Abu Dhabi set up a new tourism company to attract more visitors to the emirate. Victor Besa / The National
Abu Dhabi set up a new tourism company to attract more visitors to the emirate. Victor Besa / The National
Abu Dhabi set up a new tourism company to attract more visitors to the emirate. Victor Besa / The National
Abu Dhabi set up a new tourism company to attract more visitors to the emirate. Victor Besa / The National

Abu Dhabi forms new company to attract more visitors to the emirate


Fareed Rahman
  • English
  • Arabic

A new company has been formed to attract more visitors to Abu Dhabi and develop its tourism sector.

Tourism 365 was set up by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, which is part of state holding company ADQ and is involved in discussions over a proposed $5.45 billion merger with Abu Dhabi National Hotels.

Adnec said Tourism 365’s formation is in line with its "new, broader role to support the growth of Abu Dhabi as a tourism destination, increasing leisure visitors, enhancing guest experiences and extending their stay in the UAE’s capital”.

“Tourism 365 will work in concert with key stakeholders across Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector and the UAE,” said Adnec.

Abu Dhabi's economic growth is expected to be between 6 per cent and 8 per cent over the next two years, driven by government spending, financial services and foreign direct investment, Mohammed Al Shorafa, chairman of the emirate's Department of Economic Development, said earlier this year.

The government’s Department of Culture and Tourism said this month that it will invest $6bn to broaden its remit to oversee the cultural and creative sectors of the economy.

This will include funding for the development of the Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi within the Saadiyat Cultural District, and financial support for the performing arts, music, media and gaming sectors.

Tourism 365 will incorporate a destination management arm known as Capital Experience and a premium travel operator called Capital Travel.

“Tourism 365 will contribute to enhancing Abu Dhabi’s vibrant tourism ecosystem, bringing significant returns on investment to the emirate,” said Adnec managing director and group chief executive Humaid Al Dhaheri.

“It will do so by launching a range of companies that will promote the tourism industry and other supporting sectors, securing major partnerships with dominant international and travel companies.”

The proposed merger between Adnec and Abu Dhabi National Hotels is expected to create one of the largest hospitality, events and catering companies in the region.

The merged entity would comprise 28 owned and operated hotels with a total of 6,700 rooms, three large exhibition centres in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and London, several catering companies and food and beverage outlets.

Adnec named Roula Jouny as the executive director of Tourism 365. Ms Jouny has more than 20 years of experience in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry.

Adnec has five hotels in its portfolio – Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island, Anantara Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort, Andaz Abu Dhabi Capital Gate, Aloft Abu Dhabi and Aloft ExCel.

It also owns and operates the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, the largest exhibition venue in the Mena region.

“Our subsidiaries will bolster the wider tourism offerings of not just Abu Dhabi but the UAE as a whole, increasing visitor numbers and promoting the nation’s tourism assets across the globe,” said Ms Jouny.

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The Perfect Couple

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor

Creator: Jenna Lamia

Rating: 3/5

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

ROUTE%20TO%20TITLE
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Dunki
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Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Bib%20Gourmand%20restaurants
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Company profile

Name: Tratok Portal

Founded: 2017

Based: UAE

Sector: Travel & tourism

Size: 36 employees

Funding: Privately funded

What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alaan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Parthi%20Duraisamy%20and%20Karun%20Kurien%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%247%20million%20raised%20in%20total%20%E2%80%94%20%242.5%20million%20in%20a%20seed%20round%20and%20%244.5%20million%20in%20a%20pre-series%20A%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix - 3:45:47

2. David Dekker (NED) Jumbo-Visma - same time

3. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep   

4. Emils Liepins (LAT) Trek-Segafredo

5. Elia Viviani (ITA) Cofidis

6. Tadej Pogacar (SLO UAE Team Emirates

7. Anthony Roux (FRA) Groupama-FDJ

8. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:00:03

9. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep         

10. Fausto Masnada (ITA) Deceuninck-QuickStep

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Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Vijay Shankar, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami

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WISH
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

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