dhabi Airport. It only opened two months ago and still has a distinct new building smell in the corridors and guest rooms. I had my first chance to stay before a recent flight from Abu Dhabi to Europe.
My flight was departing at 2.30 am. Living in Abu Dhabi, one unavoidable fact of life is the number of flights scheduled to leave in the early hours of the morning. These timings play havoc on sleep, particularly for ‘early birds’ who go to bed early and get up early in the morning.
I have realized that when it is important to arrive at my destination feeling rested and productive the next day, it’s often better for me to go to the airport early, stick to my normal bedtime routine, and then get on the plane as soon as boarding starts. I try to fall asleep as quickly as possible once I’m on the plane.
Booking the AUHotel
The AUHotel can currently only be booked on Booking.com.
The hotel has 138 rooms over three floors. There are three room types available to choose from:
- Superior – 15m2 twin or double
- Deluxe – 21m2 twin or double
- Family – 24m2 Double plus a single
Rooms can be booked in blocks of either 12 or 24 hours.
At the time I booked, prices ranged from AED 504 for 12 hours in a Superior Room to AED 800 for 12 hours in a Family Room. Oddly, 24 hours in a Family Room was priced a few AED cheaper than 12 hours.
I booked a Deluxe room as 15m2 felt a little too cupboard-like, even if only using the room to sleep. The price difference was also minimal.
Finding the AUHotel
The AUHotel is located at the start of Pier D, across from Gate D43. It shares an entrance with the Pearl Lounge.
If you are starting your journey in Abu Dhabi, you will need to veer to the left after passing through the duty-free shopping area after security. The reception desk is to the right of the escalators.
Reception and Check-in
When I arrived around 8 pm, two very cheerful staff members were on duty. The whole check-in process was swift.
After scanning my boarding pass and passport, the agent noted my Etihad Guest Tier status. Shortly afterwards, she informed me that I had been upgraded to a larger Family Room. It was not clear if those two things were connected.
One of the agents then escorted me to my room. We took the escalator up and then turned right just before the Pearl Lounge reception. Here, there were two lifts with access to the three AUHotel floors.
A few minutes after getting into the room, the phone rang. It was reception asking if I wanted a wake-up call. I said yes, and they called at exactly the time requested.
The Room
The Family room I had been upgraded into has two beds, a double and a single. It felt spacious and smelled brand new. I would not be surprised if I was the first person to have used it. When I arrived, the room was quite warm but quickly cooled down once the AC was turned on.
The room was simply furnished with a muted, minimal design. One wall featured a desert scene, which added both a splash of colour and a sense of location. In addition to the two beds, there was a side table and a small desk attached to the wall with a kettle for tea and coffee. Three hooks and a flat-screen TV completed the room, and that was it.
In terms of power, there were two UAE/UK-style plug sockets in the room. The one between the two beds included a USB-C port.
The bed was firm but comfortable. It had a light duvet and two decent-sized pillows. I slept comfortably.
Bathroom
The tiled bathroom was small but bright and spotlessly clean. It had a walk-in rain shower. There was no handheld showerhead.
The bathroom was well stocked with shower caps, dental kits, Q-tips and slippers.
The toiletries were from an Australian brand called Appelles. These were in refillable bottles attached to the wall. Shampoo, conditioner and body wash were in the shower, and hand wash and lotion were by the sink.
I had never heard of Appelles before, but the Lemon Myrtle, Sandalwood, and Rosalina hand wash smelled amazing. Happily, it looks like they also deliver to the UAE.
Windowless
None of the 138 rooms in the hotel have a window. The only questionable design choice was leaving the back wall completely bare. Putting up a curtain or even just a picture or painting on the wall would make that end of the room look less stark.
My take
My room at the AUHotel was perfectly comfortable. I managed close to four hours of sleep, which set me up well for the flight and the day ahead.
All of the staff I encountered were friendly and seemed proud of the hotel, which I think is a sign of a well-run operation. The AUHotel is a good option for anyone with a long connection in Abu Dhabi who wants to rest between flights or someone like me who is happy to arrive at the airport early to maximise pre-flight sleep.
Book the AUHotel on Booking.com.
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