Abu Dhabi will showcase new hotels and resorts opening imminently in the destination at this year’s World Travel Market (WTM), the leading global event for the travel industry.

Global brands such as Fairmont and Mandarin Oriental are all expanding their portfolios in Abu Dhabi.

Mandarin Oriental plans to open a property on Saadiyat Island in 2012, while the Fairmont Abu Dhabi is scheduled to open in 2012.

The destination is also planning to use its participation in WTM this year to forge new relationships with emerging markets such as Russia, India, and Korea, as well as further strengthen partnerships with existing tour operators.

Abu Dhabi is now in the second year of its three-year partnership to be the Premier Partner of World Travel Market, a Reed Travel Exhibitions event.

The destination is experiencing healthy growth in visitor numbers with an 18% overall increase in 2010 and a 22% increase to 117,836 in arrivals from the UK in 2010.

Mubarak Al Nuaimi, International Promotions Manager, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, said: “Visitors to this year’s Abu Dhabi pavilion at World Travel Market will find a host of new business opportunities in the form of brand-new attractions, superb new beachfront resorts, and city-center hotels, as well as world-class events ideal for packaging and leveraging.

“WTM 2011 will be the travel industry’s opportunity to engage with a destination, which is receiving record numbers of hotel guests and which is prioritizing tourism in its long-term economic and social development plans.”

Reed Travel Exhibitions Chairman World Travel Market Fiona Jeffery said: “Abu Dhabi is booming in terms of hotel and resort openings and visitor arrivals. We’re delighted to see our strong partnership is reaping rewards for the destination and looking forward to helping it showcase its latest developments.”