A senior executive of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority said they are now prioritizing tourism investment as part of its strategy of diversification.   Faisal Abdullah Al-Sheikh spoke about investment plans at a press conference at the Jeddah Marriot yesterday.  He said Abu Dhabi is a wealthy country and has for many years depended on oil for revenue, “but now we are giving a tremendous boost to the potentially rich tourism sector.” 

Al-Shiekh explained that the tourism sector has, in five years, “become one of the main sectors for Abu Dhabi to invest due to the continued policy of diversification.” Various new hotels of different types are under construction now.  The number of hotel rooms available for tourists will increase from 12,000 now to 25,000 by 2012.  Abu Dhabi offers safety, security, more than 400 km of pristine coastline, and 200 natural islands.