The Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) is the second largest airport in the UAE. The airport is home to Etihad Airways among other major Middle Eastern airways. Passengers can explore the incredible lounges, hotels, restaurants and shopping facilities available inside its terminals.

Amid these facilities, duty-free shopping at Abu Dhabi International Airport offers a wide range of shops and boutiques across its terminals, where passengers can purchase a variety of luxury goods at discounted prices. 

Duty-free stores offer products at reduced prices thanks to the exemption from import duties and taxes. This can make it an attractive place for travellers to purchase gifts or souvenirs.

In this article, we will discuss about everything you need to know about duty-free shopping at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Abu Dhabi Airport Duty-Free Website

Abu Dhabi International Airport has partnered with Duty Free Shoppers (DFS) selling premium brands duty-free. You can explore the various brands and store locations by visiting: www.dfs.com/en/abu-dhabi.

What Can You Do on the Abu Dhabi Duty-Free Website?

When you open the DFS|T Galleria, Abu Dhabi duty-free website, you can explore:  

• Luxury Brands and Luxury Products: From Bacardi to Bulgari, you can find world-class brands for a range of products.
  
• Explore Guides and Blogs: To truly capture a filling shopping experience, you can refer to the many articles on the website that share guides, tips and information about various products and their uses. 
  
• Discover In-Store Happenings: The website shows you the different sales, offers and promotions happening in-store at the Abu Dhabi airport organized by DFS. You can avail major discounts on your favourite luxury brands when shopping in-store. 

Which Terminals have Duty-Free Shops at Abu Dhabi Airport?

Abu Dhabi Duty-free stores are found across all terminals in multiple locations. The airport has four terminals – Terminals 1, 2, 3 and the newly inaugurated Terminal A (previously known as the Midfield terminal) – used for both domestic and international flights. 

However, most of the duty-free stores are in Terminal A. 

Shop from a wide variety of products such as:

• Beauty and Fragrances
• Fashion Clothing and Accessories
• Watches and Jewellery
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Souvenirs
• Food and Confectionaries
• Toys 

Pre-ordering duty-free items at Abu Dhabi airport is currently unavailable. You can, however, visit the DFS Abu Dhabi website to explore the wide range of brands and their products you can shop for while at the airport.

If you are flying with Etihad Airways, you can shop duty-free in flight. Take advantage of tax-free onboard shopping for jewellery, perfume, cosmetics, and other items, delivered directly to your seat. Pre-orders are now available from Etihad, where you can browse and book your favourite products and save up to 10%.

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What are the Required Documents for Duty-Free Shopping?

If you want to purchase duty-free products while at the airport, be sure to have these documents handy:

• Valid Passport
• International Boarding Pass

What Modes of Payment are Accepted when Shopping Duty-Free?

Shopping at Abu Dhabi International Airport, allows you to use various modes of payment such as:

• Cash
• Credit Cards – All major cards such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners cards can be used.

All major currencies including Indian Rupees is also accepted at the airport.

Note: Prices are mentioned in AED. You can use an international card to make a payment. Your bank would charge the currency conversion rate on international transactions.

Some duty-free shopping tips and etiquettes are:

• Know the Restrictions and Limitations: You should be aware of the baggage limits and duty-free allowance of other countries and airlines you are travelling or transiting through. Items like alcohol and tobacco products have age restrictions and if you exceed the duty-free limits, you will be required to pay a fee for the items purchased.
• Do Your Research: If you want to set aside some money to buy a luxury item in a duty-free shop, plan, compare prices and do some research before arriving at the airport to determine which brand shops and items are available.
• Keep Track of Your Spending: It is important to monitor your spending to ensure you stay within your budget and duty-free allowance. It's easy to get carried away with the savings and deals offered when you shop duty-free internationally.

The finest place to buy luxury goods at a lower price is at Abu Dhabi International Airport duty-free stores. It is also a fantastic choice for last-minute gift shopping because you can find excellent discounts on luxury goods. 

When you shop in-store or while on-board your flight, there is a plethora of options to discover and enjoy. Always understand the terms and conditions before making a purchase, and exercise caution to not get too carried away.