By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 3 min read
Where is Al Bateen, and who can use it?
Al Bateen Executive Airport sits in Al Muntazah, Zone 1, on the south-eastern side of Abu Dhabi island. Abu Dhabi Airports operates it. Its codes are AZI (IATA) and OMAD (ICAO), and it has one runway, 13/31, of 3,202 m.
The airport opened in 1970 as Abu Dhabi’s main airport, passed to military use in 1983 and became a civilian executive-jet airport in 2008. Today it handles business and private aviation. Airline passengers go to Zayed International instead, which is why both airports appear in our UAE airports guide.
Which FBOs operate at Al Bateen?
Jetex won the concession to run the VIP terminal in April 2023 and opened its flagship terminal in November 2023. Jetex lists 24/7 operations, FBO customs and immigration, private lounges, concierge and ground handling. Its secure apron and hangars take up to 50 aircraft, according to the press release.
We found no other FBO named on official or operator pages, so this page covers Jetex only. If your operator uses a different handler, tell us and we adjust the meeting point.
Arriving at Al Bateen: clearance and meeting your car
You clear formalities with the FBO, not at a public arrivals hall. The FBO team handles everything between the aircraft and its building and brings your bags through with you.
Your chauffeur waits landside, at the lounge or the terminal exit, as the FBO allows on the day. Jetex does not publish vehicle access rules for its kerb, so we confirm the exact spot with the FBO and send it to you on WhatsApp before you land. Our guide to the private jet arrival process in the UAE walks through each step, and the private jet terminal transfers page lists the FBOs at Dubai as well.
Drive times from Al Bateen to the Corniche, Saadiyat, Yas and Dubai
OSRM road figures on OpenStreetMap data, from the Al Bateen terminal, without traffic, checked on 17 October 2026.
| From Al Bateen to | Road distance | Without traffic |
|---|---|---|
| Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque | about 7 km | about 10 min |
| The Corniche | about 17 km | about 16 min |
| Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat | about 21 km | about 20 min |
| Saadiyat Island | about 23 km | about 21 min |
| Yas Island | about 26 km | about 23 min |
| Zayed International (AUH) | about 33 km | about 30 min |
| Dubai Marina | about 111 km | about 1 h 10 min |
| Downtown Dubai | about 130 km | about 1 h 20 min |
| Dubai International (DXB) | about 145 km | about 1 h 35 min |
For a landing followed by a race or a concert on Yas, read our guide to Zayed International to Yas and Saadiyat, which uses the same roads. A limousine for the arrival is on our limousine service page, and trips around the capital are on the Abu Dhabi chauffeur page.
Al Bateen or Zayed International for a private flight?
Both take private jets, so the choice is usually the operator’s. Al Bateen is on the island: the Corniche is about 16 minutes away, and Zayed International itself is a 30-minute drive further out. Zayed International suits a party that continues on a scheduled flight, for example from Terminal A.
Government and corporate delegations often arrive privately. Our guides to delegation transport in the UAE and IDEX and NAVDEX delegation transport cover that. For a company that books several arrivals a month, see our corporate accounts.
Pickups here are on request, through our partner network, subject to availability. Book on pickups at Zayed International if your aircraft is going there instead.
Photos in this guide
A Gulfstream G550 business jet parked on an airport apron, typical of the aircraft that use Abu Dhabi's executive airportAeroprints.com / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
The Abu Dhabi skyline at sunset, seen from the Corniche promenadeFritzDaCat / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Business jets parked side by side on an apron, as at a private jet terminalAeroprints.com / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
The Louvre Abu Dhabi name wall at the entrance on Saadiyat IslandDavide Mauro / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
