Abu Dhabi International Airport, the United Arab Emirates’ second-busiest airport, has introduced a new transit and departure fee of Dh35 (approximately $9.53). The charge was announced last month and will take effect at the beginning of July. It aligns Abu Dhabi with similar levies recently implemented by Sharjah and Dubai airports, which also collect Dh35 from most passengers.
The Dh35 fee applies to the majority of travelers departing from or transiting through these airports. Exemptions are limited: children under two years old and passengers who remain on the same airline with the same crew and flight number while in transit are not required to pay. The fee is collected by Abu Dhabi Airports, the government-owned operator responsible for five airports in the emirate.
This new charge will be added to existing airport fees. Passengers leaving Abu Dhabi International already pay a Dh75 service fee along with a Dh5 security fee, and the Dh35 will be imposed on top of those amounts. Abu Dhabi International is also the main hub for Etihad Airways, the region’s third-largest carrier, and handled roughly 8 million passengers during the first four months of 2016.
