Figures released by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority reveal a 19 per cent increase in visitors to Abu Dhabi last month.

The destination’s hotels welcomed 226,002 guests in September, generating 714,577 nights, an increase of 26 per cent.

The UK remains the emirate’s second largest overseas market with 109,330 Britons checking into Abu Dhabi hotels in the first nine months of this year – a ten per cent increase on 2012.

British guests accounted for 518,571 guest nights – an increase of 21 per cent year-on-year - with an average length of stay of 4.74 nights, again up ten per cent on the previous year.

September’s guest intake means in the first nine months of this year, 1,981,732 guests stayed in Abu Dhabi’s 148 hotels and hotel apartments – a 14 per cent increase on 2012. Guest nights achieved from January to September end came in at 6,195,319 – up 25 per cent year-on-year.

Average length of stay for the first nine months has risen 10 per cent to 3.13 nights while occupancy rose eight per cent to 68 per cent.

Average room rate in Abu Dhabi in the first nine months of this year has fallen two per cent on 2012 and now comes in at £70.

“Although obviously pleased with the increase in guest numbers, particularly given we now have 13 per cent more rooms available than this time last year, we are also greatly encouraged by an increasing trend towards longer stays by individuals with the average length of stay now reaching 3.16 nights – which is a six per cent rise on September last year,” said His Excellency Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general, TCA Abu Dhabi.

“We have focused strongly this year on convincing visitors that there is now much more to see and do in Abu Dhabi emirate – as evidenced by a slew of resort and attractions openings this year - and we will continue to build on this proposition as we target an average length of stay of over the four night mark.”