Abu Dhabi’s tourism industry is heading to Kuwait today for a major promotion at The Avenues Mall.

The move is part of a wider plan by emirate to convince expatriates and Kuwaitis of just how much there is to see and do in the destination.

The promotion, which will run until tomorrow, features representatives of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi – the world’s largest indoor theme park with its fastest roller coaster – the award-winning Yas Waterworld water park, Rotana Hotels & Resorts and Etihad Airways, which currently flies four times daily, non-stop from Kuwait to Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Young Yola dancing champions from the emirate will be joined by Kuwaiti counterparts to bring a fun, festive atmosphere to the promotion.

“This is a very timely initiative,” said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, director, promotions and overseas offices, TCA Abu Dhabi.

“It comes as the number of Kuwaitis staying in the emirate’s hotels and resorts is on an upward trajectory and as our major events calendar for the year-end has considerable cross-age and cultural appeal.”

Visitors to the Abu Dhabi promotion will be able to get the latest news on this month’s and November’s Arabian premiere Yas Island of the award-winning Broadway musical Beauty & The Beast and next month’s F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The race will be the season’s finale with double the points and double the action and after-race Yasalam concerts featuring British rock icons The Who, the USA’s singer-songwriter and producer Pharrell Willaims and international DJ phenomenon Armin Van Buuren.

Also on the promotion agenda will be Abu Dhabi’s plans for December’s National Day, including the Arabian debut of Nitro Circus Live, the biggest action sports show on the planet, and the action-packed year-end hosting of the Volvo Ocean Race fleet.

From December 12th until January 3rd when the fleet is in the UAE capital, the emirate will host mega celebrations in a purpose-built destination village on Abu Dhabi Corniche including the Arabian debut of BBC Worldwide’s highly acclaimed Blue Planet in Concert which will open the race stopover.

Having previously played to sell-out audiences in the USA, Europe, the Far East and Australia, Blue Planet in Concert combines spectacular, specially cut high definition footage from the award winning TV series – The Blue Planet – with the emotional and evocative musical score performed by a live orchestra.

The VOR Destination Village, which is bigger than five football pitches, will be packed with edutainment and entertainment highlighting Abu Dhabi’s union with the sea and its maritime heritage.

There’ll be dhow racing, pearl diving showcases, traditional sea shanty performances, ocean conservation exhibitions and activities such as turtle conservation talks.

“The stopover is a tremendous international showcase which propels our winter watersports credentials and marine heritage to the fore among the global sailing community,” said Al Nuaimi.

In the first eight months of this year, 21,129 Kuwaitis checked into Abu Dhabi’s 156 hotels and hotel apartments – a 42 per cent rise on the same period last year.

They delivered 54,721 guest nights – a rise of 44 per cent year-on-year and stayed, on average just short of three nights.

“While we are obviously encouraged by this upward momentum, we believe Kuwait holds out even more potential for us and would like to convince those Kuwaitis who do come to Abu Dhabi to stay longer and take in the many and varied places, attractions and events the emirate has to offer,” said Al Nuaimi.