By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 3 min read
Which flights use Al Ain Airport?
Al Ain’s airport has almost no scheduled traffic. On 11 October 2026 the UAE President directed that Al Ain International Airport be renamed Tahnoun International Airport. The code on booking sites is still AAN.
When The National reported the change, it named two scheduled airlines: Pakistan International Airlines to Islamabad and Air India Express to Kozhikode. Those are the only routes we can source, and schedules shift, so confirm days and times with the airline before you fix hotel nights.
Flying into AUH or DXB for Al Ain: which is closer?
Most Al Ain visitors land on the coast and drive inland. Neither airport has a clear edge. Both are around 1 hour 30 minutes from the city, so choose by flight, not by distance.
| From | To central Al Ain | Without traffic |
|---|---|---|
| Zayed International (AUH) | about 149 km | about 1 h 30 min |
| Dubai International (DXB) | about 140 km | about 1 h 35 min |
| AAN terminal | about 20 km | about 20 min |
Distances are OSRM road figures on OpenStreetMap data, checked on 17 October 2026. The Dubai run picks up traffic at the Dubai end, so allow up to 2 hours at the morning and evening peaks.
Drive times to Al Ain city, Jebel Hafeet and the oasis
Once you are in Al Ain, the sights sit close together. These times start from central Al Ain.
| From central Al Ain to | Road distance | Without traffic |
|---|---|---|
| Al Ain Oasis | about 3 km | about 5 min |
| Jebel Hafeet summit car park | about 24 km | about 35 min |
| AAN terminal | about 20 km | about 20 min |
From the AAN terminal itself, the Jebel Hafeet summit is about 40 km and 50 minutes. The mountain road is a sequence of hairpins, so allow time for the climb. Our guides to places to visit in Al Ain and the Dubai to Al Ain road trip lay out a day around these stops.
Getting a car at AAN, AUH or DXB to Al Ain
The same chauffeur service covers all three arrivals. At AAN, your driver waits in the arrivals hall with your name on a board. Our page on Al Ain airport pickups explains the steps.
At AUH, the meeting point depends on the terminal your airline uses. Read our guide to Zayed International Terminal A arrivals and the booking page for AUH pickups. If you plan a stop in the capital first, the AUH to Dubai guide shows how the coast road behaves.
Local trips that start and end inside Al Ain may need a partner vehicle licensed in Abu Dhabi, available subject to availability. Tell us your plan and we confirm the car for your route. For other emirate-to-emirate drives, see intercity transfers.
Compare the east coast alternative
Fujairah has the same shape of problem: limited flights and a long road to Dubai. Our Fujairah airport guide compares it. All seven passenger airports are in the UAE airports guide.
Photos in this guide
Wide view of Jebel Hafeet, the mountain beside Al Ain, rising above the desertAngela Manthorpe / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Aerial view of Jebel Hafeet beside the city of Al AinNicolascornet / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Dates ripening on a palm in a garden of the Al Ain OasisRadosław Botev / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 PL
