Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, has achieved a record seven per cent rise in the number of hotel guest arrivals over the first four months of the year in comparison to the same period in 2016, with 1.6 million guests checking into the emirate’s hotels and apartments.
The UK made an excellent start to the year, with nearly 87,000 British visitors checking into Abu Dhabi hotels between January and April 2017, a four per cent increase year on year. The country is now the third largest overseas source market for international visitors into Abu Dhabi, behind China and India.
“Following a record year for the number of guest arrivals into the emirate in 2016, we welcome this increase as we continue to pursue our target of attracting 4.9 million visitors by the end of 2017,” said Saif Saeed Ghobash, director general of the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority.
The latest tourism statistics come as developers continue to work on Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. Slated to open on Yas Island next year, the $1bn theme park will be made up of six immersive themed worlds featuring Superman, Batman, Bugs Bunny Scooby-Doo and the Flintstones.
Another facility, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, is expected to open on Yas Island by 2022.
