More than 2.5 million guests checked into Abu Dhabi’s 149 hotels and hotel apartments in the first 11 months of 2013, according to figures released by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority.

The emirate saw 260,810 guest arrivals in November 2013, a 27 per cent growth on 2012’s performance.

The outstanding results meant Abu Dhabi’s hospitality industry hit the emirate’s 2013 hotel guest target a month early.

The UK remains Abu Dhabi’s second largest overseas market with 147,852 Britons checking into the emirate’s hotels in the first 11 months of 2013, a 14 per cent increase on 2012.

British guests accounted for 690,902 guest nights – an increase of 24 per cent year on year – with an average length of stay of 4.67 nights, again up eight per cent on 2012.

“This is great news which we were cautiously optimistic about as November was packed with events including the headline Grand Prix, the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, the FIFA Under 17 World Cup and Abu Dhabi Art,” said HE Jasem Al Darmaki, deputy director general, TCA Abu Dhabi.

“It’s all the more gratifying given that since last year the emirate has seen 12 more properties and almost 2,500 new rooms come on line.

“Length of stay continues its upward trend, which suggests people are increasingly convinced of there being ever more to do and see in Abu Dhabi.”

November’s performance means that in the first 11 months of 2013, 2,530,810 guests stayed in Abu Dhabi’s accommodation, an increase of 17 per cent on the same period last year.

Year to date, guest nights have increased by 26 per cent to over 7.9 million and the average length of stay is up eight per cent to 3.14 nights.