The capital city of the United Arab Emirates is a veritable hotbed of activity, from a tourism standpoint. Targeting both the business and the leisure segments, authorities at the tourism board of Abu Dhabi have been going all out to enhance the city’s offering, expand to new markets and reimagine campaigns.
This city, known for its elegant mosques, opulent hotels and family-friendly islands, is extremely attractive. Indian (and international) tourists find themselves spoilt for choice with accommodation options in every segment, from budget to uber-luxe. Similarly, the city of Abu Dhabi, with its gorgeous waterfront Corniche and sparkling skyline, has established itself as a hub for arts and culture. While it does house the swanky Louvre Abu Dhabi (and with the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi coming in the near future), it also plays host to a number of cultural centres, art galleries as well as local markets and luxury malls. Abu Dhabi does pack in a punch in terms of its offerings. This city is particularly sound in terms of architecture with magnificent monuments like the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium and the Yas Hotel Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi’s cultural hub is the grandiose Qasr Al Watan, which showcases Arabian heritage and art through a series of exhibitions, installations and activities.
The city is also a great family destination with a host of attractions like the Yas Marina Circuit and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the world’s first amusement park branded by the Italian supercar house. All eyes, these days, are on Abu Dhabi’s picturesque islands, which offer the charm of an adventure getaway, a short drive from the city centre. In addition to Yas Island, the other islands like Saadiyat Island, Al Maryah Island, Al Reem Island and Nurai Island offer a host of accommodation options, pristine beaches, desert activities, adventure sports and much more.
In Abu Dhabi, however, the biggest and most noteworthy trend is that of the MICE market. Travel industry insiders tell us that a growing number of companies are choosing to take their incentive groups to Abu Dhabi, while a number of Indian couples to-be are choosing Abu Dhabi as their big-ticket wedding destination. This is thanks to the geographical proximity to India, a short flight away, in most cases, a bevy of large-scale venues to host events, conferences and weddings, and, of course, a whole range of ancillary activities (cultural, culinary and adventure) through which the destination can be incorporated. No points for guessing, then, that Abu Dhabi is fast emerging as a preferred short getaway option for Indian travellers, both in the business and leisure segments.
Abu Dhabi and India are extremely well connected with the home-based airline Etihad Airways operating 159 weekly flights to ten Indian destinations.
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