"The Union for Aviation" expects to host more than 130,000 guests for the stopover flight in 2025. Saleh Mohammed Al-Jzeiri, General Director of Tourism in the Cultural and Tourism Authority in Abu Dhabi, stated that strategic investment in current data-driven marketing and program diversification could contribute to achieving noticeable tourism growth. This reflects the projected future success of reaching 1.4 million guests for the stopover flights for one night during the first quarter of 2025.
The "Stopover in Abu Dhabi" program recorded 25,000 bookings during the first four months of 2025, with a growth rate of 47% compared to the same period last year. The number of visitors rose to 44,000 between January and April 2025, with a 76% increase from the previous year.
According to the issued media data, the notable success of the Abu Dhabi stopover flights program was celebrated through participation by the Cultural and Tourism Authority in Abu Dhabi and the Union for Aviation in the Arab Travel Market 2025. The number of visitors continues to rise significantly.
The program's growth reflects a surpassing of first-time visits to Abu Dhabi, as many of the guests are visiting the emirate during a short stopover trip rather than long vacations there. This growth will depend on strong performance during 2024, with the number of international visitors to Abu Dhabi reaching 85,000 compared to 2,000 in 2023.
