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Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

Zayed International Airport

Compiled by

Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Emirate (United Arab Emirates)
IATA: AUH ICAO: OMAA
Longest Active Runway
13,471 ft
4,106 meters
Field Elevation
88 ft
27 m MSL
Runway Inventory
2 active
Lighted / Paved
Coordinates & Class
24.4410°, 54.6492°
LARGE AIRPORT
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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

How ranks work →
RunwayFacts Published Dataset
#39 of 650
In curated primary commercial index
Global Commercial Universe
#71 of 7558
Top 0.9% percentile worldwide
National Standing (United Arab Emirates)
#3 of 7 in AE
#3 of 12 in full national registry
vs Large Airport Median
+34.7%
Compared to 10,000 ft baseline
💡 AUH in numbers: 13,471 ft longest runway · #39 of 650 published · #71 of 7,558 worldwide (top 0.9%) · #3 in United Arab Emirates.
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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Zayed International Airport (AUH)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi represents the pinnacle of Arabian Gulf aviation investment. Its identical dual parallel runways are specifically sized to handle maximum takeoff weight departures during extreme 45°C+ summer heat. With full US Border Preclearance facilities housed inside its vast architectural Terminal A, AUH allows US-bound passengers to complete immigration and customs clearance before departure.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments
Dual parallel widely spaced runways 13L/31R (13,451 ft / 4,100 m) and 13R/31L (13,451 ft / 4,100 m).
Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities
Relocated to the mainland in 1982 from downtown Al Bateen. In November 2023, opened the monumental Zayed International Airport Terminal A, unifying Etihad Airways' global network operations.
Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role
Flagship gateway of the United Arab Emirates capital, located 62 NM southwest of Dubai International (DXB).
Data Nuances & Operational Quirks
Both runways feature identical 13,451 ft lengths and 2,000m lateral separation, enabling simultaneous independent parallel landings and departures in zero-visibility conditions.
📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) · United Arab Emirates Aeronautical Information Publication (UAE AIP)
Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Longest runway ≥10,500 ft
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Elevation & National Context

Lowland Aerodrome (<2,000 ft)

AUH lies at 27 m (88 ft), #453 of 650 published airports by elevation and 26.2 percentile among 7,558 worldwide. It is 23 ft below the United Arab Emirates median (111 ft, 7 airports); AAN is highest at 869 ft, 781 ft higher than AUH.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

6 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

Closest of 6 paved-runway (≥5,000 ft) neighbours within 100 NM: Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), 39.1 NM, 14,764 ft. Next: AAN 53.6 NM, DXB 62.5 NM, SHJ 71.2 NM. DWC has the radius's longest runway, 1,293 ft more than AUH.

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Runway Inventory & National Standing

Primary Runway: 13,471 ft (4,106 m)

AUH runways: 13R/31L 13,471 × 197 ft asphalt (asp); 13L/31R 13,451 × 197 ft asphalt (asp). National standing: #3 of 7 in United Arab Emirates; DWC leads by 1,293 ft (14,764 ft). +34.7% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator Length (ft / m) Width (ft / m) Surface Material Lighting Status
13R/31L 13,471 ft (4106 m / 4.106 km) 197 ft (60m) Asphalt (ASP) ✅ Lighted ✅ Active
13L/31R 13,451 ft (4100 m / 4.100 km) 197 ft (60m) Asphalt (ASP) ✅ Lighted ✅ Active

🧭 Comparative Aerodromes (100 NM Radius, ≥5,000 ft Paved)

Great-circle Haversine spatial proximity matching for commercial facilities with paved runway capacity within 100 NM.

Aerodrome Name IATA Distance Longest Runway Lighting
Al Maktoum International Airport (Dubai(Jebel Ali)) DWC 39.1 NM (72.4 km) 14,764 ft ✅ Lighted
Al Ain International Airport (Al Ain) AAN 53.6 NM (99.3 km) 13,123 ft ✅ Lighted
Dubai International Airport (Dubai) DXB 62.5 NM (115.8 km) 14,590 ft ✅ Lighted
Sharjah International Airport (Sharjah) SHJ 71.2 NM (131.9 km) 13,320 ft ✅ Lighted
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport (Ras Al Khaimah) RKT 99.4 NM (184.1 km) 12,336 ft ✅ Lighted
Fujairah International Airport (Fujairah) FJR 99.9 NM (185 km) 10,007 ft ✅ Lighted

🛡️ Source: OurAirports Open Aviation Database, snapshot 2026-09-01 · Provenance →