A new hub rises in the Gulf
AS PART of its 2030 plan
to accelerate urban
development to ensure
the city’s self-sustainability
outside oil production, over
the last few years Abu Dhabi
has invested significantly in
infrastructure development,
as well as improvements to
its tourist attractions, in an
attempt to gain a sense of
global acknowledgement.
The drive to increase
arrivals seems to be paying
off when it comes to South
African travellers. According
to TCA Abu Dhabi, the first
few months of 2015 showed
a 34% increase in guest
arrivals, equating to 13 442
travellers from South Africa.
These figures represent
46 242 guest nights for an
average stay of 3,44 nights.
The capital’s rapid
growth and development
can be attributed to the
Al Nahyan family, which
has been in power since
1793, and accelerated
the transformation of Abu
Dhabi’s desert land into a
modern hub suitable for the
business and leisure needs
of the Western world.
In an attempt to promote
tourism, Abu Dhabi has
invested significant amounts
of money in the country.
An example of such
an investment is the
development of the Louvre
Abu Dhabi, which is not
intended to be a replica of
the popular French museum
but rather to introduce art
and culture to the Middle
East.
Abu Dhabi bought the
name ‘Louvre’, and plans
to rotate art with the Louvre
in Paris and from other
galleries around the world.
Abu Dhabi has a growing
cultural sector, and so the
development of the Louvre
will not only appeal to
travellers seeking an artistic
and cultural experience,
but also greatly benefit
the locals.
Other developments that
will cater for arts and culture
lovers include the Abu Dhabi
Performing Arts centre, which
will house five theatres, an
arts centre, music hall and
an opera house.
Another world-class
development in the pipeline
is the Guggenheim Abu
Dhabi, set to be completed
in 2017.
Something for everyone
Abu Dhabi caters particularly
well for families. The
region is sprinkled with fun
activities for children of all
ages, including Yas Water
World, the Abu Dhabi Wildlife
Centre, Capital Gardens,
Khalifa Park and the
Emirates Park Zoo.
Many hotels provide
child-friendly play areas as
well as carers, so parents
can have some time off.
“Abu Dhabi has been built
not only around business
needs but also those of
the family. The residents of
Abu Dhabi are very family
orientated and the city has
catered for these needs,”
says Jean Martins, SA
country manager for Abu
Dhabi Tourism Authority.
Abu Dhabi is also a top
choice when it comes to the
required facilities to host
MICE says Paul Simmons,
Abu Dhabi Southern Sun
director of sales and
marketing.
“The country is home to
some of the world’s best
hotel brand names, which
come fully equipped with
everything a business
traveller would need,
including boardrooms, WiFi
and transfer services.”
What’s more, the
geographic location of Abu
Dhabi makes it a perfect
stop-over destination for
travellers visiting Europe,
Asia or even America.
Because a vast number of
activities can be covered
in Abu Dhabi within a few
days, it is recommended
that leisure stopovers for
travellers should range
between three and five
days. A business stay
depends on the nature of
the trip, but agents should
recommend that business
travellers see at least
one of the destination’s
major attractions if
possible, or incorporate
them into a planned
business event.
Four top attractions
Abu Dhabi offers a
variety of activities for
all interests. However,
the destination is well
known for several
attractions which should
not be missed.
Visit the Yas Marina,
which is home to the
Formula 1 race track;
Make a trip to the
famous Ferrari World
for car fanatics;
Tour the Yas Mall and
markets for a unique
shopping experience;
Charter a catamaran
cruise along the coast
of the city, which
allows travellers to
explore Abu Dhabi’s
city scape and
beaches at a leisurely
pace.
Photocap: WLH unveils new offering!
World Leisure Holidays has recently expanded its portfolio to include the exciting new
destination of Abu Dhabi. The operator is currently offering luxury packages to the
five-star Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi. Agents can book seven nights in a Park Room (with a
sea view) from R35 100. The offer includes breakfast, return flights from Johannesburg
to Abu Dhabi on SAA, a tourist visa and return transfers. The special is valid from
January 18-March 8. Showing off their new Middle Eastern offering in style are
Johann Strydom (md) and Cathie Bester (national sales manager).
Book it!
Avoca Travels is offering ‘Abu Dhabi & Beyond’ specials. Book four nights in Abu Dhabi as well as the
option of an additional two nights in the Seychelles at the Coral Strand Seychelles from R13 197pps,
or an additional four nights at the Ramada Patong Phuket from R14 797pps. The offer includes return
flights from Johannesburg (including taxes), breakfast daily, Yas Island Rotana and Downtown Grand
Millennium experiences as well as a two-day pass with entrance fees to Yas Waterworld and Ferrari
World. The package is valid from January 15-March 16.
Advise your travellers...
ARABIC is the official
language of the UAE,
although English is widely
spoken in Abu Dhabi.
Despite the general
perception that the UAE is
strictly Muslim, Abu Dhabi
demonstrates a respect
for other beliefs and is not
opposed to people freely
practising their religion, so
long as it does not interfere
with Islam. As a token of
respect, women are often
required to cover up in
certain areas, particularly
those of religious
importance, but are
welcome to wear bathing
suits on public beaches,
for example. The country
is virtually crime-free, and
public services are readily
at hand to aid tourists.
As part of federal law, all
visitors to the UAE are
required to have medical
insurance prior to travel.
Abu Dhabi has a subtropical,
arid climate,
with sunshine almost all
year round and very little
rainfall. The best time to
visit the Emirate is between
November and April, when
the temperatures average
24°C during the day and
13°C at night.
