Passengers at Abu Dhabi International Airport who need to catch up on sleep but don’t have the time or money for a hotel room can now retreat to semi-private nap 'pods', which can be rented by the hour.

Ten of the futuristic, egg-shaped pods are already in place at Terminals 1 and 3 of the airport, with 35 more scheduled to be installed by the end of the year.

The Finnish-designed “GoSleep” chairs, which were unveiled last week, feature a cushioned reclining seat, plus a sliding door that can partially or fully shield the user from noise, lights and prying eyes. The cost is about AED 45 (US $12.25) per hour, chargeable by credit card.

Currently the chairs can only be used for sleeping, but will soon be upgraded to include Internet access, secure storage for luggage, and charging stations for laptops, phones, and other electronic devices.

The installation of the chairs marks a continued effort by the airport to maintain its reputation as one of the most technologically sophisticated and comfortable for passengers.

In 2012, Abu Dhabi International Airport was given four stars (out of five) by Skytrax, one of the world’s largest airline and airport ranking sites. It is the only airport in the Middle East to have achieved this distinction. It was also named “Best Airport in the Middle East” by the Airport Council International (ACI).

Though many airport terminals worldwide - including Munich, Dubai, Atlanta, London, and Tokyo - offer private micro-rooms to transiting travellers, the semi-private pod chairs such as those at Abu Dhabi Airport are a new concept.