TAKING OFF
World’s most beautiful airport revealed with new £2.3billion terminal and direct UK flights
And the Sun's Assistant Travel Editor visits the city
THE world's most beautiful airport has been revealed and Brits can get there in less than seven hours.
Zayed International in Abu Dhabi was named the best in this year's prestigious Prix Versailles international architecture awards.
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The airport first opened in 1982, and is now the second-biggest in the UAE (behind Dubai International Airport).
However, it was renamed earlier this year to Zayed International Airport after the UAE's founder Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
The main exterior has a huge sculptural roof meant to represent the sand dunes.
Designed by KPF, design principal Mustafa Chehabeddine: "From the outset, our goal was for the airport to serve the emirate and represent the city of Abu Dhabi, with a design that referenced its cultural and natural environment."
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"We established a design language for continuity and flow throughout the project, developing a set of guidelines that ensured each element of the terminal, from the check-in desks to the lighting chandeliers, felt as though it belonged in the building."
Inside is a 50-metre departure hall with the majority of flights being operated by Etihad.
Once having three terminals, it now has the one large $3billion (£2.6billion) Terminal A which opened earlier this year.
Also named one of the most architecturally beautiful by Architectural Digest, the terminal welcomes up to 12million passengers a year.
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Passengers will even notice Terminal A from the Mission Impossible films too.
Along with restaurants and bars, the terminal even has chains like Boots, WH Smith and Adidas as well as Costa and McDonalds.
New £2.7billion mega airport to have four-level terminal and huge runways
New this year is the Smart Travel project which uses biometric data when processing passengers.
Currently only being used by Etihad, it will be fully rolled out by 2025.
Also new this year is the on-site AUHotel for passengers looking to stay overnight.
Previous travellers have raved about it too with one saying it was "one of the best airports" they had been to, praising it for being modern and spacious.
Another wrote: "It's the best and most organized airport I've even been too. I didn't get lost at all even though it was huge."
Flying to 128 destinations, it is used predominantly by Etihad Airways although other airlines include Qatar Airways and Wizz Air.
Direct flights from the UK are operated from Etihad, flying from London Heathrow in just under seven hours.
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What is it like going to Abu Dhabi
Often overlooked in favour of the nearby Dubai, the Sun's Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski went to Abu Dhabi.
I find myself agreeing with Sex And The City’s Samantha: Abu Dhabi is the new Middle East.
Abu Dhabi — Dubai’s rich big sis — is the capital of the UAE and no amount of money has been spared on making sure we all know it.
A camel ride topped my bucket list thanks to the exploits of my Abu Dhabi guru Samantha — played by Kim Cattrall — in Sex And The City 2. (Disclaimer: Most of the film was shot in Morocco).
Before reaching the camels, though, my Desert Rose group- safari tour began with a much less traditional sport — dune-bashing.
More thrilling than most roller coasters I have been on, the tyres of our 4X4 were deflated a little to give it more bounce as we thundered over mighty sand dunes with almighty force.
Also making the list of beautiful airports was Changi Airport in Singapore, home to the biggest indoor waterfall in the world.
And here's the airport named the best in Europe.
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