Abu Dhabi is set to achieve its annual tourism target as hotels and hotel apartments reported strong growth in guest arrivals and revenues during the first nine months.
The 156 hotels and hotel apartments in the emirate recorded a 26 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of guests to 2.49 million during the period, compared to its annual target of 3.1 million, according to Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi).
The emirate added eight hotels since the end of September last year, accounting for more than 2,000 rooms.
Among the new entrants:
• The French hotel operator Accor opened the four-star Novotel Abu Dhabi Al Bustan with 361 rooms in March and the Adagio Abu Dhabi Al Bustan with 279 apartments in July.
• Abu Dhabi’s Bin Ham group opened the five-star Royal Rose Hotel with 355 rooms in March.
• Dubai-based Time Hotels Management opened Zakher Time Residence with 68 one-bedroom and studio apartments in October.
Overall, the emirate had 7,348 rooms in various stages of planning and construction at the end of September, with more than 5,000 of these in the luxury and upper upscale segments, according to the consultancy STR Global. Abu Dhabi had 22,093 rooms at the end of September, more than 10,000 of which are in the same high-end categories.
The guests stayed an average of three nights in the emirate, and occupancy levels rose 7 per cent to 73 per cent.
Competitive room rates compared to Dubai have also helped to sell Abu Dhabi’s hotel rooms.
In September, the average room rate in Abu Dhabi reached $128.96, an increase of 4.2 per cent, compared to $231.36 in Dubai, according to TRI Consulting’s monthly HotStats report. Dubai room rates decreased 3.2 per cent over last September.
During the first three quarters of this year, revenues for Abu Dhabi hotels touched Dh4.268 billion, a 15 per cent growth year-on-year.
Of this, Dh2.17bn, a 16 per cent rise, came from room sales and Dh1.62bn from food and beverage income, which rose 12 per cent.
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Who is Allegra Stratton?
- Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
- Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
- In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
- The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
- Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
- She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
- Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
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Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
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6.30pm: Handicap | US$135,000 (Dirt) | 1,400 metres
Winner: Rodaini, Connor Beasley (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap | $135,000 (Turf) | 1,200m
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Group A: India, Japan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka
Group B: Australia, England, Nigeria, West Indies
Group C: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe
Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, UAE
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Saturday, January 18, v Canada
Wednesday, January 22, v Afghanistan
Saturday, January 25, v South Africa
UAE squad
Aryan Lakra (captain), Vriitya Aravind, Deshan Chethyia, Mohammed Farazuddin, Jonathan Figy, Osama Hassan, Karthik Meiyappan, Rishabh Mukherjee, Ali Naseer, Wasi Shah, Alishan Sharafu, Sanchit Sharma, Kai Smith, Akasha Tahir, Ansh Tandon
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Meydan racecard:
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (PA) Group 1 | US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) Listed | $250,000 (D) | 1,600m
7.40pm: Meydan Classic Trial (TB) Conditions | $100,000 (Turf) | 1,400m
8.15pm: Al Shindagha Sprint (TB) Group 3 | $200,000 (D) | 1,200m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (D) | 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,000m
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
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Monday, Sept 30
Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
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Tuesday, Oct 1
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SPECS
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
