26.6 million visitors in Abu Dhabi in 2025, and hotel revenues rise by 19.5%

Abu Dhabi received a new record number of 26.6 million visitors during the year 2025, strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a global cultural capital and a preferred tourist destination, driven by its growing international appeal and the high number of visitors, which contributes to achieving a long, sustainable economic impact, according to the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.

The department has established its role as a major catalyst for the cultural and tourism scene in the emirate, achieving a tangible impact that contributed to supporting the achievement of its long-term cultural vision, achieving the strongest performance across the culture and tourism sectors during the year 2025, as hotel revenues increased by 19.5% on an annual basis to reach 9.1 billion dirhams, while the number of participants in meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions tourism activities increased by 40% to reach 2.2 million participants, and Attendance at cultural and entertainment events increased by 20%, reaching 4.2 million participants.

This double growth was based on the strong cultural attraction that attracted more than 8.6 million visitors to cultural sites and libraries in the emirate throughout the year, while Qasr Al Hosn recorded a 22% increase in the number of visitors compared to the previous year.

His Excellency Saud Abdul Aziz Al Hosani, Undersecretary of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said: The growing momentum in the cultural and tourism sectors reflects the strength of the path that Abu Dhabi is taking to consolidate its position as a leading global destination, providing quality experiences with international standards, and at the same time improving the quality of life of its citizens and residents. The continued investment in developing iconic landmarks and the accelerating expansion of the Saadiyat Cultural District constitute a pivotal pillar in the comprehensive transformation process led by the emirate. Our results in the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi for the year 2025 also reflect the clarity of our vision and the integration of our efforts to consolidate Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading and preferred destination globally in the culture and tourism sectors. It also highlights our ability to adapt, innovate and achieve sustainable growth.

In the same context, the emirate received 5.9 million hotel guests, a clear indication of the progress achieved towards the goals of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Strategy 2030. It also witnessed an increase in the number of international visitors from major markets by 10%, led by the Indian market, which recorded a growth of 22% compared to 2024. These annual results reflect a destination where culture directly drives tourism growth.

The year 2025 was a turning point in the journey of cultural, entertainment and tourism events, meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, as all of them recorded double-digit growth in attendance rates. In general, the department organized a record number of 252 cultural and entertainment events, which together attracted more than 4.2 million visitors, an increase of 20% compared to 2024. Among the most prominent was the Mother of the Nation Festival, which was held in Abu Dhabi, the Al Ain region and the Al Dhafra region, and attracted 252,988 visitors.

Other major events included four full-house Coldplay concerts at Zayed Sports City, attracting 193,470 visitors, and the Abu Dhabi Championship. T10 For cricket, which attracted about 100,000 visitors, and the “Liwa Village” event, which attracted more than 159,000 visitors, as the pivotal event within the Liwa International Festival.

Mass culture and heritage festivals, including the Al Hosn Festival, the Traditional Crafts Festival, and the Maritime Heritage Festival, also attracted more than 608,000 visitors.

The MICE tourism sector recorded stronger growth, with the number of events increasing by 37% to reach 6,600 events, attracting 2.2 million participants, an increase of 40% year-on-year.

The most prominent drivers of this growth were major events such as IDEX and NAVDEX (about 206,000 participants), “Made in the Emirates” (about 122,000 participants), Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (about 50,000 participants), and the inaugural “Bridge” Summit (about 39,000 participants). The Abu Dhabi Opportunities Programme, affiliated with the Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau, also supported 175 events that attracted 464,000 participants, an increase of 28% compared to the previous year.

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi continued to enhance its role in preserving cultural heritage, nurturing creativity, and forging cultural ties that reflect the emirate’s identity and ambitions.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum maintained its position as one of the department’s most visited cultural sites, recording 1.4 million visitors, while Qasr Al Hosn achieved a strong performance by receiving more than 843,000 visitors, an increase of 22% year on year.

This growth in visitor numbers was supported by the implementation of 115 programs at cultural sites in Abu Dhabi, covering the areas of heritage, performing arts, education, youth and family initiatives, and community initiatives, which strengthened the position of culture as a major driver of visitation and a community pillar at the same time. The emirate’s libraries also continued to enhance ease of access and participation, playing a pivotal role in consolidating knowledge, creativity and lifelong learning.

At the emirate level, more than 20 cultural sites and libraries were activated across the three regions of Abu Dhabi, contributing to the development of a diverse network of museums, historical and archaeological sites, art centers, and cultural destinations.

The most prominent strategic milestones included the successful reopening of the Al Maqta Museum, which documents the process of protecting and developing Abu Dhabi Island, and the Al Ain Museum, which chronicles the history of the United Arab Emirates. In addition to the opening of the Abu Dhabi Natural History Museum, which reviews 13.8 billion years of natural history, and the Zayed National Museum, the national museum of the UAE, which tells the story of the earth and man.

Abu Dhabi received 5.9 million hotel guests during 2025, an increase of 2.2% year-on-year, in addition to 338,000 guests in holiday homes and luxury camping sites. This performance was supported by a 10% growth in the number of international visitors compared to the previous year, with key target markets including India, Russia and the United Kingdom. This contributed to raising the occupancy rate in the emirate by three percentage points to reach 81%.

This demand was directly reflected in the sector’s strong financial performance, with hotel revenues increasing by 19.5% year-on-year, in parallel with an average daily rate growth of 19%, and revenue per available room rising by 23%. The average length of stay across different types of accommodation reached 2.9 nights in 2025, an increase of 3% year-on-year, while key markets recorded a 2% increase, driven in part by a significant 13% increase in the length of stay of Chinese visitors. Meanwhile, hotels accounted for 92% of total stays, compared to 8% for holiday homes and glamping sites.

Key markets contributed to a 10% growth in international visitors, with India topping the list with 436,124 hotel guests, representing 13% of the total, and an increase of 22% compared to 2024, driven by expanding air connectivity, including the launch of three new IndiGo destinations and a new route for Air India Express. Other major markets by volume included Russia (257,200 guests), the United Kingdom (250,906 guests), China (248,494 guests) and Saudi Arabia (200,652 guests).

At the global level, improved air connectivity contributed to an increase in incoming seat capacity by 11% during the year, while load factor rose by two percentage points to reach 89%, reflecting strong demand and its ability to keep pace with the increase in supply. Visitors from Russia (4.3 nights), the United Kingdom (4.2 nights), Germany (4.1 nights), and Italy (3.4 nights) recorded the highest average length of stay among the major markets, reflecting the depth of their interaction with the emirate’s experiences and the diversity of its offerings.

Al Ain and Al Dhafra regions recorded remarkable momentum in performance, driven by strengthening marketing efforts at the regional and international levels. The Al Ain region received 473,100 guests, a growth of 9% compared to the previous year, while the hotel occupancy rate increased by a similar rate of 9%, mainly driven by leisure tourism. Likewise, Al Dhafra region received 147,900 guests, a growth of 3%, with a noticeable jump in the hotel occupancy rate reaching 19%, also supported by the momentum of leisure tourism. A specialized strategy for the Al Dhafra region is scheduled to be launched in 2026.

These achievements reflect Abu Dhabi’s accelerated path towards achieving the goals of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Strategy 2030, which represents an ambitious road map towards a new phase of growth, expansion and strategic development of the travel and tourism sector in the emirate.