UAE tourists up UK spending to $473m

BIG SPENDERS: UAE visitors to the UK upped their spending by 24 percent in 2008.

The number of UAE travellers visiting the UK has grown 95 percent in nine years, according to a tourism body.

British tourist authority VisitBritain also said people from the emirates are splashing out more when holidaying in the UK, making them the second biggest spenders in the Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa market.

Visitor spend for UAE travellers staying in the UK climbed 24 percent last year from 2007, with 232,000 people splashing out GBP289m ($473.7m) during that period.

The previous year, 187,000 people from the UAE visited Britain and spent $309.8m.

“UAE travellers to the UK have more to see and do than ever before, and now it’s even more affordable, so we are not at all surprised to see UAE visitor numbers and related spend continuing to climb,” said Carol Maddison, VisitBritain’s marketing manager for the UAE.

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READERS' COMMENTS

06-05 sounds about right
Posted by HD on Sunday 7 June 2009 at 14:01 UAE time


'06 prices sounds about right. I know some people will argue based on what they see, but as we all know you can see the same properties rented out with a large difference in price for many reasons such as; the renter didnt do their research, or did not have time to look around.. etc.

I have been here 6 and a half years and have lived in 5 different places and currently am moving into the 6th, wanting to take advantage of the current pricing. Have compared prices all over the city for the last 6 months and as an example have found dozens of 2 bedroom apartments in the marina and palm going for 90-125k per anum.
The apartment im moving into this week is 104k per anum and over 1700sq ft, where as in the beginning of 2007 i rented a much smaller 2 bedroom with far lower quality in JBR for 125k.

to me, this shows that yes indeed 05-06 pricing is here, and you cant see it.... then you are blind.

To Confused....
Posted by Ametis, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 7 June 2009 at 12:22 UAE time


Habibi..........who else to blame but ourselves...

Living in Dubai has its perks, the collapse of the sterling against Dollar is not the fault of Dubai...we live here because we choose to, anything coming in from Europe is more expensive...

Similar situation to Fred - I wanted to buy my wife a Louis Vuitton handbag, in Paris it was at 50% of local market, in London it was at £400.00 cheaper..

Best thing is make use of the exchange rate, I now convert Dhs-Stg and buy in London...

We made Dubai expensive, sadly it goes with the lifestyle...
If you check your prices at the supermarket, you will notice that prices creep up every week with 1dh here and there, before you know it in a month the same thing has gone up by 40%..

Best solution as ever is to vote with ones feet.....

You know prices have gone through the roof when you hear Russians saying "Its cheaper in Moscow"

Hmmm...
Posted by Confused Chappy, Dubai, uae. on Sunday 7 June 2009 at 11:12 UAE time

Dear Ametis who else do we blame for the inflated prices of goods that are dearer in a tax free country than in countries that charge 17.5% tax....? the whole world is cheaper than 6 months ago, except here that is.....

That fresh Roasted aroma of coffee
Posted by Ametis, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 7 June 2009 at 10:26 UAE time


To my fellow Brits whingeing on these postings..
You cant blame Dubai for the high prices, You all fell into the honey trap....
This is the reason why today middle east buyers are picking up prime properties in London..
In reality London is 50% today than it was 6 months ago.......

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