EXCLUSIVEIs this the world's best airport??直面する 承認 check-in, board direct from the lounge, no 列s... The Mail discovers that Abu Dhabi's £2.4billion Zayed International is a futuristic masterpiece

By Ted Thornhill, Mailonline Travel Editor

Published: | Updated:

宣伝

This is an airport like no other - impressive enough to be a tourist attraction. So beautiful it’s worthy of a postcard. So spacious it should perhaps carry a 誘発する／引き起こす 警告 for agoraphobics.

Which makes the experience of 存在 a 乗客 in Abu Dhabi’s new Zayed International Airport ? 構成するing one 選び出す／独身 終点 A - an utterly surreal one.

There’s no hassle, no jostling, no general sense of despair. No one likes a 延期する but here it means the chance to gaze at the wonder of it all. I feel like I’ve entered a utopian futurescape.

NO EXPENSE SPARED?

終点 A cost a 冷静な／正味の $3billion (£2.4billion) to build and opened in November to 取って代わる the old 終点s 1, 2 and 3. It had been a long time coming, with the 契約s for construction 調印するd off in 2012 and the grand 明かすing 初めは （ーのために）とっておくd for 2017.

Now, it’s the home 中心 of the UAE’s 国家の 航空機による, Etihad, with its 指名する changing this year from Abu Dhabi International Airport to Zayed International Airport, after the UAE’s 設立するing Father, the late Sheikh Zayed 貯蔵所 暴君 Al Nahyan.

The future of air travel: Ted Thornhill takes in the glittering magnificence of Abu Dhabi?s new Zayed International Airport Terminal A. Behind him is Sana Al Nour,?a huge vase-like structure consisting of 1,632 curved translucent glass panels that stands 22m (72ft) tall and 17m (55ft) wide

The 未来 of 空気／公表する travel: Ted Thornhill takes in the glittering magnificence of Abu Dhabi’s new Zayed International Airport 終点 A. Behind him is Sana Al Nour,?a 抱擁する vase-like structure consisting of 1,632 curved translucent glass パネル盤s that stands 22m (72ft) tall and 17m (55ft) wide

Terminal A cost a cool $3 billion (£2.4 billion) to build and opened in N ovember to replace the old terminals 1, 2 and 3. It?s the home hub of the UAE?s national airline, Etihad

終点 A cost a 冷静な／正味の $3 billion (£2.4 billion) to build and opened in November to 取って代わる the old 終点s 1, 2 and 3. It’s the home 中心 of the UAE’s 国家の 航空機による, Etihad

STATE-OF-THE-ART DESIGN

The futuristic 中心 has been designed by the U.S architecture 会社／堅い Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF), which was behind New York’s Hudson Yards コンビナート／複合体 and Atlantis The 王室の hotel in Dubai.

Within seconds, before reaching the check-in desks, I 結論する that with 終点 A the 会社／堅い has come up with a 近づく-perfect 概念. All airports should be like this.

The cavernous space by the 入り口 is 支配するd by an 取り付け・設備 called ‘Sana Al Nour’ ? a 抱擁する vase-like structure consisting of 1,632 curved translucent glass パネル盤s that stands 22m (72ft) tall and 17m (55ft) wide. Not just pretty on the 注目する，もくろむ, Sana Al Nour also 容易にするs energy-saving airflow for the entire 終点 building, 許すing for 冷静な／正味の 空気／公表する to pass through the 前線 and 最高の，を越す of it, while heat rises through the middle.

Sana Al Nour (above) facilitates energy-saving airflow for the entire terminal building, allowing for cool air to pass through the front and top of it, while heat rises through the middle

Sana Al Nour (above) 容易にするs energy-saving airflow for the entire 終点 building, 許すing for 冷静な／正味の 空気／公表する to pass through the 前線 and 最高の，を越す of it, while heat rises through the middle

I point my camera at the arching, operatic support 中心存在s that reach up into the roof. Little wonder, I muse, that director Christopher McQuarrie chose 終点 A to shoot some of the 劇の 開始 scenes for 使節団: Impossible ? Dead Reckoning Part One.

HASSLE-FREE CHECK-IN AND SECURITY

Forget 列ing - 特に if you take advantage of the airport’s ground-breaking biometric system.

終点 A is the only airport in the world where 乗客s can navigate through 移民／移住 and the check-in and 搭乗 過程 without the need for physical 文書s, thanks to biometric cameras placed at 戦略の points.

