Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates as a whole welcomed record numbers of international visitors in 2018.

In 2018, the capital of the United Arab Emirates attracted more than 10 million international visitors, adding to a strong growth trend over three years. Since 2016, Abu Dhabi increased hotel guests by 13.62 percent.

Steady advances across different tourism sectors power the boom, including the culture, business, family and medical sectors. Cruise tourism brought more than 350,000 tourists.

The Department of Culture and Tourism of Abu Dhabi revealed 10 million guests who visited the capital were made up of overnight visitors and those bound for a single day. Hotel guests in the city increased by 3.94 percent in 2017. Each year, the city received record numbers of hotel guests.

“We are incredibly pleased to see these positive metrics, as year on year we have exceeded the already ambitious targets set for Abu Dhabi’s growth,” said Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman, DCT Abu Dhabi.

The steady growth solidifies Abu Dhabi’s perception of itself as a prime stepping-off point to see the United Arab Emirates and the rest of the Middle East.

“The past three years have seen countless significant additions to Abu Dhabi’s structural, touristic and cultural landscape. Most prominent amongst these include the recent reopening of the Al Hosn cultural site, which now offers visitors new experiences of heritage and artistic creativity, and the stunning Louvre Abu Dhabi,” said Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak.

The annual Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has attracted millions of spectators to the city since its launch in 2009.