Tag Archives: DCT Abu Dhabi

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) is partnering for the first time with Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches, to launch the 2025 edition of its Tourism Youth Summer Camp. The Academy is managed under the stewardship of Les Roches, a globally acclaimed hospitality and leisure higher education institution, with the objective of providing hospitality skills and academic knowledge to nurture homegrown talent in the UAE and the region. The two-week immersive programme for Emirati students aged 17 to 21 will run from 14-24 July 2025, nurturing the next generation of Emirati leaders in tourism and hospitality through hands-on training and cultural engagement. The partnership with Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches brings an elevated level of academic and practical expertise to the programme while integrating elements that celebrate Emirati culture and heritage. The camp combines global hospitality standards with local traditions to foster a new cohort of Abu Dhabi-grounded, globally minded professionals. H.E. Saleh Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Our Tourism Youth Summer Camp continues to grow in impact as we partner with Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches to empower the next generation of Emirati tourism and hospitality leaders. By combining world-class expertise with a foundation of Emirati hospitality, rooted in a spirit of welcoming and warmth, we are preparing young talent to lead confidently in the global tourism landscape. Strengthening the tourism and hospitality sectors is key to Abu Dhabi’s future growth, and as we support and inspire our Emirati youth to enter into this industry, they will be a key part of our mission to both progress the emirate and share …

DCT Abu Dhabi welcomed over 100 agents and executives from Designer Travel for a curated itinerary as the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) hosted the Designer Travel UK Annual Conference  at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental hotel. The event brought together travel agents and trade partners from the UK to experience the diversity of Abu Dhabi as a premier tourism destination. As part of the conference programme, DCT Abu Dhabi welcomed over 100 agents and executives from Designer Travel for a curated itinerary, including a gala dinner and immersive experiences across the emirate, introducing them to Abu Dhabi’s rich cultural heritage, world-class attractions and renowned hospitality. Established in 2008, Designer Travel is one of the UK’s leading bespoke travel specialists, with a network of 170 expert travel advisors across the country. The renowned travel agency has gained recognition for crafting highly personalised, tailor-made holiday experiences for discerning clients. Hosting the annual conference in the emirate aligns with Abu Dhabi’s strategic focus on the UK as a key source market. As of year-to-date 2025, the emirate has welcomed over 219,000 UK hotel guests, marking a 46% year-on-year increase. UK visitors are also staying longer, with an average stay of 4.2 days, and are showing increased engagement with Abu Dhabi’s growing portfolio of cultural and leisure experiences. DCT Abu Dhabi remains committed to building strong industry partnerships through continuous engagement with the UK travel trade. The Designer Travel UK Annual Conference, alongside initiatives such as the Experience Abu Dhabi Roadshow and the Experience Abu Dhabi Experts digital training platform, reflects this commitment. These efforts support the emirate’s Tourism Strategy 2030, fostering long-term tourism growth by introducing new …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Rotana unveiled the first phase of their joint initiative to boost summer tourism to the emirate. This partnership aims to address seasonal travel lulls and strengthen Abu Dhabi’s positioning as a dynamic, year-round destination. With Rotana’s strong regional appeal and global loyalty network, the collaboration is primed to drive bookings across Abu Dhabi’s diverse source markets, particularly the GCC. From June through August, guests staying at Rotana properties in Abu Dhabi can enjoy an exclusive ‘Stay 3, Pay 2’ summer offer. This campaign is a key activation of the DCT-Rotana partnership, designed to stimulate travel during the traditionally quiet summer months, reinforce Abu Dhabi’s appeal as a family-friendly destination, and encourage direct bookings through exclusive incentives. Eddy Tannous, COO, Rotana said: “As a homegrown brand deeply rooted in the region, we are proud to partner with DCT Abu Dhabi on a campaign that supports the broader vision of positioning Abu Dhabi as a year-round destination. Through this initiative, we are combining strengths to deliver both economic impact and exceptional guest value, reaffirming our commitment to driving tourism growth in the emirate.” As part of DCT Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030, the partnership with Rotana underscores the emirate’s commitment to sustained, collaborative growth. It is one of several recent alliances formed to enhance Abu Dhabi’s global profile, increase visitor numbers, and deliver seamless, tailored experiences across key international and regional markets. For every three consecutive nights booked, the third night is free. For longer stays, the offer continues (e.g., stay 6, pay 4), creating greater value the longer guests stay. The summer promotion also includes: • Free stays …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has officially selected the China Visitors Summit (CVS) to be held in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain on 28–29 August 2025. This landmark event will bring together 150 elite Chinese travel industry buyers, making it the largest B2B gathering of Chinese outbound travel professionals ever hosted outside of China. The CVS Abu Dhabi is a highly curated, by-invitation-only event. The attending Chinese buyers are carefully vetted and confirmed to be actively doing business with the UAE—specifically with travel products and services in the Abu Dhabi Emirate. Delegates include senior executives from: • Travel agencies and tour operators • Luxury agents, wholesalers and bespoke travel designers • MICE managers and corporate travel planners • OTAs and niche specialists in adventure, culture, culinary, wellness, and more Over the course of the two-day, face-to-face workshop, participating Abu Dhabi travel suppliers—including hotels, DMCs, attractions, museums, shopping malls, and transportation companies—will engage in pre-scheduled B2B appointments. Each supplier will have the ability to personally select the Chinese buyers most relevant to their product, whether focused on leisure groups, luxury FITs, or MICE and corporate segments. In addition to the business meetings, the CVS program includes local experience days in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, designed to give the Chinese delegates firsthand exposure to the products they may sell. These include hotel site inspections, cultural experiences, F&B showcases, and interactive destination briefings, allowing buyers to become more effective ambassadors for Abu Dhabi upon returning to China. This 2025 edition of CVS Abu Dhabi marks a return to the summit’s roots. Originally launched in Abu Dhabi in 2013, CVS has since expanded globally. With its initial …

Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has partnered with Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches to establish a Visitor Experience (VX) Academy, aimed at enhancing excellence across every stage of the visitor journey. The strategic agreement appoints Abu Dhabi Hospitality – Les Roches as the operating partner of the academy, which is scheduled to launch this July. A key initiative by DCT Abu Dhabi, VX Academy will deliver tailor-made professional development training to frontline workers across various industries, including hospitality, transport, retail, immigration, and more. It aims to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness, ensure consistent delivery of exceptional service aligned with Emirati core values, and further elevate visitor experience standards across the emirate. The initiative will empower frontline workers to provide outstanding service, further reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading tourist destination. His Excellency Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “This strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches reflects our ongoing commitment to elevating Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector. By leveraging their expertise, we are empowering our frontline workers with the skills and knowledge necessary to deliver exceptional visitor experiences, further solidifying Abu Dhabi’s position as a premier global destination. Our commitment to embracing cutting-edge technologies, including AI-driven learning platforms, will enable us to create even greater value for our partners, personalise the visitor journey, and set new benchmarks for service excellence across the emirate.” Powered by AI-driven e-learning modules, the VX Academy will consolidate existing training efforts across Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector and enhance learning pathways. Partnering with Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches will ensure the VX Academy’s day-to-day operations are …

Qatar Tourism and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) unveiled a strategic partnership designed to strengthen regional tourism ties through a new twin-centre holiday offering. This initiative enables travellers to seamlessly combine Doha and Abu Dhabi into a single, multi-city itinerary, making it easier than ever to explore both destinations in one trip. At the heart of this collaboration are Qatar Airways Holidays and Etihad Holidays operated by Capital Holidays, part of ADNEC group, who will jointly curate customised travel packages. Each will draw from a selection of hotels and experiences to design integrated itineraries that capture the essence of both destinations. These packages will be promoted to tour operators across key markets in Europe and North America. The initiative underscores a shared vision to broaden the region’s tourism offerings, tap into new source markets, and position the Gulf as a cohesive, world-class travel destination. By streamlining travel between Qatar and the UAE, the twin-centre packages provide visitors with a richer array of cultural, leisure, and hospitality experiences. This collaboration not only enhances international visibility for both Qatar and Abu Dhabi but also stimulates cross-border tourism and economic growth.

