Tourism & Culture
From The Report: Abu Dhabi 2017
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These are dynamic times for the emirate’s tourism and culture sectors, as Abu Dhabi’s traditional portfolio of business travel and luxury vacations widens to include a whole new range of offerings. Sports, arts and entertainment are all now arriving centre stage for the emirate, as Abu Dhabi also makes its mark on the international cruise industry, while boosting its hotel collection and global interconnectivity. Tourism and culture have been privileged with key positions in the emirate’s long-term development plans, being seen as ways to boost diversification in the economy and establish new jobs and investment opportunities. These developments are rolling out at a time of increased regional and international economic and political uncertainty. Local authorities are striving to carve out a readily identifiable niche in an increasingly crowded regional market. However, with a firm strategy already in place, the signs are that Abu Dhabi is making a strong impression in both the global travel industry and the international creative and cultural sector.

This chapter contains interviews with Noura Al Kaabi, Chairwoman, Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company; and Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director-General, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Strong appeal: The emirate’s wide range of attractions and first-class facilities bode well for continued sector growth
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These are dynamic times for the emirate’s tourism and culture sectors, as Abu Dhabi’s traditional portfolio of business travel and luxury vacations widens to include a whole new range of offerings. Sports, arts and entertainment are all now arriving centre stage for the emirate, as Abu Dhabi also makes its mark on the international cruise industry, while boosting its hotel collection and global interconnectivity. Tourism and culture have been privileged with key positions in the emirate’s…

Interview

Spreading the word: Noura Al Kaabi, Chairwoman, Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC), on expanding business tourism
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Interview: Noura Al Kaabi Why is the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) segment a central tourism priority for the Abu Dhabi government? NOURA AL KAABI: MICE tourism is one of the most important segments in Abu Dhabi, spurring many direct and indirect benefits. In 2016 ADNEC contributed Dh3bn ($816.8m) in economic value to the emirate and supported over 16,000 jobs in business tourism, thanks to the enormous efforts of our partners and stakeholders. With exhibitions and conferences,…

Analysis

Destination – business: The rapidly expanding MICE segment benefits from strong support and high-quality infrastructure
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Recent years have seen a surge in activity in Abu Dhabi’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector, as business travellers have become one of the emirate’s principle sources of visitor revenue. Indeed, in the most recent destination rankings from the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), for 2015, Abu Dhabi had risen some 35 places, with the number of international association meetings and conferences in the emirate up 59% year-on-year. This…

Interview

Reaping the benefits: Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director-General, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), on attracting diverse visitors
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Interview: Saif Saeed Ghobash How can Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector insulate itself from the headwinds affecting global travel? SAIF SAEED GHOBASH: The macroeconomic climate, including lower oil prices and the weakening of currencies, has undoubtedly impacted the sector. Likewise a strong dollar, to which the UAE dirham is pegged, has made the destination more expensive for some travellers from Europe. Tourism, like other sectors, is facing macroeconomic challenges, and so we have to find ways to…

Analysis

A taste for culture: The heritage sites of Al Ain are the subject of a wave of new projects
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Although Saadiyat Island is likely to be one of the headline-grabbing developments of Abu Dhabi’s cultural sector, the rest of the emirate is also seeing a wave of new culture- and history-related projects. Perhaps the most highly regarded globally of these currently is Al Ain Oasis. Located in the heart of the emirate’s second city, 160 km and just under two hours’ drive east of the capital, the Oasis attraction was launched in late 2016 and is the centrepiece of the UAE’s first…

Analysis

Jewels in the crown: A collection of major cultural institutions is taking shape in the Saadiyat Island Cultural District
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The much-anticipated opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi will anchor one of the emirate’s most important recent projects – Saadiyat Island Cultural District. With the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum, a Performing Arts Centre and the Maritime Museum to come, the district’s cultural collection will be significant. A Key Goal The island will help realise one of the principal goals of the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, as well as the broader 2016 Abu Dhabi Plan. These plans…

Analysis

Formula for success: Yas Island hosts a rising number of recreation and leisure developments
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Lying just off the coast of Abu Dhabi City, Yas Island is one of the world’s largest island developments and one of the region’s premier destinations. The ambition of its developer, Miral, is to make Yas Island a top-10 global destination for family fun, according to CEO Mohammed Abdullah Al Zaabi, who told OBG of the company’s plans to establish Yas Island as the leading destination for leisure, entertainment and business, all backed by a new destination brand, investment in projects…

Analysis

Global showcase: The emirate offers a range of art and cultural events as well as live entertainment, while cultural policy supports local talent
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In 2016 Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) celebrated its 20th birthday – an anniversary that provided this agency, which has a key place in the cultural fabric of the emirate, with a fine opportunity to see just how far it had come. Indeed, while 20 years ago the arts were seen as a more marginal part of Abu Dhabi’s environment, nowadays they are centre stage in the emirate’s development plans. Over two decades a tapestry of world-renowned annual events and permanent institutions…