13 new hotels in UAE begin operations

The number of hotels in Abu Dhabi along touched 55 during the year, with two more additions when compared to the previous year. A statistical report issued by Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI), analysing indexes of tourism of the UAE, revealed that the annual revenue of hotels had risen by 14 per cent in 2005, improving to Dh8,172 million compared to Dh7,170 million collected in 2004.

On its own, Abu Dhabi achieved 15 per cent growth with the income mounting to Dh1,446 million from Dh1,259 million in 2004.

Again, local revenues of hotels in the country achieved during the same period touched Dh4,004 million in 2005, an improvement of 16 per cent when compared to the Dh3640 million registered in 2004.

Abu Dhabi achieved a growth of 17 per cent in this respect, raking in Dh709 million — Dh101 million more — compared to 2004, which amounted to Dh608 million.

Furthermore, guest registers recorded an additional 4.9 million names in 2005, sending total figures up to 11.4 million in 2005, a growth of 75 per cent. As for Abu Dhabi, the number of hotel guests touched 1.1 million in 2005 compared to 959,000 in 2004.

Hotels operating in the country also witnessed a prominent rise in the number of nights booked at 19 million nights in 2005 compared to 16.2 million nights in 2004, an improvement of 18 per cent. The number of nights reserved in Abu Dhabi hotels stood at three million as compared to 2.5 million in 2004, an increase of 20 per cent.