RC28 Conference · Abu Dhabi
Flights, visas, getting around, and where to stay.
Planning
Abu Dhabi is well connected to Europe, Africa, South Asia, and East Asia, and its own airport is the simplest way to arrive. Dubai’s airport adds a second option, often cheaper to fly into and barely more than an hour away by road, or about an hour by train.
Arriving
Primary
Taxis wait outside arrivals around the clock and take 25–30 minutes to Saadiyat Island. Careem, Uber, and Yango all have marked pickup points. By bus, take the A1 into Al Zahiyah and change to route 170, which terminates at NYU Abu Dhabi; fares are paid with a Hafilat card from the machines at the airport, as cash is not accepted on board.
Alternative
Allow around 90 minutes by road. The intercity coaches E100 from Al Ghubaiba and E101 from Ibn Battuta run to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station in about two hours, and route 170 continues from there to campus. Tickets are sold at the stations and online, by card, cash, or nol card. Book with the RTA (opens in a new tab).
New
Etihad Rail began carrying passengers between the emirates in September 2026. Ten services a day run from Al Yalayis, on the Dubai Metro Red Line, to Abu Dhabi in a little under an hour. The station sits inland, so allow about half an hour by taxi onward to Saadiyat. Timetable and tickets (opens in a new tab).
Local transport
Getting around Abu Dhabi is straightforward, with a citywide bus network and relatively inexpensive taxis. Buses are paid for with a Hafilat card. Taxis are metered and can be hailed, booked on the Abu Dhabi Taxi app, or ordered through Careem, Uber, and Yango. Route 170 serves the campus directly.
Entry
Requirements depend on your nationality and can change; check the official UAE channels or your airline before you book.
Visa on arrival
Citizens of a large number of countries receive a visa on arrival at no cost. Passports generally need at least six months’ validity. Eligibility changes without notice, so check your own nationality against the government’s own guidance. Do you need a visa? (opens in a new tab)
Advance visa
Every registered participant receives a letter of invitation by email, for use in a visa application if needed. There is nothing to request.
About registrationAccommodation
Hotel blocks and any negotiated rates will be published closer to the conference. Until then, these are the districts worth looking at.
Closest
Beach resorts within a few minutes of campus. The most convenient option, and the most expensive.
Mid-range
A wide range of hotels with restaurants and shops nearby, about twenty minutes from campus by taxi. Al Ain Palace Hotel sits on the Corniche itself.
Least expensive
The Tourist Club Area is where the older three-star hotels cluster, and it is on bus route 170 straight to campus. Southern Sun Abu Dhabi and Ramada Abu Dhabi Downtown are both here.
Chain hotels
Premier Inn Abu Dhabi Capital Centre, next to ADNEC, and ibis Abu Dhabi Gate on Al Maqta Street are reliable and inexpensive, but both need a taxi rather than a bus to reach Saadiyat.
Read our safety and contingency statement on the registration page.