Major attractions, new hotels and expanded air routes are on the way
Abu Dhabi’s tourism strategy for 2030 is staying firmly on track, reaffirming that long-term growth plans remain unchanged despite wider regional uncertainty according to Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT).
The approach is a steady, data-driven system led by DCT, working closely with airlines, airports, hotel operators and destination partners.
In a recent interview with The National, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak said: “Our tourism strategy and all our strategies are long-term, and they’re all data-driven. So these are not numbers that we make up.
“We work very closely with all our stakeholders, whether it’s Etihad, whether it’s the airport and all the other players, the different DMCs [destination management companies], different tour operators, to come up with these sorts of numbers. We put all this together in a blender, and we come up with these numbers.”
The numbers underline the ambition. The emirate is targeting 39.3 million visitors by 2030, with tourism expected to contribute around AED90 billion ($24.5 billion) to the economy.
In 2025 alone, Abu Dhabi welcomed 26.6 million visitors, showing strong momentum across culture, leisure, and business travel.
Even through periods of regional disruption, the tourism and hospitality ecosystem has remained remarkably steady.
Hotel occupancy reached more than 85 per cent last year and, even during more challenging periods, levels held at around 56 per cent, something Al Mubarak says reflects the strength of the sector’s foundations.
“At the moment, we are in a difficult situation. But the fact of the matter is, because the fundamentals are so strong, occupancy during this period of the hotels here in Abu Dhabi was at 56 per cent,” he said.
Throughout it all, hotels, malls, museums, theme parks, and entertainment venues have continued operating as usual, keeping the city open and active for both residents and visitors.
“Everything remained open, because what’s critical for us, no matter what comes our way, the direction from leadership is the quality of life of the citizens and the residents of the United Arab Emirates and the tourists that are here remain the same,” he added.
“At the moment, we are in a difficult situation. But the fact of the matter is, because the fundamentals are so strong, occupancy during this period of the hotels here in Abu Dhabi was at 56 per cent.”
Looking ahead, a key priority is adding more hotel capacity as demand continues to grow. A wave of new properties is expected over the coming years, helping to balance occupancy levels and support the next phase of expansion.
“We’re really starting to reach our threshold. In the next three, four years, a significant amount of new hotel rooms are going to hit the market that are going to help enhance our numbers,” Al Mubarak said.
On the attractions front, Abu Dhabi is doubling down on experiences that keep the city on the global map. One of the standout upcoming projects is Sphere Abu Dhabi, set to open by the end of 2029 on Yas Island.
The immersive venue is expected to bring a whole new dimension to live entertainment in the capital, sitting alongside ongoing expansions across theme parks and cultural destinations.
Connectivity is also playing a big role in the growth story. With Etihad Airways continuing to expand routes across Africa and Asia, new markets are opening up and making Abu Dhabi more accessible than ever.
It all reinforces a simple picture: a city steadily building for the long term, expanding its tourism offering, and positioning itself as one of the world’s most connected and experience-led destinations.
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