The number of empty hotel rooms in Abu Dhabi increased sharply last month compared with the same period last year as new developments continued to open their doors.
Hotel occupancy levels declined 27.1 per cent to 56.5 per cent in the capital, according to data from the hotel market experts STR Global.
The average daily rate for a room was also down to US$286.80 (Dh1,053.45), a decline of 18.3 per cent. The decline led to a 40.5 per cent drop in revenue per available room, the key indicator for the health of the industry.
The number of hotel rooms in Abu Dhabi increased to 17,500 by the end of last year from 12,800 at the beginning of the year. Another 5,000 rooms are planned to open in the capital by the end of this year, according to the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.
Most prominent among Abu Dhabi hotels that opened in the final three months of last year were seven on Yas Island, plus the Park Rotana, the Holiday Inn and the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr.
Tracy Baron, the senior manager at Deloitte Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure in Dubai, said Abu Dhabi had too little supply in the past, as shown by occupancy levels above 80 per cent early last year.
"When you have such high occupancies you obviously don't have enough supply, so your service quality can suffer," Ms Baron said. "It's one thing getting someone in today, but you need to get them back in tomorrow."
She added, however, that an increase in supply could lead to an improvement in quality and service at Abu Dhabi hotels. "It [Abu Dhabi] has become much more of a tourism destination than it ever has been before, especially in the last six months, especially with the development of Yas Island."
Dubai, meanwhile, started to see an improvement in its occupancy levels last month, following steep declines last year.
Occupancy in Dubai increased by 6.1 per cent to 72.1 per cent. Average daily rates, however, were down 23.4 per cent to $180.26 in the emirate.
@Email:rbundhun@thenational.ae
8 UAE companies helping families reduce their carbon footprint
Greenheart Organic Farms
This Dubai company was one of the country’s first organic farms, set up in 2012, and it now delivers a wide array of fruits and vegetables grown regionally or in the UAE, as well as other grocery items, to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi doorsteps.
www.greenheartuae.com
Modibodi
Founded in Australia, Modibodi is now in the UAE with waste-free, reusable underwear that eliminates the litter created by a woman’s monthly cycle, which adds up to approximately 136kgs of sanitary waste over a lifetime.
www.modibodi.ae
The Good Karma Co
From brushes made of plant fibres to eco-friendly storage solutions, this company has planet-friendly alternatives to almost everything we need, including tin foil and toothbrushes.
www.instagram.com/thegoodkarmaco
Re:told
One Dubai boutique, Re:told, is taking second-hand garments and selling them on at a fraction of the price, helping to cut back on the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of clothes thrown into landfills each year.
www.shopretold.com
Lush
Lush provides products such as shampoo and conditioner as package-free bars with reusable tins to store.
www.mena.lush.com
Bubble Bro
Offering filtered, still and sparkling water on tap, Bubble Bro is attempting to ensure we don’t produce plastic or glass waste. Founded in 2017 by Adel Abu-Aysha, the company is on track to exceeding its target of saving one million bottles by the end of the year.
www.bubble-bro.com
Coethical
This company offers refillable, eco-friendly home cleaning and hygiene products that are all biodegradable, free of chemicals and certifiably not tested on animals.
www.instagram.com/coethical
Eggs & Soldiers
This bricks-and-mortar shop and e-store, founded by a Dubai mum-of-four, is the place to go for all manner of family products – from reusable cloth diapers to organic skincare and sustainable toys.
www.eggsnsoldiers.com
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I Feel Pretty
Dir: Abby Kohn/Mark Silverstein
Starring: Amy Schumer, Michelle Williams, Emily Ratajkowski, Rory Scovel
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
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Florence and the Machine – High as Hope
Three stars
RACE CARD
6.30pm Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $36,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.