Abu Dhabi’s new tourism strategy earmarks USD 10 bn for infrastructure

Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) is planning to spend USD 10 bn on infrastructure as part of the emirate’s new tourism strategy, DCT Chairman Mohamed Al Mubarak told The National. Infrastructure investment will be geared towards bumping up the number of hotel rooms in the emirate to 52k from 34k by 2030.

ICYMI- The Abu Dhabi Executive Council approved the emirate’s tourism strategy for 2030 at a meeting last week, as it looks to almost double the number of visitors to 39.3 mn and boost the sector’s contribution to non-oil GDP to AED 90 bn per year by the end of the decade.

The details: The tourism strategy comprises 26 initiatives across four areas, including city activation, promotion and marketing, infrastructure and mobility, and visa, and licensing and regulation, he said. DCT will allocate USD 1 bn towards events and marketing spend, and more than USD 10 bn to infrastructure — including museums, theme parks and hospitality — from now to 2030.

Key upcoming projects: The authority plans to open and expand several museums and theme parks across the emirate, and upgrade Al Ain and Saadiyat Island’s offerings with a new zoo, cultural district, and other tourism venues. To increase the number of hotel rooms in Abu Dhabi, DCT will add new hotel chains, including Nammos and Mondrian, and four- and five-star beach destination hotels.

The authority will hold more roadshows across Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America, aiming to expand its tourism source markets to 26, from the current 11, Al Mubarak adds.

The Gulf is helping boost tourism: In December, GCC member states polished a Schengen-style unified tourist visa that would allow tourists to enter the six member states using a single unified visa starting sometime in 2024 or 2025.