More than 1.1 million people came to stay in the capital in the past six months, 14 per cent more than in the same period last year, according to the Government.
The increase was led by Chinese visitors, the number of whom grew by 84 per cent even as the figures for guests from the United States, the United Kingdom and France dipped by several percentage points, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authoritysaid yesterday.
Hotels made US$631 million (Dh2.31 billion) in revenue, a slight rise on the same time last year.
A glut of new hotels, however, means despite the overall visitor number increase, occupancy rates fell 7 per cent, to 65 per cent. People also stayed for shorter periods than last year - 2.83 days on average, 5 per cent down on last year.
"With the new supply coming on the market, it is expected that the demand will take some time to adjust," said Chiheb Ben Mahmoud, the executive vice president for regional hotel advisory at Jones Lang LaSalle. "We know that it is a destination in the making."
With luxury properties such as the Ritz-Carlton and a second StRegis both preparing to open in September, as well as plans for speciality hotels under the Hard Rock and Nobu brands, supply is continuing to grow.
The number of hotel rooms in Abu Dhabi will rise from 15,000 now to 20,700 by the end of 2014, said Jones Lang LaSalle.
Rooms are becoming less expensive. The average cost of a night's stay was $157, down from $171 in the first half of last year, according to the US data company Smith Travel Research.
The emirate plans to open a waterpark called Yas Waterworld in November to attract more families.
"Abu Dhabi is perhaps a little bit suffering from its image as a very upmarket, luxurious destination for sophisticated travellers and culture and high-profile events," said Mr Ben Mahmoud.
"That might be a factor that needs to be managed to present the destination also as one that could cater to the needs of families and the 'normal traveller'."
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Tour de France
When: July 7-29
UAE Team Emirates:
Dan Martin, Alexander Kristoff, Darwin Atapuma, Marco Marcato, Kristijan Durasek, Oliviero Troia, Roberto Ferrari and Rory Sutherland
ANATOMY%20OF%20A%20FALL
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJustine%20Triet%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESandra%20Huller%2C%20Swann%20Arlaud%2C%20Milo%20Machado-Graner%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Name: Colm McLoughlin
Country: Galway, Ireland
Job: Executive vice chairman and chief executive of Dubai Duty Free
Favourite golf course: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
Favourite part of Dubai: Palm Jumeirah
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) US$175,000 1,000m
7.05pm: Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions (Dirt) $100,000 1,900m
7.40pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (T) $250,000 1,800m
8.15pm: Handicap (D) $135,000 2,000m
8.50pm: Al Fahidi Fort Group 2 (T) $250,000 1,400m
9.25pm: Handicap (T) $135,000 2,410m.
Manchester City transfers:
OUTS
Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Willy Caballero and Jesus Navas (all released)
INS
Ederson (Benfica) £34.7m, Bernardo Silva (Monaco) £43m
ON THEIR WAY OUT?
Joe Hart, Eliaquim Mangala, Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony, Fabian Delph, Nolito and Kelechi Iheanacho
ON THEIR WAY IN?
Dani Alves (Juventus), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