Ted checks in for his business-class flight with Etihad to Heathrow. He writes: 'This is an airport like no other - impressive enough to be a tourist attraction. So beautiful it?s worthy of a postcard. So spacious it should perhaps carry a trigger warning for agoraphobics'

Ted checks in for his 商売／仕事-class flight with Etihad to Heathrow. He 令状s: 'This is an airport like no other - impressive enough to be a tourist attraction. So beautiful it’s worthy of a postcard. So spacious it should perhaps carry a 誘発する／引き起こす 警告 for agoraphobics'

Terminal A is the only airport in the world where passengers can navigate through immigration and the check-in and boarding process without the need for physical documents, thanks to biometric cameras placed at strategic points

終点 A is the only airport in the world where 乗客s can navigate through 移民／移住 and the check-in and 搭乗 過程 without the need for physical 文書s, thanks to biometric cameras placed at 戦略の points

Christopher McQuarrie chose Terminal A to shoot some of the dramatic opening scenes for Mission: Impossible ? Dead Reckoning Part One

Christopher McQuarrie chose 終点 A to shoot some of the 劇の 開始 scenes for 使節団: Impossible ? Dead Reckoning Part One

You still need to have your パスポート and other 文書s with you, but use facial 承認 and extra checks are 大いに 減ずるd, making for an even more seamless 過程.

I 港／避難所’t 登録（する）d for the ‘facial 承認 旅行’, but I 事実上 float through to 出発s にもかかわらず.

安全 is a leap 今後, too. All my liquids stay in my 捕らえる、獲得する for the cutting-辛勝する／優位 X-ray machine, overseen by shockingly polite staff, though my laptop has to be 除去するd.

AIRSIDE SHOPPING

After security, passengers enter?35,000 square metres of shopping heaven. Ted writes: 'Get ready to douse your credit card, because several major designer brands have set up shop, from Gucci to Yves Saint Laurent, Hermes to Ferragamo'

After 安全, 乗客s enter?35,000 square metres of shopping heaven. Ted 令状s: 'Get ready to 浴びせる／消す your credit card, because several major designer brands have 始める，決める up shop, from Gucci to Yves Saint Laurent, Hermes to Ferragamo'

Budget buys are also available airside. There?s a Costa Coffee, Starbucks, TGI Fridays, McDonald?s, KFC, Jones the Grocer, Camden Food Co, M eat District and a Todd English restaurant

予算 buys are also 利用できる airside. There’s a Costa Coffee, Starbucks, TGI Fridays, McDonald’s, KFC, Jones the Grocer, Camden Food Co, Meat 地区 and a Todd English restaurant

Once through 安全, you enter a gleaming shopper’s 楽園 that covers 35,000 square metres.

Get ready to 浴びせる／消す your credit card, because several major designer brands have 始める，決める up shop, from Gucci to Yves Saint Laurent, Hermes to Ferragamo.

予算 buys are also 利用できる. There’s a Costa Coffee, Starbucks, TGI Fridays, McDonald’s, KFC, Jones the Grocer, Camden Food Co, Meat 地区 and a Todd English restaurant.

What strikes me, as I wonder hither and thither, is the tranquillity of it all.

ACRES OF SPACE

The airport can 扱う 45million 乗客s 毎年, 11,000 乗客s per hour and has stands for 79 航空機 (65 of which are connected to the building). 終点 A covers 742,000 square metres (about 二塁打 the size of Heathrow’s 終点 5) and has walkways almost big enough for a Dreamliner to trundle through.

If you lose a loved one, there’s no need to worry ? just WhatsApp using the airport’s 急速な／放蕩な, 解放する／自由な and password-いっそう少なく Wi-Fi.

HEADING FOR THE GATE

The airport （人命などを）奪う，主張するs a kerb-to-gate time of 12 minutes if you’re using the biometric 承認 system and you have a convenient 出発 gate. Arriving two hours before your flight shouldn’t be necessary here.

The gates are arranged along four tentacle-like 武器 that stretch out from a central 中心 to form an X 形態／調整. Each tentacle is 主題d 異なって, 代表するing Abu Dhabi’s natural landscapes of 砂漠, sea, city and oasis. Luton Airport this isn’t.

LUXURIOUS LOUNGES

The world-class Etihad lounge ? three floors of wanton (complimentary) luxury for business, first class, and tier-status economy passengers

The world-class Etihad lounge ? three 床に打ち倒すs of wanton (complimentary) 高級な for 商売／仕事, first class, and tier-status economy 乗客s

Ted checks in to the stunning Etihad lounge
Ted receives a mocktail at the lounge bar

LEFT: Ted checks in to the 素晴らしい Etihad lounge. RIGHT: Ted receives a mocktail at the lounge 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業

The lounge bar features a live cooking station, above, which serves local and international dishes
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The lounge 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 features a live cooking 駅／配置する, above, which serves 地元の and international dishes

My 出発 experience finishes in the world-class Etihad lounge ? three 床に打ち倒すs of wanton (complimentary) 高級な for 商売／仕事, first class, and tier-status economy 乗客s.

