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(from left flanked by Etihad Cabin Crew) Tiago Phillimore, Etihad Director Destinations, Products & Holidays; Aysha Al Kaabi, Etihad VP of Commercial Enablement & Engagement; Abdulla Yousuf, DCT Director International Operations; Haitham Al Khamis, DCT Section Head of Aviation, Cruise & Global Partnerships; and Nahla Al Shorbaji DCT Project Manager Aviation.
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Abu Dhabi Stopover Soars to New Heights
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Etihad Airways celebrated the outstanding success of the Abu Dhabi Stopover Programme during the Arabian Travel Market 2025, as visitor numbers continue to grow at a remarkable rate.
The Stopover Programme recorded 25,000 bookings in the initial four months of 2025, showing a 47% increase in sales compared to the same timeframe in 2024. Even more notably, visitor numbers rose to 44,000 from January to April 2025, signifying a remarkable 76% jump from the 25,000 visitors noted during the equivalent period last year.
The success of the Abu Dhabi Stopover Programme goes beyond initial visits; many travellers who first discovered the emirate during a short stopover return for extended holidays.
This growth is based on the impressive results from 2024, which saw 85,000 international stopover visitors, a significant increase from 12,000 in 2023. Etihad Airways expects to welcome over 130,000 stopover guests in 2025, further boosting the influx of visitors to Abu Dhabi at a rapid rate.
The programme attracts visitors from across Etihad’s global network, with notable interest from the United States and Canada, where travellers are increasingly breaking their journey to experience Abu Dhabi’s cultural attractions. European visitors from the United Kingdom, Germany, and France are discovering the emirate’s unique blend of tradition and modernity. The programme also resonates with travellers from India, Japan, and South Korea, highlighting Abu Dhabi’s diverse appeal to international visitors.
The programme's appeal has been further enhanced by the new Abu Dhabi Pass, launched in March. This pass provides additional benefits for travellers seeking to maximise their time in the emirate.
The digital Abu Dhabi Pass provides visitors with free airport transfers, a tourist SIM card with data connectivity, unlimited access to public buses, and 24-hour unlimited access to the hop-on-hop-off tourist bus network. Pass holders also enjoy exclusive discounts of up to 15% at leading attractions including Qasr Al Watan, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and Yas Island's entertainment destinations such as Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi, SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld.
His Excellency Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: "Abu Dhabi's strategic investment in data-led marketing, diverse programming, and a culture-first approach is yielding significant tourism growth, evidenced by 1.4 million Q1 2025 overnight guests. With the success of our stopover programme, we aim to strengthen partnerships and broaden our global reach, ensuring our unique cultural identity remains central to our long-term tourism vision.
“The multi-sensory teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi opened on 18 April and is the newest addition to Saadiyat Cultural District. This 17,000 sqm immersive art space features transformative exhibits at the intersection of art, science, and technology, adding to the emirate's growing portfolio of world-class experiences.”
Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer, said: "Our Stopover Programme continues to exceed expectations as more travellers choose to break their journey and discover Abu Dhabi. The 76% growth in visitors during the first four months of 2025 demonstrates the programme's accelerating momentum. By offering up to two complimentary hotel nights, we're giving visitors the perfect opportunity to experience our remarkable destination. The introduction of the Abu Dhabi Pass has further enhanced this experience, providing practical benefits and exclusive discounts that allow visitors to make the most of their time in the emirate."
Since 2024, stopover visitors have experienced a longer average stay while exploring additional attractions. This trend aligns with the goals of Abu Dhabi's Tourism Strategy 2030, which seeks to draw 39.3 million visitors, generate 178,000 new jobs in the tourism industry, and add AED 90 billion to Abu Dhabi's GDP by 2030.
In the future, DCT Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways aim to improve the visitor experience by collaborating closely, setting ambitious goals for international visitor arrivals in the years ahead.
