Hotels, Attractions, and Services Operating as Normal
Abu Dhabi has reassured visitors and residents that its tourism sector is functioning smoothly, despite ongoing regional travel disruptions. The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) confirmed that hotels, attractions, and tourism services throughout the emirate remain fully operational and ready to welcome guests. Authorities emphasized that they are working closely with government entities and tourism partners to ensure support for all visitors in the UAE.
Support for Stranded Guests: Extended Stays Covered
As part of proactive measures, DCT Abu Dhabi has directed hotels to extend the stays of guests who are unable to depart due to flight delays or cancellations. In a circular to hotel managers, the department stated that visitors whose check-out dates have passed will be allowed to remain in their accommodation until they can travel safely. Importantly, the additional accommodation costs will be covered by the tourism authority, ensuring that stranded guests are not burdened by unexpected expenses during this period of uncertainty.
Authorities highlighted that this initiative is designed to provide reassurance and stability for visitors while travel schedules gradually return to normal.
Strong Tourism Growth Despite Challenges
Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector continues to demonstrate strong growth, even amid global and regional challenges. Recent data from the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi revealed that hotels in the emirate hosted approximately 5.4 million guests in the first 11 months of last year. During the same period, total hotel revenues reached Dh7.83 billion, with an impressive average occupancy rate of 81.2 percent. The emirate currently boasts 172 hotel establishments, offering more than 34,500 hotel units—a testament to the steady expansion of its hospitality industry.
Ambitious Goals with Tourism Strategy 2030
Officials pointed to these achievements as evidence of progress toward the ambitious Abu Dhabi Tourism Strategy 2030. The strategy aims to attract 39.3 million visitors annually, create 178,000 tourism-related jobs, expand hotel capacity to 50,000 rooms, and contribute Dh90 billion to GDP by 2030.
Across the UAE, tourism remains resilient, with over 1,260 hotels and 40,000 tourism-related companies operating nationwide. Authorities continue to coordinate closely with airlines, hotels, and embassies to provide ongoing assistance to travellers, ensuring a smooth and welcoming experience until travel operations fully stabilise.
