Abu Dhabi eyes more major sporting events

RIGHT FORMULA: Abu Dhabi is in talks to bring more major sporting events, like the F1 race in Nov, to the emirate. (Getty Images)

Abu Dhabi is in talks to bring more major international sporting events to the UAE in a bid to bolster the country's tourism offering, a top official has revealed.

Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), said tourism chiefs were working to add major attractions to the tourism calendar, after sealing plans for Abu Dhabi to host its first Formula One race in November.

"Our five-year strategic plan until 2012 targeted another seven major events and we intend to pursue this as part of our long-term approach to building a destination for major events," he said in an interview with Oxford Business Group (OBG).

"We are in talks with leading organisations about a number of major sporting events which we hope to announce in the coming months."

Abu Dhabi tourism is riding high after clinching a deal to host its first Formula One Grand Prix in November which, Sheikh Sultan hopes, will be followed by further high-profile international events over the next few years.

Sheikh Sultan said that events such as the grand prix and the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship brought benefits that extended well beyond the race track and golf course.

"Major events deliver destination awareness, and economic and cultural benefits to Abu Dhabi," he said. "Events of international scale and calibre deliver exposure well beyond our shores and present great opportunities."

He added that plans to further develop Abu Dhabi's potential as an upscale tourist destination would bring a wealth of opportunities to investors, especially in the sensitive expansion of the Al Ain and Al Gharbia regions.

Sheikh Sultan said investors would be able to partner in the expansion of the region's tourism infrastructure base, with projects ranging from additional and upgraded visitor accommodation to attractions, restaurant and retail facilities.

"All regions will be the subject of comprehensive tourism strategies developed in conjunction with local organisations and communities to identify tourism expectations and opportunities," he told OBG.

"A wide range of sensitive tourism operations and attractions will help to further open the charm of this region to the world."

The ADTA chairman was upbeat on the subject of whether Abu Dhabi would be able to meet its target of accommodating 2.3m visitors by 2012 end.

"The upswing in the emirate's hotel room inventory will become particularly apparent towards the end of 2009 when several projects come on-line," he said.

"The hotels - a mix of five, four and three-star properties will together boost Abu Dhabi's accommodation inventory by over 3,000 rooms."

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