Abu Dhabi sets sight on 400,000 visitors from India in 2025
Qasr Al Hosn, Abu Dhabi
As global travel dynamics shift and traveller preferences evolve, Abu Dhabi is scripting a bold reinvention. No longer just a playground of theme parks and luxury, the emirate is pivoting toward a deeper narrative - one rooted in culture, purpose, and long-term value. From data-driven marketing and a culture-first ethos to mega-projects like the Guggenheim and BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi is positioning itself as a global destination of choice - not just for leisure, but for culture-led tourism and business events.
T3 explores the city’s evolving tourism strategy through exclusive insights from Abdulla Yousuf Mohammad, Director of International Operations, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.
Bold vision for 2025
Mohammad shared, in 2024, the emirate saw a 7% YoY rise in hotel and alternative accommodation guests, while international overnight visitors hit 3.2 million - marking a 28% surge. Hotel occupancy averaged an impressive 79%, translating into robust returns. “Total hotel revenues grew by 18.1% YoY, crossing AED 7.6 billion,” shared Mohammad.
Looking ahead to 2025, the emirate is targeting a tourism sector contribution of AED 62 bn to the economy, alongside supporting 255,000 jobs. DCT Abu Dhabi is investing in data-led destination marketing, diversified programming, a culture-first ethos, and ever-improving visitor experience touchpoints.
Global outreach is also being ramped up. “We’re expanding our marketing footprint from 11 markets in 2023 to 25 in 2024, with special focus on emerging regions like the CIS, APAC, and Eastern Europe,” said Mohammad.
India powers Abu Dhabi’s tourism boom
India continues to play a pivotal role in Abu Dhabi’s tourism success story. “India is one of our key markets, not just within APAC, but globally,” said Mohammad, highlighting the remarkable YoY growth.
In 2024, India emerged as the top international source market for Abu Dhabi, accounting for 12% of all international hotel bookings — a 43% YoY increase. “We’re projecting over 400,000 visitors from India in 2025,” he added.
Among other priority markets — including China, Russia, the UK, and the US — India stood out once again, recording a 14% rise in travel spending during 2024–25, the highest growth among the group.
‘Culture Capital’ in the making
Abu Dhabi is carefully decoding the preferences of the ‘new Indian traveller’ and rethinking its approach to meet the demands. “There is a shift towards immersive cultural experiences and multi-generational travel, where extended families travel together to destinations that are easy to navigate, family-friendly, and welcoming. Solo travel is another key trend with more solo female travellers from India”, noted Mohammad.
Recognising this, Abu Dhabi strategizes to curate tailored experiences that cater specifically to the preferences of Indian guests, with a particular focus on providing unparalleled luxury in premium resorts and desert glamping destinations, shared Mohammad.
Abu Dhabi’s cultural ambitions are being backed by major developments, including the highly anticipated Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, which is set to elevate the city’s profile as a global hub for cultural tourism. There is also focus on delivering high-value tourism experiences, attracting international audiences, and showcasing Abu Dhabi as a global destination of choice.
Adding to its cultural appeal is opening of BAPS Hindu Mandir, which has sparked a surge in interest around spiritual and cultural travel – and the destination is supporting with vegetarian cuisine, prayer spaces, and cultural itineraries across the emirate, including rich local cultural heritage experiences in Al Ain Region and Al Dhafra Region.
Bets big on business travel
Abu Dhabi has a 10-year strategy to grow and position Abu Dhabi as a global business events hub. At the centre of this effort is the Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau (ADCEB), offering both financial and non-financial support to attract high-impact business events. “We also form partnerships and align our business development with Abu Dhabi’s strategic priorities, ensuring event objectives are met with world-class experiences for both planners and attendees”, noted Mohammad.
A key part of this drive is the Advantage Abu Dhabi Meetings & Incentives 2.0 programme, to provide added value for corporate groups selecting the emirate for their MICE activities. “ We also incentivise international and local-based intermediaries through our MICE Agency Reward Scheme. ” he added.
Collaborations are also in place with key organisations such as ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi and United Networks of International Corporate Events (UNICEO) to further enhance MICE offerings and promote Abu Dhabi as a global destination of choice.
Abu Dhabi’s trade-first playbook
Abu Dhabi continues to deepen its ties with the Indian travel trade. In 2024, the emirate signed 26 Joint Marketing Partnerships (JMPs) with Indian players such as MakeMyTrip and Thomas Cook India - delivering ongoing insights into evolving consumer preferences.
Building on this momentum, Abu Dhabi is gearing up for its next major trade activation. “We’re pleased to announce the next edition of the ‘Experience Abu Dhabi’ India roadshow, scheduled for September 8–12 2025 in New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai,” revealed Mohammad.
