Abu Dhabi's tourism sector targets $16bln to economy
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), said that the department's tourism sector aims to contribute AED62 billion ($16 billion) to the economy in 2025, with a projected increase of 13 per cent compared to 2024.
The goal is for the sector to contribute AED90 billion to the emirate's non-oil GDP by 2030, reported WAM.
Speaking during a roundtable marking the opening of teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, Al Mubarak said that in Q1 2025, international overnight hotel guests in Abu Dhabi grew by 4 perc ent year-to-date compared to Q1 2024, with India, China, Russia, and the UK remaining the top source markets.
He added that hotel occupancy in Q1 2025 reached 79 percent across the emirate and 82 percent in Abu Dhabi city.
Al Mubarak highlighted the role of Abu Dhabi's cultural museums, including the newly opened teamLab Phenomena, alongside the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, in strengthening the emirate's tourism offering.
Located in the Saadiyat Cultural District, these museums are cultural and knowledge beacons reflecting the UAE's values of coexistence and its diverse cultural identity.
He noted that continued investment in the cultural sector is guided by the vision of the founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, underscoring the UAE's emergence as a global cultural centre.
He underscored Saadiyat Cultural District's significance as a cultural and historical treasure, with museums serving as vital centres for future generations. Al Mubarak pointed out that teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi embodies the UAE's cultural diversity, fostering Abu Dhabi's position as a leading global arts and culture destination.
He announced the upcoming opening of three more museums in the Saadiyat Cultural District this year.
Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
36 minutes ago
- Zawya
Abu Dhabi expects more rapid growth for its financial centre
LONDON - The rush of financial firms setting up in Abu Dhabi to tap the oil-rich emirate's wealth funds and Middle East markets will continue at pace, the official in charge of expanding its financial hub has predicted. Abu Dhabi, which holds 90% of UAE's oil reserves, has accelerated efforts to diversify its economy, leaning on its vast sovereign funds that together manage almost $2 trillion of capital. Abu Dhabi Global Markets still lags Dubai, but the number of firms registered in the centre rose by 32% last year, and the amount of assets managed by firms there grew 245%, as the likes of BlackRock, Morgan Stanley, AXA, PGIM and hedge fund Marshall Wace all set up or registered funds there. Earlier on Tuesday, Harrison Street, a U.S. firm focused on alternative real estate assets with about $56 billion in assets under management, said it was opening an office in Abu Dhabi. The centre reported last week that new operating licences increased 67% in the first quarter of this year taking the total number of firms there past 2,380. "We still have very strong growth," ADGM's Chief Market Development Officer, Arvind Ramamurthy said, noting that the pipeline of new firms looked strong for the rest of the year, but refrained from giving a forecast for assets growth. "Will it be 245% again this year? I wish. Let's see," he said in an interview late on Monday. Firms from Japan, India and China are also setting up in growing numbers - asset managers and financial institutions but also crypto and artificial intelligence firms, Ramamurthy said providing any details. With cryptocurrency regulations in place since 2018, Abu Dhabi has become a major centre for such investment, with sector heavyweights such as Circle and Coinbase represented there, while Abu Dhabi-backed investment group MGX has recently invested $2 billion worth of crypto tokens - issued by U.S. President Donald Trump's World Liberty Financial venture - in the world's biggest crypto exchange, Binance. (Additional reporting by Federico Maccioni in Dubai and Elizabeth Howcroft in Paris Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
Zawya
36 minutes ago
- Zawya
Abu Dhabi's property market records $1.63bln sales in 4 months
UAE: Abu Dhabi's property market witnessed a 5% increase in luxury transactions valued at AED 7 million and above, reaching AED 6.30 billion in the first four months of 2025, according to Metropolitan Capital Real Estate (MCRE). The significant performance was backed by rising demand from high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), international investors, and long-term residents. Evgeny Ratskevich, CEO of Metropolitan Capital Real Estate, commented: 'We have witnessed investors initially seeking to purchase a single property, ultimately expanding their portfolios due to a strong belief in the market's potential.' 'We are also seeing an increase in the number of long-term residents who are opting to purchase properties in Abu Dhabi instead of renting, reflecting the growing confidence in the city's real estate market,' Ratskevich added. As for the branded residences, developers launched new lifestyle-centric communities across Saadiyat Island, Al Reem, and Mariah Island. Meanwhile, at least 25 branded residences are expected to be announced in 2025. The luxury market recorded an annual leap of 158%, hitting nearly AED 3 billion in resale activity until April of 2025, with super-luxury properties accounting for over AED 2.60 billion, or 60% of the total secondary market volume.
