Abu Dhabi reports 12% increase in UK visitors in 2025

UK visitation to Abu Dhabi has grown by 12% so far this year compared to 2024, according to the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi. 

 

Flight capacity to the destination has also increased by 8% among Brits and 13% overall in the same period.

 

Abdulla Yousuf, DCT Abu Dhabi’s director of international operations, said this boost has been aided by the promotion of the destination as a stopover for longer journeys, such as between the UK and Australia.

 

DCT Abu Dhabi has also shared ambitions to welcome 39.3 million international visitors to the region by 2030, up from 24 million in 2023.

 

Hotels across the region have welcomed 4.4 million guests so far this year and Yousuf is hopeful visitation will continue to rise.

 

High-end travellers are a "priority market" for this growth, with numerous luxury properties set to launch in the coming years. Upcoming openings include Nobu Hotel Abu Dhabi next year; Waldorf Astoria Abu Dhabi taking over from Anantara Eastern Mangroves in 2026; Ritz-Carlton Reserve Ramhan Island Abu Dhabi and St Regis Mirfa Beach Resort in 2029; and a Bvlgari Resort & Mansions in 2030.

 

The region’s expanding range of museums and galleries reflects the fact that three in 10 travellers to Abu Dhabi visit for its culture and history, according to the DCT.

 

The UAE’s oldest museum Al Ain Museum reopened last month and will be followed by the opening of the Natural History Museum on November 22 and Zayed National Museum on December 3, both in the Saadiyat Island Cultural district.

 

The latter will showcase the UAE’s history and culture, becoming a "highlight" of the cultural district with more than 1,500 exhibits on display from pre-history to the present day.

 

Contemporary art gallery Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is also set to debut on Saadiyat Island in 2026.

 

Yousuf said: “As a tourism board we see ourselves as custodians of the UAE culture and identity which we think of in everything we do, from visitor experiences to marketing campaigns.”

 

He added that regular events in the region are also a way to attract more visitors, with “sporting events, concerts and festivals” acting as “key drivers” of tourism.

 

Yousuf said that the DCT Abu Dhabi also aims to address a dip in visitors during Ramadan in March, saying: “The question of what there is to do in Abu Dhabi during Ramadan is one we’re addressing – we’ve accepted the challenge and extended an open invite for people to come and learn about the culture.

 

“There’s a perception that there are tight restrictions and nothing is open but that’s not the case – it’s business as usual, and it’s a time to come and enjoy breaking the fast, traditional games and celebrations. We want visitors to see that the festivities are like our version of Christmas.”