The emirate of Abu Dhabi has embarked on a bold mission to solidify its position as a premier global tourism destination. With the recent approval of the Tourism Strategy 2030 by His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has charted a course for significant growth and strategic development within the emirate’s travel and tourism sector.
This comprehensive strategy outlines a series of ambitious goals, aiming to nearly double visitor numbers and substantially elevate the tourism industry’s contribution to the UAE’s GDP by 2030. Let’s delve deeper into the details of this transformative initiative.
A Vision for Exponential Growth
The Tourism Strategy 2030 paints a picture of exponential growth for Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector. Key objectives include:
Surge in Visitor Numbers: The strategy targets a significant increase in visitor arrivals, aiming to attract 39.3 million visitors by 2030 (a nearly 64% increase from the 24 million visitors recorded in 2023). This ambitious target signifies a projected 7% year-on-year growth rate.
Economic Powerhouse: The strategy envisions the tourism industry playing a more prominent role in the UAE’s economy. By 2030, the sector aims to contribute AED 90 billion annually to the GDP, a substantial increase from the AED 49 billion recorded in 2023.
Job Creation Engine: The anticipated tourism boom is projected to generate an estimated 178,000 new jobs by 2030. This significant job creation will empower local communities and contribute to the overall economic development of Abu Dhabi.
A Multi-Pronged Approach to Success
The Tourism Strategy 2030 is built upon four strategic pillars, each designed to address specific aspects of tourism development:
- Offering and City Activation: This pillar focuses on elevating the overall visitor experience in Abu Dhabi. This includes:
- Unveiling new cultural sites and theme parks.
- Expanding retail offerings and introducing new hotel chains.
- Diversifying the emirate’s events calendar with year-round concerts, festivals, and family-friendly events.
- Enhancing the dining scene through the introduction of culinary schools, training programs, and a wider variety of restaurants.
- Promotion & Marketing: This pillar emphasizes intensifying marketing efforts to reach a wider global audience. Key initiatives include:
- More than doubling international reach, expanding from 11 markets to 26.
- Establishing strategic partnerships with media outlets and prominent brands.
- Creating compelling, market-specific content across various touchpoints.
- Infrastructure & Mobility: This pillar prioritizes infrastructure development to seamlessly accommodate the anticipated influx of visitors. The strategy focuses on:
- Increasing hotel room availability across various categories, including accessible and luxury options, glamping sites, and farm stays.
- Collaborating with stakeholders to improve roads, public transportation, and overall infrastructure within the emirate.
- Working with local and international airlines to increase flight seat capacity.
- Visa, Licensing, and Regulations: This pillar aims to streamline visa, licensing, and regulation processes, ultimately enhancing the visitor experience and attracting tourism businesses. The strategy includes:
- Collaborating with relevant government agencies to expedite application and permit processing times.
- Implementing user-friendly platforms to improve the ease of doing business for tourism-related enterprises.
Building Upon a Strong Foundation
The Tourism Strategy 2030 leverages the success achieved by Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector in 2023. Key achievements from the previous year include:
- Remarkable Visitor Influx: Abu Dhabi welcomed nearly 24 million visitors in 2023, a significant increase compared to previous years.
- Economic Boost: The tourism industry contributed approximately AED 49 billion to the UAE’s GDP in 2023.
- Surge in Hotel Guests: The number of hotel guests rose by 27% in 2023, indicating a growing interest in Abu Dhabi as a travel destination.
- International Appeal: International visitors increased by 54% in 2023, highlighting Abu Dhabi’s global reach.
- Vibrant Events Scene: Over 150 events, including concerts, festivals, and cultural celebrations, attracted visitors in 2023.
