Abu Dhabi plans to pour USD$10 billion (around AUD$15.2 billion) into tourism infrastructure to attract almost 40 million annual visitors by 2030, including 7.2 million international travellers, up 90 per cent on 2023’s 3.8 million.
The Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi Tourism Strategy 2030 strives to position the emirate as a global tourism destination with a new era of expansion and development.
It aims to almost double the sector’s annual contribution to the emirate’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 84 per cent by 2030.
The USD$10 billion tourism investment will include visitor experiences such as new museums, theme parks, retail, dining and hospitality offerings along with infrastructure, mobility and visas. A further USD$1 billion will go into marketing and events.
New hotels & hospitality
By 2030, the emirate aims to increase hotel capacity to 52,000 rooms, up 54 per cent on 2023’s 34,000 rooms, and increase international overnight hotel stays to 3.9 nights, up 22 per cent on 3.2 nights last year.
New hotel projects will focus on 4- and 5-star beach destination properties and welcome new hospitality chains such as Mondrian and Nammos.
New visitor experiences
New projects in the pipeline are the Guggenheim Museum; an expansion of Universal Studios World, including Harry Potter World; the Saadiyat Cultural District; Hudayriyat Island for sports and adventure; and an updated Yas Waterworld.
This is in addition to popular offerings such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Yas Island’s F1 track and CLYMB, the region’s tallest indoor climbing wall.
In 2023, the emirate’s tourism sector had a remarkable recovery, welcoming nearly 24 million visitors (including overnight and same-day). Its most famous landmark, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, attracted more than 8.7 million visitors last year.
DCT Abu Dhabi Chair Mohamed Al Mubarak noted the knock-on tourism effects from other Gulf States, such as Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and Dubai’s record 2023 numbers.
“The Tourism Strategy 2030 marks a pivotal moment in Abu Dhabi’s transformative journey, representing a vital lever in our ongoing evolution,” he said.
“Through carefully crafted initiatives that will unlock economic opportunities, amplify our distinctive culture and enhance the emirate’s value proposition, we are laying the foundation for a vibrant and prosperous future that transcends generations.”
Find out more at visitabudhabi.ae