Abu Dhabi International Airport to be renamed Zayed International Airport

One of the Middle East’s major travel hubs, Abu Dhabi International Airport, is getting a new name. From February 9, 2024, the airport will be officially known as Zayed International Airport, the Abu Dhabi government announced. Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates, and the name change was ordered by UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It is likely the new name is a tribute to his father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who was the founding president of the UAE. The airport has just opened its massive new US$3b (NZ$5b) terminal, known as Terminal A, which will be able to handle 45m travellers a year. Terminal A will be the new base for Abu Dhabi-based airline Etihad, which operated the first commercial flight out of the terminal – EY224 to New Delhi – on October 31. In total, 28 airlines will operate from the terminal, which also featured in the Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One movie earlier this year. The new building will also have 163 retail, food and beverage outlets, two spas, and a 138-room hotel for travellers with layovers to enjoy. An official opening ceremony for the new terminal will take place on February 9 – the same day from which the airport will start using its new name. The airport is the second-largest in the UAE after Dubai International Airport, which welcomed 66m passengers in 2022.<br/>