The largest edition of ADTA’s annual Abu Dhabi Ambassador Programme – which has now entered its fifth year – is underway, bringing together 132 Emirati nationals, aged between 20 and 35, and representing some 50 public and private sector organisations – 34 of which are new to the programme.

A key part of Abu Dhabi tourism industry’s Emiratisation drive and its desire to improve the visitor experience through interaction with locals, the programme will run for 12 weeks and culminate in a gala graduation ceremony this summer. During the programme, the ‘Ambassador’ recruits will spend a day a week undergoing an expanded curriculum, allowing them to experience Abu Dhabi as a visitor and learn to appreciate, first hand, the skills of a tourist guide.

Launched in 2007 with just 21 Zayed University students, and with some 200 Emiratis now ranking among the programme’s alumni, the demand for places on the 2012 programme was very high, with some 600 representatives of the public and private sectors applying and going through the selection process.