Abu Dhabi to receive four direct weekly flights by airBaltic

Flight connects Riga, Latvia with UAE's capital

Four weekly flights were added by airBaltic between Latvia and the UAE. Eric Piermont / AFP

The number of visitors from the Baltics to Abu Dhabi is expected to increase by as much as 60 per cent with the launch new direct flights by airBaltic.

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi said airBaltic will offer four weekly flights between Riga, Latvia and Abu Dhabi until March 24.

The emirate has witnessed a strong upsurge in travellers from Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, with an increase of 25 per cent in the number of visitors in 2016 compared to 2014. This year, Abu Dhabi hosted 13 per cent more overnight guests and recorded an increase of 12 per cent in guest arrivals compared to the same period in 2016.

Visitors from the three Baltic countries benefit from a visa-on-arrival policy, in addition to a codeshare agreement with Etihad Airways.

"Over the past year, we have developed a carefully thought-out strategy focused on identifying key tourism markets that do not yet have direct links to Abu Dhabi, and implementing a plan targeted at showcasing the benefits of our capital to private sector players there,” said Sultan Al Mutawa Al Dhaheri, acting executive director at DCT. “We are thrilled that thanks to our efforts, companies like airBaltic are seeing the value we have to offer as a tourism and business destination, and are independently directing plans that connect the UAE capital to more markets around the world."