Did you know?
Halal tourism is a growing niche market for which Abu Dhabi is
well geared. Avoca Travels sales director, Noorjehan Vadachia,
recently attended the World Halal Tourism Summit in Abu Dhabi
and commented that she was highly impressed with the latest
developments in Halal tourism infrastructure and visitor
attractions. “These provide added value for a growing niche
market and, as such, now feature in our latest range of packages
that showcase Abu Dhabi.
How to sell Abu Dhabi
ABU Dhabi is home to
a myriad of cultural and
architectural gems. Its
religious culture alone offers
a refreshing new perspective
to the traditional western
way of life. However, there
are a number of must-see
attractions for both leisure
and business travellers
alike, all of which agents can
book through Thompsons
Holidays.
1.The Sheik Zayed Grand
Mosque (pictured above) is
spectacular. Made entirely
of white marble imported
from Macedonia it is truly
a must-see for tourists.
As a significant symbol
of faith, the mosque is
designed and built entirely
on symmetry and repetition,
with each element having
been carefully chosen to
contribute to the importance
and religious meaning of the
mosque. Its white vastness
is somewhat balanced by the
warmth in colour and detail it
offers inside its walls.
2.The Falcon Hospital is
the largest in the world
and treats around 11 200
falcons a year. Visitors
can witness veterinarians
repairing broken feathers.
The intricate procedure
requires the veterinarians
to keep a vast collection of
different types of feathers,
which are then surgically
glued on to the falcon, which
is anaesthetised during the
procedure. This is done to
give the falcon its flight back.
Boasting facilities that are
better than some hospitals
around the world, the Falcon
Hospital demonstrates Abu
Dhabi’s love of the desert,
passion for sport, and its
respectful relationship with
nature. One veterinarian
at the hospital says: “The
falcons are members of the
family, not pets.”
3. Further away from the
desert, the 23-metre
Belevari Cruise – the largest
catamaran in Abu Dhabi – is
open for cruising every Friday
and Saturday, and boasts
a trampoline on board that
can accommodate up to 70
people. As part of the cruise,
travellers can experience
two hours of free time on
a private island to enjoy
tanning, snorkelling and
beach sports. The cruise
also includes unlimited
water, soft drinks and light
snacks and is a great
add-on for small groups
and meetings, incentives,
conferences and events.
Some lucky travellers may
spot dolphins while cruising
along the Corniche during
the winter season.
Where to stay...
Southern Sun
Abu Dhabi
A hotel brand well known to
South Africans, the Southern
Sun is situated in the heart
of Abu Dhabi close to the
airport and around 20
minutes’ drive from Saadiyat
Island. Equipped with WiFi,
a range of restaurants and
a list of South African chefs
who head up the main
restaurant’s daily buffets,
the 353-room hotel is ideal
for leisure and business
travellers. “Although we are
rated a four-star, we boast
all the facilities of a five-star
hotel at affordable rates,”
says Southern Sun Abu
Dhabi gm, Pierre Delfau.
He says the locals are
rating conscious, which
means they are more
inclined to stay at hotels
rated as five-star. Because
of this, the local hotel
industry continuously strives
for five-star status in an
attempt to attract local
travellers.
Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi
The Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi,
which is also suited to
both leisure and business
travellers, is situated on the
beachfront and comprises
306 rooms, suites and
villas, each with its own
balcony. It also features
a nature reserve with
protected endangered
turtles. As part of the
hotel’s ethos, the Park Hyatt
supports the conservation
of these sea creatures by
having dedicated sections of
the beach for their breeding
activities, as well as an
in-house environmental
officer who heads turtle
night watches for hotel
guests. The Park Hyatt is
surrounded by gardens, and
borders the Saadiyat Beach
Golf Course, which was
designed by Gary Player.
Emirates Palace and
Jumeirah Etihad Towers
For travellers seeking a
taste of UAE luxury, two
famous hotels – Emirates
Palace and Jumeirah Etihad
Towers – provide more
extravagant facilities to
make a luxurious stay truly
memorable.
The Emirates Palace,
which is reserved for the
international and local elite,
is a glamorous seven-star
hotel, with every amenity
imaginable. With 14
diverse restaurants, every
guest’s culinary taste can
be satisfied. The hotel
even boasts a gold ATM,
where guests can purchase
pieces of gold on the spot.
A stay at this luxury hotel
starts at around R4 500
per person per night for a
standard room during offpeak
season. Situated on
the Corniche, also known
as the beach promenade,
Emirates Palace is about
a 40-minute drive from the
airport, and features one
of the largest conferencing
rooms in the region, making
it the ideal stay for the
business traveller with a
healthy budget.
Anyone can visit the
Emirates Palace but tour
groups need to give notice
of their intention to visit in
advance. Security measures
are tight, and conservative
dress is advisable. South
African travellers can expect
to pay around R250 for a
gold-flaked cappuccino in
the hotel’s opulent lobby
lounge.
The Arabian-inspired
architecture of the hotel
features 114 spectacular
domes, ornate finishes of
gold and marble, all within
and around 302 luxury
suites and 92 ‘standard’
suites. A private butler
is also available to serve
guests at all hours of the
day.
Further down the Corniche
is the five-star Jumeirah
Etihad Towers. A stay at this
hotel starts at R2 300 per
person per night. The hotel
has free WiFi and parking, a
private beach, a full-service
spa, pool and health club,
and is about 1,8km from
the Marina Mall and F1 race
track. The Etihad Towers
offers guests a 360-degree
view of the city.
