Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan chairs the first meeting of the new Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority

Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector is enjoying a golden era as it launches a host new attractions and world-class hotels, which have been accompanied by soaring visitor numbers. To help steer its phenomenal transformation, the emirate has formed a new authority to steer its tourism and cultural evolution.

Under the chairmanship of His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, the new Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (ADTCA) – which has replaced the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage – has been tasked with preserving, protecting and managing the emirate’s cultural heritage.

Mubarak Al Muhairi steps up to the role of Director General of ADTCA

The dynamic Mubarak Al Muhairi steps up to the role of Director General of the new authority, and comes to the role following seven record-breaking years at Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority. Under his leadership, ADTA grew from a start-up into a world-class brand that now serves as a catalyst in driving inward tourism investment, growth and development.

Mubarak Al Muhairi efforts culminated in ADTA being voted “World’s Leading Tourism Board” by World Travel Awards in 2010, whilst this January it was voted “World’s Leading Destination Marketing Campaign” and “World’s Responsible Tourism Award” at World Travel Awards Grand Final 2011, which took place in Qatar in January.

Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan said: “The Board agreed that in Mubarak Al Muhairi the new authority has a proven leader who sets the tone of an organisation by example and has a wealth of experience in both the tourism and culture sectors,” said Sheikh Sultan.

“We are looking to deliver a seamless transition into a unified body that will bring additional synergy to the delivery of enhanced product and services across a number of segments,” Sheikh Sultan added.

The amazing Saadiyat Island forms the centrepiece of Abu Dhabi’s cultural offerings

The decision comes at an exciting time for Abu Dhabi. Last year the Emirate broke all records for guest arrivals, with a total of 2.1 million people staying at hotels and hotel apartments over the course of the year – beating the official target of two million by 6.5 percent. This is a highly encouraging result came in a year which saw substantial additions to Abu Dhabi’s hotel and resort inventory, including several five-star beach properties opening up on Saadiyat Island to guests.

“There is a clear correlation between this increase, our opening of offices in Russia and the USA, our heightened focus on the Asian markets, a vibrant calendar of world-class events, increased air access with the arrival into Abu Dhabi of new carriers and the expansion of Etihad Airways’ network and a substantial increase in cross-network marketing undertaken by the arrival of major new hospitality brands,” said ADTCA chairman Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan.

Abu Dhabi Classical Arts Museum

Annual growth was also recorded across a number of other key metrics, including guest nights, which were up 22 percent to 6.3 million.

Occupancy levels also rose seven percent to 69 per cent, while revenue was up three per cent to US $ 1.2 billion.

All this leaves Abu Dhabi well positioned to reach a target of 2.3 million guests in 2012 – a 15 percent rise on the 2011 target.

Palatial properties
Integral to Abu Dhabi’s success is the quality of its hotel and the ground-breaking levels of service and facilities they offer.

This is exemplified by the iconic Emirates Palace, the palatial destination resort in the heart of Abu Dhabi.

Located on a 1.3 kilometre stretch of private white pristine beach with 100 hectares of manicured lawns and lush landscaped gardens, Emirates Palace breathtaking surrounding make it the ultimate resort for corporate entertaining and indulgent getaways.

Emirates Palace - an iconic destination resort

It was recognised with accolades for ‘World’s Leading Conference and Meetings Hotel’ and ‘World’s Leading Presidential Suite’ at 2011 World Travel Awards. It has also been nominated in several categories in WTA’s forthcoming Middle East Ceremony which is set to take place in Dubai on 30 April 2012.

Jumeirah’s sparkling addition

A sparkling addition to the skyline of the UAE capital, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers opened last November on the beachfront of the West Corniche.

The 280-metre, 66-floor building forms one of five towers of the Etihad Towers complex – a ground-breaking lifestyle development that also incorporates offices, residential apartments, as well as a shopping centre filled with designer boutiques. There is also a private beach, conference centre and a full range of gourmet restaurants.

Jumeirah at Etihad Towers was voted “World’s Leading New Hotel” at World Travel Awards 2012

Guests can expect the trademark Jumeirah opulence with 382 rooms and suites loaded with the very latest in lifestyle technology. For the full Jumeirah experience check into the Royal Etihad Suite, located on the 60th floor and occupying a whopping 980 square metres.

Jumeirah at Etihad Towers has rapidly established itself as a leading player on the global luxury hospitality scene, reflected in it picking up “World’s Leading New Hotel” at World Travel Awards Grand Final in January.

It has also been nominated in four categories for the Middle East leg of World Travel Awards, which take place on 30 April 2012, including “Middle East’s Leading Suite” and “UAE’s Leading Hotel”.

Yas Island
Yas Island is home to some of the UAE’s most exciting attractions, including Ferrari World – home of the world’s largest roller coast – events, as well as concerts and much much more.

The flagship project of the $36 billion Yas Island development, the Yas Viceroy Hotel is a breathtaking fusion of architecture, design and technology, set half on land and half on water. It is also the first hotel in the world built directly over a Formula One race track and in 2010 was voted “World’s Leading New Hotel” by World Travel Awards.

A style icon - Yas Viceroy Hotel

World-class aviation
Attracting the luxury traveller forms an integral part of Abu Dhabi’s growth strategy. Royal Jet, the private jet charter company, has just come off its most success year yet in its eight-year history.

HE Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Chairman, Royal Jet Group presented with “World’s Leading Private Jet Charter” by Graham Cooke, President & Founder, World Travel Awards

The company, voted World’s Leading Private Jet Charter by the World Travel Awards, reported a 226 per cent increase in net profits year-on-year.

The company is chaired by His Excellency Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan.

