Abu Dhabi showcases new destination campaign at WTM

Experience Abu Dhabi, Find Your Pace will feature at World Travel Market (WTM), welcoming visitors and bringing the destination to life alongside 36 stakeholders and partners, from 7-9 November.

The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) will sign a number of strategic partnerships during WTM, and delegates will have the opportunity to maximise their business potential by meeting partnering hotels and attractions.

Visitors can unwind and enjoy Abu Dhabi’s living culture, with a celebration of Emirati craftsmanship at the House of Artisans zone, including a perfumery experience that introduces visitors to the fragrances of the emirate. There is also traditional Arabic coffee in the Bait Al Gahwa zone and the Abu Dhabi Senses Journey at the stand’s Cultural zone.

Abu Dhabi will enable WTM visitors to experience the top sites and attractions throughout Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Al Ain, Al Dhafra region and beyond. Attendees will experience how Abu Dhabi offers something for every visitor, available 365 days a year, at your own pace - with rich cultural history, natural beaches, unrivalled family fun and world-class sports offerings.

Enriching destination experiences that excite, inspire and restore are showcased within an immersive stand experience that will host Q&As with global sports partners, including Manchester City and the UFC - with a special guest appearance from Batman, courtesy of Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi.

Also on display, Abu Dhabi Calendar has partnered with the world’s best artists, entertainers and sports franchises for a 2022/2023 winter season to remember. Events range from live concerts with international stars Sting and Andrea Bocelli, as well as urban music festival Wireless, making its Abu Dhabi debut in March 2023.

Other exciting events in Abu Dhabi Calendar include Disney’s The Lion King, as seen on Broadway and now making its debut in the Middle East, as well as Abu Dhabi Culinary Season - the emirate’s annual celebration of food. This all follows the first NBA Abu Dhabi Games which took place in October this year, followed by the return of Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, in partnership with the UFC.

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has recently unveiled the campaign “Experience Abu Dhabi. Find Your Pace”. The campaign shares a variety of experiences that inspire, excite and restore, welcoming the world to come and enjoy memorable moments that matter – in their way and at their own pace.

Experience Abu Dhabi shows the seamless connections between a wealth of cultural heritage, alongside exciting experiences. Yas Island welcomes the world with year-round theme park action and waterfront attractions, with events and entertainment for families and all ages. Only 15 minutes away, Saadiyat Island is filled with living culture, home to Louvre Abu Dhabi’s timeless inspiration and unforgettable architecture.

Located at the heart of the island, Saadiyat Cultural District hosts community events and exhibitions at Manarat Al Saadiyat alongside Berklee Abu Dhabi, the pre-eminent institute of contemporary music and the performing arts.

The district is also the future home of the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, and the immersive art of teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi. Nearby, pristine beaches and coastal avenues are lined with cafes and dining options at Mamsha Al Saadiyat, to enjoy over a breathtaking sunset.

Just over an hour from these remarkable island experiences, Abu Dhabi invites visitors to ignite their curiosity by visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites in Al Ain, experience adventure and tranquillity among the desert dunes, and embrace Abu Dhabi’s fascinating past with iconic museums and ancient forts.

The UAE held its position at the forefront of the global tourism landscape during the first half of 2022, while maintaining its regional and global leadership as a pioneering tourism hub and a preferred destination to visit, live and work.

The UAE’s tourism sector performed incredibly in H1 2022, achieving remarkable results, and rising across the ranks of global indices, with the sector’s revenues exceeding Dhs19 billion ($5.17 billion) and a record of 12 million hotel stays. This testifies to the country’s successful recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, ushering in a new phase of growth and prosperity.

Data from the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi showed that, in H1 2022, the emirate’s hotels received 1.84 million visitors, a growth of 22 per cent compared to the same period last year, while occupancy rates rose to 70 percent, an increase of 6 per cent compared to the same period last year, with the average length of stay landing at about 3.2 nights per guest.