A total of 2,806,283 guests checked into Abu Dhabi’s 150 hotels and hotel apartments in 2013, up 18 per cent on 2012, according to figures released by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority.

Abu Dhabi’s hotels have witnessed their best ever year and the outstanding result means the emirate has smashed its target of 2.5 million hotel guests in 2013.

The UK remains Abu Dhabi’s second largest overseas market with 162,973 Britons checking into the emirate’s hotels last year, a 16 per cent increase on 2012.

British guests accounted for 763,151 guest nights – an increase of 25 per cent year on year - with an average length of stay of 4.68 nights, again up seven percent on 2012. 

“This is a highly satisfying performance, particularly as we have seen 13 more hotels and hotel apartments open throughout 2013.

“We now have just over 26,000 hotel rooms, a ten per cent increase on 2012,” said His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, chairman, TCA Abu Dhabi.

“As we have now achieved the original hotel guest targets set for 2014, we have reviewed our goals and are uplifting our sights by ten per cent.

“We are now looking to achieve 3.1 million hotel guests in 2014, with a ten per cent year on year compounded growth in the near term.”

The 2013 guest intake delivered close to 8.8 million guest nights, a 26 per cent increase on 2012, with total revenue reaching almost £902 million, up 18 per cent.