Friday, May 16, 2025
The Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, together with the national airline, has announced exceptional progress for the emirate’s Stopover Initiative in the first four months of 2025. During this period, bookings surged to twenty-five thousand, representing a near fifty percent increase compared to the corresponding months in 2024. More notably, actual visitor arrivals through the programme soared to forty-four thousand, a growth of seventy-six percent over the prior year’s figures.
This upward trend demonstrates Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a highly desirable transit destination. A growing number of travellers who initially pause briefly in the city are extending their stay to enjoy a more comprehensive experience, indicating a shift from simple layovers to meaningful visits. This trend highlights Abu Dhabi’s expanding allure, which combines a rich cultural heritage with contemporary attractions and leisure offerings.
Building on the positive momentum from 2024, when the emirate welcomed eighty-five thousand international stopover visitors—a dramatic rise from twelve thousand in 2023—the programme anticipates hosting over one hundred thirty thousand stopover travellers by the end of 2025. This rapid expansion significantly contributes to the broader development of Abu Dhabi’s tourism economy.
Visitors to the programme originate from diverse global regions. The United States and Canada have emerged as important feeder markets, with many travellers opting to break their journeys and explore Abu Dhabi’s cultural sites and urban experiences. European visitors from countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, and France maintain strong interest, attracted by the city’s blend of tradition and modern sophistication. Additionally, interest from Asia is rising steadily, with tourists from India, Japan, and South Korea adding to the growing international mix.
An important enhancement to the stopover experience is the recent introduction of the Abu Dhabi Pass, launched in March 2025. This digital product offers visitors a comprehensive set of benefits designed to maximise convenience and enjoyment. Included are complimentary airport transfers, a prepaid SIM card with data connectivity, unlimited access to the city’s public transportation network, and 24-hour unlimited rides on hop-on-hop-off sightseeing buses. Furthermore, holders receive discounts of up to fifteen percent at leading cultural and entertainment venues.
Notable attractions accessible with the Abu Dhabi Pass include the spectacular Qasr Al Watan presidential palace and the internationally acclaimed Louvre Abu Dhabi museum. The pass also covers Yas Island’s prominent theme parks, such as Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World™, SeaWorld Yas Island, and Yas Waterworld, delivering a versatile range of experiences suitable for families, culture seekers, and thrill enthusiasts alike.
The programme’s appeal is further underscored by an increase in the average duration of visitor stays. Incentives such as two complimentary hotel nights encourage transit guests to spend additional time discovering Abu Dhabi’s extensive tourism offerings. Coupled with the Abu Dhabi Pass, these measures enhance visitor satisfaction by facilitating easy access and cost-effective exploration.
These developments align with Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030 objectives, which target attracting nearly forty million visitors annually, generating close to one hundred eighty thousand new jobs in the tourism sector, and contributing AED ninety billion to the emirate’s gross domestic product by the decade’s end.
Looking ahead, plans are underway to refine and expand the stopover programme, including broadening package options, enhancing digital tools and guest services, and intensifying international marketing campaigns to showcase Abu Dhabi’s cultural treasures and leisure attractions to a wider audience.
This initiative exemplifies Abu Dhabi’s ambition to establish itself as a premier global tourism destination—offering a seamless combination of luxury, heritage, innovation, and accessibility. Through ongoing improvements and strategic collaborations, the emirate is positioning itself as a vital transit and destination hub for travellers connecting across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
With continued investments in tourism infrastructure, cultural venues, and visitor amenities, the outlook for Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector remains exceptionally positive. The strong performance of the Stopover Initiative is a clear testament to its effectiveness in attracting international travellers and enhancing the emirate’s global profile as an essential and unforgettable stopover destination.
