Tourism & Culture
From The Report: Abu Dhabi 2020
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The global Covid-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the global tourism industry in 2020; however, with demand likely to be high after months of enforced isolation, the tourism sector is hopeful there will be a recovery in activity once international travel is able to resume. The substantial growth of the tourism segment in recent years demonstrates solid underlying fundamentals. Abu Dhabi has emerged as a destination for those seeking entertainment, culture and relaxation. The emirate has also become a magnet for weekenders from elsewhere in the UAE, with residents of the country’s other six emirates visiting Abu Dhabi’s many attractions. This chapter contains an interview with Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Distinct profile: The authorities are finding new ways to promote the emirate’s broad array of cultural offerings
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The global Covid-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the global tourism industry in 2020; however, with demand likely to be high after months of enforced isolation, the tourism sector is hopeful there will be a recovery in activity once international travel is able to resume. The substantial growth of the tourism segment in recent years demonstrates solid underlying fundamentals. Abu Dhabi has emerged as a destination for those seeking entertainment, culture and relaxation. The emirate…

Analysis

State of the art: Abu Dhabi is leveraging its wide portfolio of arts and culture to attract visitors year-round
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With a range of museums and heritage sites at its disposal, Abu Dhabi has a tourism offering with a strong cultural element. This underpins the emirate’s appeal as a destination and provides cultural attractions for the UAE’s domestic population. The sector is set for continued growth, as the emirate launched a fiveyear Culture Sector Strategy in November 2019, put together by a variety of stakeholders and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). The strategy…

Interview

Creative growth: Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), on promoting cultural and business tourism
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Interview:Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak In what ways will the new five-year plan for the culture sector feed into overall strategies for boosting tourism, and how will this contribute to GDP? MOHAMED KHALIFA AL MUBARAK: In November 2019 the five-year Culture Sector Strategy was released by DCT Abu Dhabi, with an aim to strengthen the foundations of the emirate’s cultural offerings. Five objectives were set: to preserve cultural heritage; to increase awareness of cultural heritage; to stimulate…

Analysis

Industry mainstay: New hotels are being developed to meet demand
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While Abu Dhabi has long been a destination for business and government travellers, recent expansion of the emirate’s culture and entertainment portfolio has meant the emirate’s hotel owners and developers have also had to widen their offering. This has dovetailed with the expansion of Abu Dhabi as an international transport hub, along with promotional campaigns aimed at giving the emirate a distinct profile within the UAE. The result has been a surge in demand – and accompanying supply…

Analysis

Ecotourism potential: Natural assets provide a wealth of new opportunities
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Environmentally protected areas – including sandy deserts, oases, mountains, beaches and salt plains – make up 5000 sq km of the UAE’s territory, and as the largest emirate, Abu Dhabi benefits greatly from its share of these, as does its growing ecotourism segment. Indeed, most of the emirate’s protected areas are open to visitors, with ecotours operated by groups such as Emirates Environmental Group, the Emirates Bird Records Committee and the Emirates Natural History Group, as well…