The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is targeting a major expansion of its tourism and culture sectors by 2030. According to Saeed Al Fazari, Executive Director at the
Key targets outlined include:
– Doubling the tourism-industry contribution to GDP — from approximately AED 45 billion to AED 90 billion (around US$24.5 billion).
– Adding 18,000 new hotel rooms within the emirate by 2030.
– Creating up to 216,000 jobs in the tourism, culture and creative sectors—an upward revision from an earlier figure of 178,000.
– To support these goals, the DCT is investing about AED 25.7 billion (US$7 billion) annually into tourism, culture and creative-industry initiatives.
Air connectivity is being expanded (30 airlines flying to 120 global destinations) and user-friendly digital infrastructure is being enhanced (including biometric access at airports and e-services for visitors).
Khaleej Times
Cultural and environmental assets remain central: Abu Dhabi hosts 75 % of the UAE’s mangrove population and protects significant heritage sites. The newly-opening institutions such as the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi (opening 22 Nov) and the Zayed National Museum (opening 3 Dec) in the Saadiyat Cultural District are examples of the shift towards high-end cultural tourism.
In Al Fazari’s words: “Abu Dhabi is not just keeping pace with global travel trends … we are helping to define them.”
