Hotel establishments in Abu Dhabi generated revenues amounting to AED847 million ($230.6 million) in April 2025, up from AED611 million ($166.37 million) in March of the same year. Revenues increased across all sectors, comprising AED540 million from rooms, AED256 million from food and beverage and AED51 million from other services.
According to preliminary data by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and issued by the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi, hotels across the emirate welcomed approximately 531,000 guests in April, up from 417,000 hotel guests in March.
Average revenue per available room rises to AED614
The figures underscore Abu Dhabi’s growing appeal as a global tourism destination, supported by a diverse range of accommodation options and elevated service standards.
A total of 172 hotel establishments were in operation during the month, offering 34,383 hotel rooms, up from 34,341 rooms in March. The total number of guest nights exceeded 1.52 million, with an average occupancy rate of 87 percent. Meanwhile, the average revenue per available room reached AED614, marking a major increase from AED486 in the month prior.
Guests from non-Arab Asian countries to Abu Dhabi topped the list with 149,000 hotel guests, followed by European visitors with 148,000, and UAE nationals with 97,000. The figures highlight sustained growth in the emirate’s tourism sector and reinforce its status as a preferred destination for international travellers.
By category, five-star hotels received the highest number of guests, with 265,000, led by 95,000 European visitors. Four-star hotels hosted 143,000 guests, while hotels rated three stars or below received 63,000 guests. Additionally, 61,000 guests stayed in hotel apartments.
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City aims to attract 39.3 million visitors annually by 2030
The strong performance aligns with Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030, which aims to attract 39.3 million visitors annually, generate 178,000 new jobs in the tourism sector, expand hotel capacity to 50,000 rooms, and increase the sector’s contribution to the emirate’s GDP to AED90 billion by the end of the decade.
In the first quarter of 2025, the city welcomed 1.4 million overnight guests, reflecting sustained growth compared to the same period last year. Abu Dhabi drew visitors from top-tier target markets and beyond, with the best-performing markets including India, China, Russia, the UK and the U.S.
This resulted in significant gains for the industry, with hotels generating AED2.3 billion in revenue, an 18 percent increase compared to the same period last year, and revenue per available room (RevPAR) reaching AED484, a 25 percent year-on-year increase. Hotel occupancy maintained high levels of 79 percent across the emirate during the period, including in Ramadan.
These early indicators reflect that Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector is on track to reach its target of contributing AED62 billion to the economy in 2025, a 13 percent increase from 2024, supporting 255,000 jobs across the emirate during the year. This success reflects Abu Dhabi’s evolving and increasingly distinctive value proposition and range of offerings, driven by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Strategy 2030.
