THE CHARISMATIC CAPITAL

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, appeals to all kinds of travellers with its diverse tourism offerings

- AKANKSHA MAKER

Towering skyscrapers, a turquoise sea, bustling markets and a ray of positivity — welcome to Abu Dhabi. The capital and second most populous city of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi’s rapid urbanisation in the past few decades has given it the stature of one of the most powerful and futuristic metropolises of the world. Sitting in the centre of the globe, Abu Dhabi is easily accessible from almost all key hubs — European, Asian, African, American or Australian. And now that the UAE is open to all vaccinated travellers without quarantine, the emirate has become the “go to” destination for families, leisure and business travellers alike. Credit goes to Abu Dhabi’s Go Safe certification programme that was announced back in 2020. A strategy to revive the tourism sector post the pandemic, the Go Safe Certification enforces global standards of safety and cleanliness at hotels, attractions, and venues across the emirate.

“Abu Dhabi is setting a new standard for best practices in tourism, following the high praise that the UAE has received for the proactive approach through which the government has addressed the current situation. As we look forward to reviving tourism in the capital, we aim to not only meet, but to exceed all existing international benchmarks through a strategy that promotes consumer safety in every step of the way; from the moment they land at our airports to their eventual departure. The launch of Go Safe goes hand-in-hand with the efforts of the Abu Dhabi government to combat the spread of diseases, which include widespread testing, city-wide sanitation, social distancing, and enhancing healthcare services,” said Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, executive director of tourism and marketing, Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, during the launch of the initiative.