There is a live cooking 駅／配置する serving 地元の and international dishes, a 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 worthy of a five-星／主役にする hotel, 18 にわか雨 控訴s, games rooms for adults and children, and more modish seating that you can shake a neck pillow at.?

I am given a こそこそ動く peek at the first-class area, which features 招待するing 半分-cocooned 私的な seating areas 保護物，者d by elegant curtains.

Above is the adult games room in the Etihad lounge. There is a children's games room next door

Above is the adult games room in the Etihad lounge. There is a children's games room next door

Ted is?given a sneak peek at the first-class area (above), 'which features inviting semi-cocooned private seating areas shielded by elegant curtains'

Ted is?given a こそこそ動く peek at the first-class area (above), 'which features 招待するing 半分-cocooned 私的な seating areas 保護物，者d by elegant curtains'

Some of the gates connect to the lounge, which faces the runway, with huge windows affording guests magnificent views of manoeuvring planes ? including A380 superjumbos. Above is the first-class lounge

Some of the gates connect to the lounge, which 直面するs the 滑走路, with 抱擁する e windows affording guests magnificent 見解（をとる）s of manoeuvring 計画（する）s ? 含むing A380 superjumbos. Above is the first-class lounge

The image above shows the general relaxation area in the Etihad first-class lounge section

The image above shows the general 緩和 area in the Etihad first-class lounge section

The airport can handle 45million passengers annually, 11,000 passengers per hour and has stands for 79 aircraft (65 of which are connected to the building)

The airport c an 扱う 45million 乗客s 毎年, 11,000 乗客s per hour and has stands for 79 航空機 (65 of which are connected to the building)

ZAYED INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FACTS, FROM SHOWER SUITES TO SOLAR PANELS?

The airport lies 16 miles to the east of Abu Dhabi.

It was used to film the 開始 scenes in 使節団: Impossible ? Dead Reckoning Part One.

The airport has an on-場所／位置 hotel - AUH Hotel - with 138 rooms.

There are 163 小売 and dining 出口s.

The Sana Al Nour architectural 取り付け・設備 consists of 1,632 curved translucent glass パネル盤s and stands 22m (72ft) tall and 17m (55ft) wide.

The Etihad lounge features 18 にわか雨 控訴s, games rooms for adults and children and a 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業.?

申し込む／申し出s U.S customs and 国境 保護 pre-通関手続き／一掃.

It can 扱う 45million 乗客s 毎年, 11,000 乗客s per hour and has stands for 79 航空機 (65 of which are connected to the building).

There are 7,540 solar-パネル盤 parking shades in the long and short-称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 car parks.

Over 90 per cent of the steel and 82 per cent of the 木材／素質 used in the construction is certified and from ‘維持できる sources’.

More than 70 per cent of the 工場／植物s are native and adaptive 種類 that are 干ばつ and 塩の-抵抗力のある.

?

宣伝

Some of the gates connect to the lounge, which 直面するs the 滑走路, with 抱擁する windows affording guests magnificent 見解（をとる）s of manoeuvring 計画（する）s ? 含むing A380 superjumbos.

BOARDING THE PLANE

If you’re an Etihad lounge 使用者 and your flight is 出発／死ing from one of the gates connected to the lounge, you can board 直接／まっすぐに. 地雷 is. And it only takes a couple of minutes to go from 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 to 空気／公表する 橋（渡しをする）, with beaming staff on 手渡す to make sure I don’t take a wrong turn and 結局最後にはーなる in a にわか雨 控訴 by 事故.

As my 計画（する） 支援するs away from the airport, I admire the mesmerising wavy rooftop of the airport, which mirrors the UAE’s undulating dunes.

THE VERDICT? THAT’S EASY

Singapore’s Changi Airport was 指名するd the world’s best at the 2023 Skytrax World Airport Awards ? ‘the Oscars of the airport 産業’. It was the 12th time it had snared the gong. And given its acclaimed features, 含むing the world’s highest indoor waterfall and an ‘enchanted garden’, no one was surprised.

But that was before Zayed International Airport’s 終点 A burst upon the scene.

I would eat my 搭乗 pass if this sensational Abu Dhabi 事業／計画（する） doesn’t 安全な・保証する the 栄冠を与える next year.

The airport's name changed this year from Abu Dhabi International Airport to Zayed International Airport, after the UAE?s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

The airport's 指名する changed this year from Abu Dhabi International Airport to Zayed International Airport, after the UAE’s 設立するing Father, the late Sheikh Zayed 貯蔵所 暴君 Al Nahyan

Terminal A covers 742,000 square metres (about double the size of Heathrow?s Terminal 5) and has walkways 'almost big enough for a Dreamliner to trundle through'

終点 A covers 742,000 square metres (about 二塁打 the size of Heathrow’s 終点 5) and has walkw ays 'almost big enough for a Dreamliner to trundle through'