(UAE Economy - Abu Dahbi)

26.6 Million Visitors Drive Unprecedented Tourism Boom in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi welcomed a new record of 26.6 million visitors in 2025, further solidifying its position as a global cultural capital and a preferred tourist destination. This growth is driven by its increasing international appeal and rising visitor numbers, contributing to a long-term, sustainable economic impact, according to the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.

The Department solidified its role as a key driver of the emirate’s cultural and tourism landscape, achieving a tangible impact that contributed to realizing its long-term cultural vision. It delivered its strongest performance across both the culture and tourism sectors in 2025, with hotel revenues increasing by 19.5 percent year-on-year to AED 9.1 billion.

The number of participants in meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) events rose by 40 percent to 2.2 million, while attendance at cultural and entertainment events increased by 20 percent to 4.2 million.

This double-digit growth was underpinned by the strong cultural appeal that attracted more than 8.6 million visitors to the emirate’s cultural sites and libraries throughout the year. Qasr Al Hosn, in particular, recorded a 22 percent increase in visitors compared to the previous year.

In the same vein, the emirate welcomed 5.9 million hotel guests, a clear indicator of the progress made towards the goals of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Strategy 2030. The number of international visitors from key markets also increased by 10 percent, led by the Indian market, which saw a 22 percent growth compared to 2024. These annual results reflect a destination where culture directly drives tourism growth.

2025 marked a pivotal year for cultural, entertainment, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) events organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, with all sectors recording double-digit growth in attendance.

Overall, the Department organized a record 252 cultural and entertainment events, attracting over 4.2 million visitors, a 20 percent increase compared to 2024. Among the highlights was the Mother of the Nation Festival, held in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra, which drew 252,988 visitors.

Other major events included four sold-out Coldplay concerts at Zayed Sports City, which attracted 193,470 visitors; the Abu Dhabi T10 Cricket Tournament, which drew nearly 100,000 visitors; and the Liwa Village event, the centerpiece of the Liwa International Festival, which attracted over 159,000 visitors.

Culture and heritage festivals, including Al Hosn Festival, Traditional Crafts Festival, and Maritime Heritage Festival, also drew over 608,000 visitors.

The meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) sector saw even stronger growth, with the number of events increasing by 37 percent to 6,600 and attracting 2.2 million participants, a 40 percent year-on-year increase.

Abu Dhabi welcomed 5.9 million hotel guests in 2025, a 2.2 percent year-on-year increase, along with 338,000 guests in holiday homes and luxury camping sites. This performance was supported by a 10 percent growth in international visitors compared to the previous year, with key target markets including India, Russia, and the United Kingdom emerging as major players. This contributed to a three percentage point increase in the emirate's occupancy rate, reaching 81 percent.

These achievements reflect Abu Dhabi's accelerated progress towards achieving the objectives of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Strategy 2030, an ambitious roadmap for a new phase of growth, expansion, and strategic development for the emirate's travel and tourism sector.