The fast-growing emirate of Abu Dhabi has idenitifed sport tourism as a fundamental strategy to help meet its ambitious growth targets. From hosting the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix to its new partnership with Manchester City, it is utilising the power of sport to spread its name globally.

Rapid urban growth in emerging nations has rarely been accompanied by foresight and planning. As economies expand, sucking more and more people into towns and cities in search of jobs and prosperity, the up-shot has too often been uncontrolled development, scant regard for building standards and an ugly urban sprawl.

The Middle East’s renewed appetite for doing business was reflected at today’s Gulf Incentive Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM), which showed a 17 percent year-on-year rise in pre-scheduled appointments and a 19 percent hike in hosted buyers.

Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority was established in 2004 with the goal of positioning the Emirate of Abu Dhabi as an outstanding, globally recognized, sustainable tourism destination. Just five years on it was voted “World’s Leading Tourism Authority” at the World Travel Awards Grand Final 2009 in London. We met the Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, to find out his thoughts on how the rapidly burgeoning emirate has risen so quickly to tourism stardom.  

Shares in the Gulf have soared after news that Dubai has received a $10 billion bail-out from its neighbour Abu Dhabi to tide it over till April 2010. The funds will also be used to repay a Dubai World Islamic debt which matures today and provide a fighting fund while it negotiates a restructuring deal with creditors.

Stock markets across the world continued their climbs today as negotiations began between Dubai World and its lenders over $26bn (£15bn) of debts. The FTSE 100 index of leading shares was up 79 points at 5269, a rise of 1.52%. Markets in Paris and Frankfurt rose by more than 2% each.