Transport connections in United Arab Emirates

The UAE has six well-appointed international airports, in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Sharjah, Ra’s al-Khaimah and Fujairah. The seventh, Dubai World Central, is under construction. Extensive airports in Abu Dhabi and Dhabi not only service the ever-increasing local tourist market, they are also major hubs for flights from East to West.

Abu Dhabi International Airport is a brief 20-minute drive from the center of town. There are flights from Bahrain, Beirut, Jeddah, Kuwait, London, Frankfurt, Melbourne, New York, and Riyadh to Abu Dhabi. Airlines servicing the airport include Air France, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Middle East Airlines, Royal Jordanian, and the national carrier Gulf Air.

The Ras Al Khaimah International Airport is currently undergoing an upgrade. It operates cargo and passenger services to a variety of destinations covering the Middle East, North and East Africa, Central Asia, India and the Far East. In total 27 airlines including RAK Airways, Gulf Air, Indian Airlines and many others operate scheduled and non-scheduled flights.

The Dubai International Airport is a hub for Emirates Airlines. It has won numerous awards for its excellence in design and services. A third terminal, dedicated to Emirates Airlines was opened in October 2008. The completion of this terminal doubled the capacity of the airport. Many of the world's major airlines operate scheduled services to Dubai, including British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, Northwest Airlines and United Airlines.

Given the short flying time, there is no inter-city air service between the seven emirates. But the United Arab Emirates has an extensive road network that connects all major cities and towns.

Transportation in the United Arab Emirates is mainly possible by means of cars. Cars take up the largest portion of transportation in the UAE, which is followed by buses and then motorcycles. The rules relating to driving licenses differ from emirate to emirate. However, once you have been issued with a temporary driving permit from one emirate you can drive throughout the UAE.

There are regular bus services between every destination in the UAE; however, having your own wheels here is a definite advantage. Car rental is only slightly more expensive than in Western countries, and is relatively easy to arrange in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.