The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has recently been awarded the UN Tourism-QUEST, a quality certification for destination management organizations that endorses and enhances excellence in the organizations’ leadership, execution and governance. By achieving a compliance score of 99.6 percent for the certification, DCT Abu Dhabi has set a new benchmark globally, meeting the Best Global Criteria across both pillars of Culture and Tourism.
UN Tourism Executive Director Natalia Bayona presented the official certification to Saeed Ali Al Fazari, executive director of strategic affairs at DCT Abu Dhabi, at DCT Abu Dhabi’s exhibition stand at the World Travel Market in London.
Driving growth and innovation in tourism
The UN Tourism-QUEST certification promotes excellence within destination management organizations by assessing and advancing their performance across three core areas: Strategic Leadership, Effective Execution and Efficient Governance.
DCT Abu Dhabi’s certification sets a new global standard, underscoring its commitment to the sector’s growth and contribution to economic development and cultural preservation that benefits citizens, residents and global visitors alike.
“We are proud to receive this certification, recognizing our achievements as a premier travel destination and our commitment to global best practices and standards. Meeting UN Tourism’s thorough criteria also reflects the long-standing, meaningful efforts of the department and the dedication of our diverse teams,” stated Al Fazari.
The year-long certification process involved evaluations across 22 criteria and 126 indicators, with rigorous assessments of supporting documents and best practices. Collaborative audits, comprehensive site visits, and detailed in-person interviews further validated DCT Abu Dhabi’s alignment with the highest international standards.
“This milestone strengthens our foundation for future growth, inspiring us to continuously enhance our capabilities and drive innovation and competitiveness in this dynamic, ever-evolving sector,” Al Fazari added.
Read: Saudi Red Sea Authority issues 12 new licenses to promote coastal tourism sector
Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector grows
Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector continues to reap the benefits of DCT Abu Dhabi’s efforts in propelling growth. In the first 10 months of 2024, hotels across the emirate welcomed 4.8 million guests and saw a 26 percent increase in international guests.
Abu Dhabi also welcomed over 3.9 million visitors across its cultural events and landmarks during the same period, highlighting the success of cultural initiatives that draw inspiration from traditional and modern elements. DCT Abu Dhabi’s cultural sites, libraries and museums saw over 3.9 million visitors this year as of October, a 21 percent increase compared to 2023.
These achievements highlight Abu Dhabi’s evolution into a global cultural and tourism center, driven by DCT Abu Dhabi’s strategic vision and successful collaborations with partners across the private, government and semi-government ecosystem.
Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030 continues to chart a bold course for growth, aiming to attract 39.3 million visitors, create 178,000 new jobs in the tourism sector, and contribute AED90 billion to the GDP by 2030 while cementing the emirate’s legacy as a place of traditions and modern cultural explorations.
Looking ahead, DCT Abu Dhabi’s approach to growth includes expanding into new international markets while strengthening its presence in existing ones. Trade initiatives such as roadshows, training programs and collaborations with travel partners will further elevate Abu Dhabi’s global profile as a top destination for leisure, entertainment, business events, arts and culture, heritage and more.
