Today's Edition
TAARIQ HALIM (ABU DHABI)
The summer period in Abu Dhabi, traditionally “slow months” for the tourism and hospitality sector, has reported record figures in 2025, thanks in chief to an exciting calendar of cultural experiences and events.
Between May and August, the emirate welcomed 2.04 million hotel guests, a notable increase compared to previous years. The growth was stimulated by a 10% year-on-year increase in international visitors.
The Events Capital
According to the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), cultural, and entertainment sites alone welcomed 1.4 million visitors by hosting 48 entertainment events, from comedy festivals to live concerts and family-oriented events.
The staging of 2,044 meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) events also attracted an increased number of attendees.
The emirate’s hospitality sector achieved a 78% occupancy rate for summer 2025. This translated into a total hotel revenue increase of 17% compared to the same period in 2024, while Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) also saw strong growth, up 17% as well.
Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, attributed the record summer figures to Abu Dhabi’s commitment to becoming a leading global destination offering an “unparalleled range of year-round experiences”.
“The growth in international visitors and revenue underscores the success of our strategic initiatives as well as the collaborative efforts with partners across our tourism ecosystem. In line with Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030, we are welcoming more visitors and creating unforgettable experiences that firmly position Abu Dhabi as a vibrant destination for culture, entertainment and hospitality,” he said.
The summer boom was built on robust tourism growth in the first half (H1) of 2025.
Culture at the Heart of Growth
A focus of the DCT Abu Dhabi’s tourism strategy has been investment in cultural and heritage sites, which have succeeded in attracting over 4 million visitors between January and June 2025 — representing an impressive 47% YoY increase on H1 2024.
Flagship institutions continued to thrive, with Louvre Abu Dhabi maintaining strong visitor numbers at 784,606 from January through June.
The Cultural Foundation saw a substantial 49% increase, welcoming 620,709 visitors, while Qasr Al Hosn attracted 467,398 visitors, up 14%. Manarat Al Saadiyat experienced a phenomenal 139% jump in visitor numbers, reaching 207,684.
House of Artisans recorded 234,142 visitors, reflecting steady growth in Emirati crafts and heritage.
Further bolstering these numbers were newly-opened sites in 2025, including the much-anticipated teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, which attracted 145,912 visitors, and Al Maqtaa Museum, which welcomed 30,974 visitors.
Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi, said the encouraging growth was down to DCT Abu Dhabi’s effective execution of its 2030 strategy.
“These results are a direct reflection of our deliberate investments in cultural infrastructure, the diversification of our world-class offerings, and our targeted efforts to attract visitors from global markets,” he noted.
“This momentum strategically positions us to accelerate toward our ambitious 2030 targets, solidifying Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a must-visit destination where culture and Emirati hospitality are at its core — offering authenticity, innovation, and immersive experiences.”
The strong H1 indicators reflect the profound impact of Abu Dhabi’s strategic initiatives and represent a major stride towards achieving its Tourism Strategy 2030 goals: to bring the emirate that much closer to attracting 40 million visitors annually, supporting the creation of 180,000 new tourism jobs, expanding hotel capacity to 50,000 rooms, and contributing Dh90 billion to Abu Dhabi’s GDP by the end of the decade.
Hotel Bookings Boosted
The increase in visitor numbers contributed to a significant boost to the hospitality sector in H1.
Abu Dhabi’s hotels welcomed 2.9 million guests between January and June, a 2% increase compared to 2024. This momentum translated into hotel revenues surging by 20% compared to the same period last year.
Revenue per available room (RevPAR) reached Dh446, a 24% year-on-year increase, while hotel occupancy remained strong at 80%.
The average length of stay for international hotel guests also saw an increase, reaching 3.2 nights — indicative of the appeal of Abu Dhabi’s attractions and experiences, which are increasingly drawing visitors for longer stays. Key markets such as India (up 29%) and the UK (up 17%) showed particular robust growth in visitor numbers.
Special occasions and holidays further amplified this success; during Eid Al-Adha 2025, hotels across Abu Dhabi maintained 80% occupancy, a 6% increase year-on-year, with RevPAR up 21%, and average daily rate up 14%.
Asia remained the top regional source market during this holiday period, contributing over one-third of all international arrivals, followed by the GCC, attracting visitors from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Emirate-wide Success
Al Ain Region saw a 12% increase in hotel guests, with a 7% increase in RevPAR compared to the same period last year. Cultural sites in the region also flourished, with Al Ain Oasis welcoming 401,718 visitors (a 40% increase), Qasr Al Muwaiji attracting 168,042 visitors (nearly 50% YoY growth), and Al Qattara Arts Centre seeing a 42% rise, hosting 163,542 visitors.
Meanwhile, Al Dhafra Region experienced a notable 21% increase in RevPAR and a 28% rise in average length of stay YoY.
