Abu Dhabi recorded a surge in visitor numbers this summer as travellers from the GCC, China, Russia and the United Kingdom flocked to its leisure destinations, driving the strongest season on record for Yas Island and Saadiyat Island, developer Miral said.
Yas Island’s theme parks saw international visitation jump 50 per cent year-on-year, with sharp growth from Russia at 86 per cent, followed by the GCC and China at 31 per cent each, and the UK at 47 per cent. Overall visits to the island rose 15 per cent, marking its best summer to date.
“The results show that visitors from across the globe are increasingly seeking the immersive experiences our emirate provides, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a global destination for tourism,” said Dr Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral.
Saadiyat Island also saw a 14 per cent rise in visitation across its hotels and cultural attractions. The island’s newest addition, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, which opened in April, exceeded visitor expectations and contributed to the uptick.
Hotel performance mirrored the surge. Yas Island’s properties achieved an average occupancy rate of 85 per cent, peaking above 90 per cent in August, when The WB Abu Dhabi hotel reached its highest average daily rate (ADR) of AED 1,470. On Saadiyat Island, occupancy stood at 66 per cent, with ADR averaging around AED 1,000 throughout the summer.
Footfall at Yas Marina and Yas Bay Waterfront rose 27 per cent from last summer. Meanwhile, the Yas Neighbour Hotel Partner programme, launched last year to extend capacity beyond the island, recorded 67 per cent growth.
The family-oriented Kids Go Free campaign continued to draw regional and international travellers, expanding 31 per cent year-on-year and attracting large volumes from the GCC, UK, India and Russia.
Miral said the record performance underlined the strength of Abu Dhabi’s leisure and cultural offering, positioning Yas and Saadiyat Islands as key growth drivers of the emirate’s tourism economy.
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