Dubai and Abu Dhabi on global travel radar

For those with the wanderlust for travel, a recent survey shows that the UAE is pretty much a topper as choice of destination for the discerning globetrotter.

In the 132 cities ranked in the connected cities’ index by the Master card initiative, Dubai comes in ninth position, ahead of New York, Amsterdam, Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai.

At the same time, Abu Dhabi shows a tangible up of 15.5 per cent in its visitor growth with a potential spend capability of $2 billion annually. The Capital is seen as one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in the region and Dubai, meanwhile is expecting an influx of 7.9 million visitors during this year.

According to the survey, the UAE’s most fascinating allures are the Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world, the Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the Yas Island complex and the choice of sports facilities for the young and adults alike.

Clearly safety, shopping, sun and sand, and first class infrastructure have made it more attractive. Consequently, whether walking along the streets of the old city or enjoying modern-day adventures at theme parks, the emirates offer travelers ease and comfort.

The methodology used to create the list was predicated on the three categories of air travellers: visitors from the departure country, returning residents of the destination city after visiting the departure country, and a third group: non-residents connecting through the departure country to the destination city on their way to a second destination city.

(KHALEEJ TIMES)