Abu Dhabi strengthens UK & global trade partnerships with 8 agreements
Signing Ceremony-43
The eight agreements support DCT Abu Dhabi’s work to build robust international partnerships and create mutual value with the travel trade.
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has signed and renewed eight travel trade agreements at a recent public forum, that are expected to convert demand into visits, encourage longer stays and support year-round travel to the emirate. Seven agreements focus on the UK market, while a renewed global partnership with Hotelbeds extends Abu Dhabi’s international distribution network.
The UK agreements bring DCT Abu Dhabi together with Best At Travel, Destination2, Elevate DMC, Kenwood Travel, loveholidays, Luxury Holidays, and Southall Travel. These sales-incentive partnerships aim to drive the promotion of Abu Dhabi holidays to UK travellers.
The commercial agreements are expected to support DCT Abu Dhabi's UK partners in promoting the destination across multiple channels and to a diverse range of travellers, whether for single-centre holidays, multi-centre itineraries or increasingly popular stopovers.
Demand from the UK market said to remain resilient, supported by Abu Dhabi's growing portfolio of world-class cultural attractions and family experiences. Continuing to raise awareness of the destination's diverse offering remains key to attracting both first-time and repeat visitors, with forward bookings for 2027 already showing encouraging momentum.
The UK reportedly ranks among Abu Dhabi’s leading source markets for tourists. This August, DCT Abu Dhabi reinforced that connection by bringing its largest-ever trade delegation to the UAE for the Experience Abu Dhabi UK Roadshow 2026. Visiting London, Chester, and for the first time, Glasgow, the roadshow showcased Abu Dhabi's expanding tourism offering, with upcoming attractions that include Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, a Disneyland Theme Park and Resort, Sphere Abu Dhabi, Topgolf Abu Dhabi, and three Harry Potter lands at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi.
Abdulla Yousuf, Director, International Operations at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “World Travel Market London is an important opportunity to deepen the partnerships that connect Abu Dhabi with travellers around the world. The UK remains an important source market for the emirate, and these agreements will help our trade partners make Abu Dhabi easier to discover and book. Across our wider network, each collaboration supports our ambition to share the destination’s living heritage, welcoming Emirati hospitality and year-round experiences. They will also encourage visitors to explore further, stay longer and build lasting connections with Abu Dhabi.”
On the global front, DCT Abu Dhabi renewed its strategic partnership with Hotelbeds for a fifth year, strengthening efforts to drive hotel demand and expand the destination’s reach across priority international markets. The collaboration will leverage Hotelbeds’ global B2B distribution network through targeted joint marketing campaigns, travel trade engagement and destination education initiatives. Covering Abu Dhabi and Al Ain Region, the partnership aims to increase destination awareness, encourage longer stays and support sustained visitor growth.
The eight agreements support DCT Abu Dhabi’s work to build robust international partnerships and create mutual value with the travel trade. They also help connect visitors with experiences shaped by living heritage and genuine Emirati hospitality, supported by world-class attractions and a year-round calendar of events.
