Abu Dhabi’s hospitality sector achieves strong momentum with US$166.34M revenue in March 2025

UAE – Abu Dhabi’s hospitality industry demonstrated impressive growth in March 2025, generating revenues totaling AED611 million (US$166.34 million), according to preliminary figures released by the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) in collaboration with the Statistics Centre, Abu Dhabi (SCAD).

This robust performance highlights the emirate’s ongoing appeal as a leading destination for both leisure and business travelers, supported by a diverse range of hotels and services that cater to a broad international clientele.

The revenue was driven by a combination of room sales, food and beverage services, and other hotel-related income streams.

Approximately 417,000 guests stayed in 171 hotels across Abu Dhabi, which collectively offer 34,341 rooms.

These visitors accounted for over 1.2 million guest nights, with the sector achieving an average occupancy rate of 69%, reflecting strong demand and efficient hotel utilization.

The average revenue per available room (RevPAR) was AED486 (US$132), signaling healthy profitability across the market.

International visitors continued to play a vital role in this growth, with non-Arab Asian nationals representing the largest group at 152,000 guests, followed by Europeans with 123,000 visitors.

Emirati nationals also contributed significantly, registering 58,000 hotel stays.

The luxury segment remained dominant, with five-star hotels welcoming 205,000 guests, particularly attracting European travelers.

Four-star properties hosted 119,000 guests, while three-star and below hotels accommodated 54,000 visitors. Serviced apartments accounted for 38,000 stays, highlighting the variety of accommodation options available.

This positive trend aligns with Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030, which aims to increase annual visitor numbers to 39.3 million, expand hotel capacity to 50,000 rooms, create 178,000 tourism-related jobs, and boost the sector’s GDP contribution to AED90 billion (US$24.5 billion) by 2030.

The March 2025 data reflects meaningful progress toward these ambitious targets, underscoring the emirate’s commitment to sustainable tourism development and enhanced visitor experiences.

Abu Dhabi’s continued investment in cultural attractions, infrastructure, and hospitality innovation has strengthened its position as a preferred destination in the Middle East.

The sector’s resilience and diversification are key to maintaining momentum amid evolving global travel trends, ensuring the emirate remains competitive and attractive to a wide range of travelers.

With its dynamic hospitality landscape and strategic vision, Abu Dhabi is well-positioned to sustain growth and deliver exceptional experiences that contribute to the emirate’s economic diversification and global tourism leadership.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.