If you thought airports were just glorified waiting rooms with overpriced coffee and dodgy Wi-Fi, think again. Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi has officially changed the game. With soaring curved glass panels that make the whole place glow like a luxury resort lobby, this hub doesn’t just move 11,000 passengers an hour — it pampers them.
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill “grab a soggy sandwich before your flight” situation. Nope. Zayed International has gone full-on shopping paradise, boosting its retail footprint by 55% to a whopping 375,000 square feet. Translation? More room for you to accidentally-on-purpose wander into Gucci, Saint Laurent, or even the world’s first Muji airport store. (Because clearly, what your carry-on really needed was a minimalist Japanese lunchbox.)
Shopping, But Make It Jet-Set
Since the big glow-up, traveler spending has more than doubled. Perfumes? Up 26%. Luxury splurges? Skyrocketed 43%. And it’s not just the fancy labels — regional icons like Arabian Oud and Al Jaber Gallery are holding their own. Plus, sneakerheads can geek out at Presented By, an award-winning concept store that turns your transit time into sneaker-collecting heaven.
And guess what? People are actually enjoying it. The airport’s net promoter score hit 75 in early 2025, putting it up there with the world’s most-loved airports. For perspective: that’s “tell your friends you had fun in the terminal” levels of approval.
More Than Just a Pretty Terminal
The X-shaped building is an architectural flex designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox. Each pier represents a slice of Abu Dhabi’s identity — desert, sea, city, and oasis. At the center? A jaw-dropping 72-foot glass installation made up of 1,632 panels. Not only does it flood the place with natural light, but it also keeps airflow eco-friendly. That’s right, even the breeze here is bougie.
But the real cherry on top is how seamless the journey feels. With biometric tech sprinkled everywhere — from self-bag drop to boarding — you can zip from curb to gate in just 12 minutes. Yes, 12. That’s faster than finding your car keys on a Monday morning. Add in U.S. Customs pre-clearance (the only one in the Middle East and Asia), and suddenly your “ugh, airport stress” is replaced with “wow, that was weirdly fun.”
Eating, Lounging, and… Maybe Shopping Again
Hungry? Zayed has you covered with a dining lineup as stylish as the terminal itself. Think Todd English’s first airport restaurant, local artisanal cafés, and flavors from across the globe. And if you’re still hanging around the lounges, the airport is cooking up ideas to lure you out — think personal shopping and even e-commerce integration right from your seat.
Because here’s the thing: Zayed isn’t just about getting you to Abu Dhabi. As CEO Elena Sorlini puts it, “We’re the brand introduction.” From the moment you step off the plane, Abu Dhabi’s sophistication wraps around you — with a side of retail therapy, naturally.
Final Boarding Call
With 130+ destinations on its map and half its passengers actually staying in Abu Dhabi (not just passing through), Zayed International is reshaping what an airport can be. It’s not just a stopover; it’s the opening act of your trip. A place where holiday mode kicks in the second you hit the glass doors.
So next time someone says they’re “just stuck at the airport,” feel free to smirk and say, “Well, clearly you haven’t been to Abu Dhabi.”