Khaleej Times
2 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE authority finds multiple gas use violations, launches awareness campaign
Poor installation, substandard equipment, and lack of regular maintenance are among the most common risks associated with gas use in Abu Dhabi, according to field surveys and inspections conducted by the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE). The department observed frequent violations among residents using LPG systems, including domestic workers and labourers who use gas appliances, as well as employers in restaurants and cafeterias who are responsible for ensuring their workers are adequately trained. Violators also included recruitment companies involved in hiring workers for such roles. Among the most common violations were the use of substandard hoses and gas equipment, reliance on unlicensed gas suppliers, and the storage of gas cylinders without a permit from the Department of Energy — all of which pose significant safety risks. However, these risks can be mitigated through stricter enforcement, certified installations, and increased public awareness. Thousands of inspections To safeguard lives and property, the DoE launched the second phase of its public awareness campaign promoting the safe and responsible use of LPG systems. Held under the slogan 'your safety is our priority', the campaign continues efforts initiated in 2024 and 2025 to reinforce regulatory compliance and embed a culture of safety. Ahmed Alsheebani, Executive Director of Regulatory Affairs for the Petroleum Products Sector, told Khaleej Times, 'We inspected more than 11,000 facilities as part of broader efforts to enhance compliance, encourage the safe use of gas, and instill a culture of safety and accountability across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.' Precautions As part of the gas systems improvement initiative, the Department replaced 450 central gas tanks and control panels, installed over 10,000 gas leak detectors in buildings. It decommissioned outdated or duplicate systems in several properties to reduce risk. Alsheebani added 'This vital project significantly enhanced the safety of central gas systems across the emirate, through thorough assessments and necessary upgrades.' To ensure compliance, the DoE enforces a series of gas safety regulations. These include prohibiting the use of gas cylinders in buildings equipped with compliant central gas systems, ensuring proper ventilation and emergency exits in commercial kitchens, and mandating periodic maintenance by authorised service providers. Leaks must be reported immediately via emergency numbers 997. Requirements Commercial establishments, such as restaurants, must also maintain updated documentation, including: a Certificate of Conformity, a No-Objection Certificate, a Project Completion Certificate, an Annual Maintenance Contract, and a Civil Defense Safety and Prevention Compliance Certificate. Failure to comply could result in legal consequences, including potential closure. Adopting preventive practices The department advises families and food establishments to adopt preventive practices, like installing gas leak detectors, working only with authorised gas companies, and conducting regular safety checks. For instance, homeowners are encouraged to test for leaks by applying soapy water to gas connections — bubbles may indicate a leak — and to promptly replace any damaged hoses. Alsheebani stressed, 'If you smell gas, turn off the main valve immediately, ventilate the area, avoid turning on electrical switches or flames, and call emergency services or your gas provider.' Through its ongoing awareness campaign, the DoE is promoting safe gas use through a comprehensive outreach strategy. This includes digital campaigns in eight languages across social media platforms, SMS notifications in partnership with government entities, and the distribution of multilingual leaflets to food businesses. Additionally, the department is organising Gas Safety Majlis sessions and interactive workshops aimed at vulnerable groups, including labourers and kitchen workers, utilising educational tools like virtual reality to reinforce best safety practices and alter behaviour.
