Yes, Zayed International Airport (AUH) has enclosed air-conditioned smoking rooms airside in Terminal A — one in each pier after passport control — plus dedicated smoking rooms in the Etihad Business Class Lounge and the Pearl Lounge. Terminal A is the airport’s only operational terminal, so every option is inside this one building.
Zayed International Airport — renamed from Abu Dhabi International Airport in early 2024, and still widely called Abu Dhabi Airport — is the main hub for Etihad Airways and one of the most smoker-friendly airports in the Middle East. When operations moved to the new Terminal A (the Midfield Terminal) in November 2023, all flights and lounges shifted into this single building. The former Terminals 1 and 2 are permanently closed and the old Terminal 3 is no longer in passenger use, so the smoking guidance below applies entirely to Terminal A.
التدخين في مطار زايد الدولي - AUH
Airport Layout
Zayed International Airport now operates from a single terminal:
- Terminal A (Midfield Terminal) — Opened November 2023, this is the airport’s only passenger terminal, handling all flights and all Etihad Airways operations. At around 780,000 square metres it is one of the largest airport terminals in the world, with gates spread across several piers (A, B, C and D). Immigration, security and every lounge sit inside this building.
Smoking Rooms in Terminal A
Terminal A has enclosed, air-conditioned smoking rooms airside, after passport control — one in each pier. Travellers report rooms near Gates B8, C22 and D38, with some built as glass-walled cubicles right on the concourse. Because a large terminal is easy to get turned around in, the safest approach is to follow the pier signage or ask a gate agent for the nearest room; the reported gate numbers are a good starting point rather than a guarantee. The rooms are free, well-ventilated, and include seating and ashtrays. Smoking anywhere else inside the terminal is not permitted.
Lounge Smoking Rooms
Two airside lounges in Terminal A offer their own indoor smoking rooms:
- Etihad Business Class Lounge — A dedicated smoking room on Level 6, furnished with Chesterfield sofas and comfortable enough for cigarette and cigar smokers. Access comes with an eligible Etihad Business Class ticket or status.
- Pearl Lounge — Airside near Gate D43, this pay-in and Priority Pass lounge has an indoor smoking area with high-top tables. It is the main independent lounge option for travellers connecting without an airline lounge.
For a longer layover, either lounge lets you smoke, eat and rest in one place rather than shuttling back to a concourse cubicle.
Connecting Through Abu Dhabi
The smoking rooms are all airside, which makes AUH easy for transit passengers. On an Etihad connection or any international-to-international transfer you can reach a pier smoking room without clearing immigration or leaving the secure zone — smoke, then head to your onward gate. If your journey continues on to the UAE’s larger hub, our guide to smoking at Dubai International Airport (DXB) covers the smoking rooms in every Dubai terminal.
Summary
| Area | Smoking Allowed | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal A piers | Yes | Indoor rooms | Airside after passport control — one per pier (reported near Gates B8, C22, D38) |
| General terminal areas | No | — | Smoke-free; use the pier smoking rooms |
| Etihad Business Class Lounge | Yes | Indoor room | Dedicated smoking room on Level 6 |
| Pearl Lounge | Yes | Indoor area | Airside near Gate D43 (Priority Pass / pay-in) |
Tobacco use in the UAE is regulated under Federal Decree-Law No. 15 of 2009. For UAE-wide smoking rules, vaping rules and other general info, see our UAE smoking guide.