Abu Dhabi’s tourism authority has reported that the emirate is on track to meet its ambitious visitor goals for the upcoming year. The hotel industry generated Dh2.3 billion in revenue during the first quarter of 2025, which marks an 18 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

The early figures suggest that Abu Dhabi is poised to contribute Dh62 billion to its economy by 2025, reflecting a 13 percent growth from 2024. This growth is expected to support approximately 255 000 jobs across the emirate this year. The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) noted that it welcomed 1.4 million overnight customers between January and March 2025.

Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030 outlines ambitious goals, including attracting 39.3 million visitors annually, creating 178 000 new jobs in tourism, expanding hotel capacity to 50 000 rooms, and contributing Dh90 billion to the emirate’s GDP by the end of the decade.

In comparison, Dubai recorded a 3 percent annual increase in international visitor numbers, welcoming 5.31 million guests in the first three months of 2025. The DCT Abu Dhabi highlighted that the emirate attracted visitors from key markets such as India, China, Russia, the UK, and the USA.

During this period, the revenue per available room (RevPAR) reached Dh484, reflecting a 25 percent year-on-year increase, while hotel occupancy rates remained high at 79 percent, even during Ramadan. Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi, stated that continuous investment in data-driven marketing strategies and improved visitor experiences have significantly contributed to this growth in the first quarter of 2025.

Last year, Abu Dhabi experienced a 7 percent increase in total hotel and alternative accommodation guests, with international overnight visitors totaling 3.2 million, representing a 28 percent rise from the previous year. Hotel occupancy rates consistently reached 79 percent, resulting in a substantial revenue increase of 18.1 percent, generating over Dh7.6 billion. Additionally, RevPAR increased by 22 percent, showcasing the strength of the hotel sector.

The DCT Abu Dhabi expanded its global marketing efforts last year, increasing operations from 11 markets in 2023 to 25 in 2024, with a focus on emerging regions such as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Asia-Pacific (APAC), and Eastern Europe.