The Department of Culture and Tourism of Abu Dhabi, together with Etihad Airways, celebrated a significant success of the stopover program in Abu Dhabi at the Arabian Travel Market 2025, where visitor numbers continue to grow steadily. The stopover program secured 25,000 bookings for the first four months of 2025, which corresponds to an increase in sales of 47% compared to the same period in 2024.
"This vast artistic space, covering 17,000 square meters, features innovative art installations that combine art, science, and technology, adding to the growing portfolio of high-class global experiences in the emirate," said one of the representatives.
Etihad Airways President Antono Neves noted: "The stopover program continues to exceed expectations, especially as more travelers choose Abu Dhabi as their stopover and exploration destination." "We opened Tim Lab Venomenon in Abu Dhabi on April 18 last year, which has become a new addition to the cultural district in Saadiyat. The number of visitors increased to 44,000 since January through April 2025, representing a 76% growth compared to 25,000 visitors during the same period last year."
The hopes of the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi for international visitors in the coming years are supported by the successful representation in 2024, when Abu Dhabi welcomed 85,000 international visitors compared to 12,000 in 2023. The growth of 76% in the number of visitors in the first four months of 2025 will showcase the dynamics of the program.
