Abu Dhabi Launches New Visitor Experience Awards to Elevate Tourism Standards

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has introduced the Visitor Experience Awards to honor organizations and front-line professionals who deliver outstanding service to visitors.

More than 400 tourism and culture organizations have been invited to participate in the awards, which aim to promote excellence and elevate service standards across Abu Dhabi's tourism sector. An independent panel of leaders and experts from both the public and private sectors will judge the entries, evaluating companies and professionals on their commitment to excellence, innovation, accessibility, and continuous improvement.

The judging panel will select 24 winners, with the results anticipated to be announced before the end of the year.

Last year, the emirate welcomed a record 26.6 million visitors, driven by strong attendance at cultural sites, libraries, and major events. Abu Dhabi has set a goal to increase this figure to 39.3 million by 2030, alongside raising the sector’s GDP contribution to Dh90 billion ($24.5 billion) by the decade's end.

These awards represent one of several initiatives under DCT Abu Dhabi’s broader Visitor Experience programme, which also includes the Visitor Experience Guidelines and VX Academy. These efforts support the emirate's ambition to solidify its status as a premier international tourism and cultural destination.

Upcoming attractions are expected to further enhance Abu Dhabi's appeal. Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is scheduled to open on December 11 as the largest museum in the Guggenheim network within the Saadiyat Cultural District, joining Louvre Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, and Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi.

Additionally, DCT Abu Dhabi confirmed that the 20,000-capacity venue Sphere Abu Dhabi will open by the end of 2029 on Yas Island, alongside plans for Disney Abu Dhabi and a Harry Potter-themed land at Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi.

“With a strong foundation of cultural engagement and robust tourism performance, Abu Dhabi continues to grow as a world-leading destination that offers exceptional experiences,” stated Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, the undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi.