Chengdu (Jianyang) to Abu Dhabi (TFU–AUH) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

Chinese passport holders get visa-free entry to the UAE for stays up to 30 days. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months. This visa-free arrangement started in January 2018. You receive a free entry stamp at immigration with no advance application needed.

The 30-day stay can be extended once for an additional 30 days at the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship offices. The extension fee is AED 600 (about CNY 1,200). For work or long-term stays, your UAE sponsor or employer must arrange the visa. Each emirate handles immigration separately, but the visa-free entry works at all UAE airports.

Metro Line 18 is the fastest and cheapest way out. The express service skips intermediate stops and reaches TFU from Chengdu South Railway Station in 35 minutes (CNY 10). The all-stop service takes 50 minutes for the same fare. From Tianfu Square, expect a transfer and a total of about CNY 30. Trains run from 6:00 to 23:00.

Airport buses cover five routes including Chunxi Road (Line 1), Jinsha Bus Hub (Line 2), and Chengdu East Railway Station (Line 4). Day fare is a flat CNY 15; night service (23:30 to 6:00) costs CNY 25. Lines 1, 2, and 3 run 24 hours. Taxis from Tianfu Square cost CNY 180-260 during the day and take 45-60 minutes via the expressway. DiDi ride-hail runs CNY 90-130 from pickup lanes on the east side of the arrivals hall.

Careem and Uber serve the airport at AED 45–70 to downtown Abu Dhabi (25–40 min). Official taxis at the curb: AED 50–80. Bus E101 to Central Bus Station costs AED 4 and takes 45 minutes but runs infrequently; verify schedule before relying on it.For Dubai: shared taxis from the airport cost AED 75–100/seat; private taxis AED 200–350 (90–120 min). Rental car desks are in the arrivals hall. The new terminal (Terminal A opened 2023) handles most Etihad flights; confirm which terminal for ground transport.

Hyper-arid desert climate on the Arabian Gulf coast. Summers (June–September) are extreme at 38–47°C with very high humidity. Outdoor exposure is extreme in July and August. Ground handling and ramp operations are affected by heat protocols. Haboob (sandstorm) events reduce visibility and may cause ground stops.

Winter (December–February) is the peak travel season at 18–27°C with clear skies and minimal disruption risk. The airport almost never sees rain. When rain does occur (typically December–February), local drainage infrastructure can briefly flood access roads. Overall, AUH is one of the most operationally consistent major hubs globally.