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Wizz Air have revealed the successful launch of the airline’s ‘Let’s Get Lost’ campaign, which created an exciting new way for travellers to experience the diverse tourism offerings of Abu Dhabi. The campaign saw guests boarding a Wizz Air flight without knowing their final destination. The surprise was revealed upon arrival in Abu Dhabi, a city that offers a wide range of cultural experiences, outdoor adventures, pristine beaches, leisure facilities and world-class entertainment. DCT Abu Dhabi supported this venture with a packed itinerary, showcasing the city as a premier destination for global travellers. The partnership has demonstrated DCT Abu Dhabi’s commitment to forging strategic international partnerships to boost visibility and support Abu Dhabi’s tourism strategy. The collaboration with Wizz Air not only highlighted the city’s appeal but also showcased how DCT Abu Dhabi is working with partners to drive sustainable growth in the tourism sector. Abdullah Yousuf, Director of International Operations at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Our collaboration with Wizz Air on the ‘Let’s Get Lost’ campaign was a strategic move that underlined our commitment to innovative marketing approaches. By providing an element of surprise and excitement, we not only promoted Abu Dhabi as a premier destination but also enhanced our position as a world-class tourist destination. This partnership aligned perfectly with our broader strategy of fostering international collaborations to drive sustainable growth in Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector.” The success of this collaboration with Wizz Air underscores DCT Abu Dhabi’s commitment to promoting the city’s tourism sector and enhancing its global visibility. By leveraging the power of strategic partnerships, DCT Abu Dhabi continues to drive growth in …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) is partnering with ITAKA, Poland’s largest tour operator, to host its Top Sellers Conference 2025. Announced at ITB Berlin, the world’s largest tourism trade fair, the partnership will foster deeper connections with travel trade professionals and increase awareness of the emirate of Abu Dhabi in the Polish market.Bringing together over 200 travel trade professionals from Poland, the conference will be hosted in Al Ain, the emirate’s “living oasis”, home to the UAE’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site and a growing culture, wellness and adventure destination, recently selected as the Gulf Capital of Tourism for 2025. The programme will highlight Abu Dhabi’s range of itineraries and travel packages for both summer and winter, and attendees will also be able to participate in expert-led training sessions. Following the two-day event, the trade professionals will then embark on curated site visits and tours in Abu Dhabi City from 13 to 17 April, experiencing its leading cultural institutions and heritage sites, world-class hospitality infrastructure, and unique attractions firsthand. H.E. Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Welcoming ITAKA’s Top Sellers Conference to Abu Dhabi underscores our commitment to fostering strong ties with Poland’s travel trade community. Poland offers tremendous potential and this partnership highlights the unique blend of world-class experiences, cultural heritage, and warm Emirati hospitality that define Abu Dhabi as a destination. By offering leading travel professionals firsthand experience of Abu Dhabi, we strengthen their connection with the destination, inspiring more Polish travellers to explore diverse attractions and rich experiences.” Mariusz Janczuk, President of ITAKA, said: “It is extremely satisfying that ITAKA is working so …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Etihad Airways have  launched the new Abu Dhabi Pass at ITB Berlin. The new Abu Dhabi Pass transforms the visitor experience into a fully digital journey, simplifying access to the emirate’s offerings. Etihad passengers will receive an email with a link to access the Abu Dhabi Pass through a dedicated website, with no additional cost or app download required. The free Abu Dhabi Pass unlocks a range of benefits for Etihad passengers and all visitors to the emirate. These include a tourist SIM card with 10GB data to stay connected, unlimited access to public buses, and 24-hour unlimited access to the hop-on-hop-off tourist bus network exploring key city attractions. Abdulla Yousuf, Director of International Operations at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “The launch of the new Abu Dhabi Pass reflects our commitment to enhancing the visitor experience by providing seamless access to the emirate’s diverse, world-class attractions, cultural landmarks, and entertainment offerings. Through this partnership, we aim to introduce Abu Dhabi as a top global destination to a wider audience, making it easier for our travel and tourism stakeholders to showcase the very best the emirate has to offer.” Aysha Al Kaabi, Vice President Commercial Enablement & Engagement at Etihad Airways, said: “Our collaboration with DCT Abu Dhabi makes experiencing the emirate’s attractions more appealing than ever. By combining transport, connectivity, and attraction discounts in one digital pass, we’re making it simpler for visitors to enjoy Abu Dhabi’s diverse experiences, from cultural discoveries to family entertainment.” The agreement builds on the success of Etihad’s stopover programme, which welcomed 85,000 international visitors in 2024, compared to 12,000 in 2023. …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) is participating in ITB Berlin 2025 showcasing Abu Dhabi’s dynamic tourism landscape, DCT Abu Dhabi leads the delegation of 40 partners and stakeholders at the Experience Abu Dhabi stand, including Yas Island, Air Arabia, Ethara, ITL, Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi, Orient Tours, Saadiyat Island, Al Dhafra Hotel, teamLab Phenomena and many more. DCT Abu Dhabi will also share expert insights on the MICE sector, with Abdulla Yousuf, Director of International Operations, delivering a keynote and participating in a panel discussion on industry trends at 4:00 PM on 4 March at Hall 7.1b Green Stage. Located within Hall 2.2, at Stands 200 and 200A, DCT Abu Dhabi will make key announcements during the event, reinforcing its commitment to building a robust, future-focused tourism and cultural ecosystem. Abdulla Yousuf, Director of International Operations at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Our presence at ITB Berlin reflects DCT Abu Dhabi’s commitment to promote, protect, and progress the emirate on a global stage, fostering key partnerships that bring tangible benefits to residents and visitors, as well as long-term opportunities within the industry. Each conversation and connection is an opportunity to highlight Abu Dhabi as a premier tourism and cultural hub, while paving the way for future collaborations that drive sustainable growth for our stakeholders.” One of DCT Abu Dhabi’s key launches is the Welcome Pass, delivered in collaboration with Alike, a social travel marketplace. Provided at Abu Dhabi airport on arrival, this fully digital, seamless booking and redemption solution will enable travellers to explore Abu Dhabi’s unique range of cultural sites and entertainment attractions and with greater ease and convenience. DCT Abu Dhabi is also …