07 September 2010 16:42 GMT
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3-5 hour stopovers
Abu Dhabi airport is located around 25km out of town, which means that there's not enough time to make a trip to the city centre really worthwhile if you're on a swift stopover.
Nevertheless, the short walking distances inside the airport and the uncongested roads mean that it's possible to leave the airport for a short while if you've got four or five hours to wait between flights.
- Take a taxi down to the Al Ghazal Golf Club (www.alghazalgolf.ae, +971 2 575 8040), which is around five minutes by taxi from Terminals 1 and 2 and shouldn't cost any more than Dhs 20 ($6) to reach. The club has a licensed restaurant and a terrace with a view of the sand golf course, as well as a floodlit driving range. It's possible to use the facilities if you're a non-member, but bear in mind that the high temperatures between April and October might make golf uncomfortable.
- Have a bite to eat or use the beach facilites at the luxurious Al Raha Beach Hotel (www.danathotelgroup.com, +971 2 50 80 555). It has a great poolside area serving drinks and snacks: daytime use of the beach and pool costs Dhs 70 ($19) on weekdays and Dhs 100 ($27) at weekends, which run on Friday-Saturday in the UAE.
If you are planning to leave the airport between flights, then ensure that you qualify for an automatic visa on arrival - see our Visas section for more details on which nationalities this applies to.
As always, make sure you're back at the airport at least 90 minutes before your onward flight is due to leave, even if you already have a boarding card for your next flight and don't need to check in again.
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