“I am delighted to report that 2011 was the most successful year ever for Royal Jet and by a considerable margin – both operationally and financially,” said Shane O’Hare, President and Chief Executive Officer of Royal Jet. “The private jet industry is not measured by profits and efficiency alone but depends first and foremost on customer service. Our excellent service delivery earned us the ‘World’s Leading Private Jet’ award for an unprecedented fifth year in a row at the prestigious World Travel Awards.”

Royal Jet offers unrivalled luxury service

Home of the world’s leading airline
The UAE flag carrier Etihad Airways also continues to blaze a trail in aviation. Established just eight years old, the Abu Dhabi based airline has grown into a global superbrand. Its growth has never fallen below 40 percent a year in that time. This year it has reached the milestone stage of moving into profit. This coincided with it being voted “World’s Leading Airline”, “World’s Leading Airline First Class” and “World’s Leading Airline to the Middle East” at World Travel Awards 2011.

A total of 8.3 million passengers flew with the flag carrier in 2011, up 17 per cent on 2010.

James Hogan, chief executive of Etihad Airways, said: “Despite the global financial crisis, continued high oil prices, regional instability and natural disasters, we have delivered.”

Five new routes – Bangalore, the Maldives, the Seychelles, Chengdu and Düsseldorf – will also be added to the network.

Peter Baumgartner, COO, Etihad Airways celebrates a win treble at World Travel Awards Grand Final hosted in Doha Qatar on 11 January 2012

Hogan added Etihad Airways’ successful partnership strategy intensified, with its first equity investment in another carrier – airberlin, Europe’s sixth largest airline, which was announced in December 2011.

“This was a game changing move for Etihad Airways, adding 157 destinations and giving us access to 35 million new passengers.

“The airberlin deal will be our most important catalyst for growth in 2012. It has given us instant access to Europe’s largest travel market, and will have a major impact on revenues in 2012, with an expected contribution of up to US$50 million.”

Superb cruise facilities

A new terminal, designed to accommodate 1,300 passengers has been built at Mina Zayed as Abu Dhabi continues to develop as a cruise destination.

A joint project from Abu Dhabi Ports Company and Abu Dhabi Terminals, the facility has been designed to cater for the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 cruise seasons.

MSC Lirica became the first vessel to homeport in the emirate following the opening of the terminal in late 2011.

Abu Dhabi International Airport, which was celebrating its 30th anniversary last year, also has ambitious plans for the future. In the coming five years, the airport will be focusing on achieving new competitive milestones with the completion of the new Midfield Terminal Building, scheduled to open in 2017. The 700,000 square meter building is a landmark project being undertaken in Abu Dhabi and the UAE, and will be able to handle 27-30 million passengers per year when it opens.

Abu Dhabi International Airport celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2011

Later this year Abu Dhabi Airports Company will host the 18th World Route Development Forum at the property.

James Bennett, chief executive of ADAC said: “We are delighted and eager to showcase to this audience of aviation experts and professionals, Abu Dhabi: an attractive and dynamic destination, with the business and leisure potential to ensure a successful and sustainable route for airlines.”

The event will take place from September 30th-October 2nd 2012.

Reasons to Celebrate

One of the highlights of the coming year is sure to be the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, scheduled to take place at the spectacular Yas Marina circuit on November 2nd-4th.

Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is now an integral part of the F1 calendar

Last year Britney Spears welcomed thousands of international sports fans to the event with a dazzling concert, while British former champion Lewis Hamilton took the chequered flag.

Tickets for this year’s event have already gone on sale.

With United Arab Emirates flag-carrier Etihad Airways recently signing a deal with the Formula 1 group to extend its title sponsorship of the Grand Prix for a further four years, the event look sets to grow yet further.

The deal will see the airline sponsor the event through to the 2015 with two F1-liveried aircraft flying to destinations across its network.

Also on the horizon, the World Travel & Tourism Council has confirmed it will hold its 13th Global Summit in Abu Dhabi in April/May 2013, with ADTA and Etihad Airways set to become official hosts of the biggest annual gathering of tourism leaders.

Abu Dhabi was chosen for its compelling presentation, the enthusiasm of government and industry agencies, destination accessibility, its high standard of capability and evidence of green tourism growth as a key development strategy, the WTTC has explained.

The event is the most influential in the annual tourism calendar, bringing together almost 1,000 industry leaders to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing the industry.

Word on the Street

To get the message out, ADTCA – which was last year recognised as presenting the World’s Leading Destination Marketing Campaign by World Travel Awards – is planning its biggest overseas promotion campaign ever this year.

The dynamic line-up, which sees ADTCA visit IMEX America for the first time, takes in 16 exhibitions and eight road shows – including right here at ITB Berlin - across 18 countries before November this year.

Dates in Australia, China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia and the Ukraine are all also pencilled in.

Abu Dhabi has emerged as a power house of Middle Eastern tourism

And Finally…

If all that wasn’t enough for Abu Dhabi to be looking forward to, Madonna has confirmed she will play Yas Island Abu Dhabi later this year.

The world’s top selling female recording artist will take the stage at the luxury destination on June 3rd as part of the Yas Island Show Weekends.

The event will form part of a world-tour to support her latest album, MDNA. Everybody from die-hard Madonna fans to music lovers and concert-goers of all generations are expected to attend the pop extravaganza.

“Extremely high profile concerts of this nature do much to spread awareness of Abu Dhabi’s tourism offering and the city’s emergence as an international entertainment destination,” says Faisal Al Sheikh, events manager at ADTCA.

“Headline concerts have proved their worth in delivering an increasing number of guests to Abu Dhabi’s hotels and this show, coming as it does in a traditionally slow month will be welcomed by all in the UAE capital’s hospitality sector.”