Gulf News

Abu Dhabi is world’s second best city

Overtakes London and Paris to move up two places since Ipsos City Index last survey

- Gulf News Report

Abu Dhabi has been named the world’s second-best city after New York to live, work and do business in, the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) announced yesterday.

According to the Ipsos City Index, Abu Dhabi overtook London and Paris to move up two places since its last survey. New York retained the number one spot.

The leading destinatio­ns were chosen from a list of 60 cities, including major hubs such as Sydney, Hong Kong, Cape Town, Moscow and Toronto.

Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General, TCA Abu Dhabi, said: “With the ongoing rise of tourism in Abu Dhabi we are confident that Abu Dhabi’s internatio­nal reputation will grow from strength to strength as more internatio­nal visitors experience what the Emirate has to offer.” From January to May this year, Abu Dhabi recorded nearly 2 million hotel guest arrivals, a 4 per cent growth compared to the same period last year.

Of this, domestic visitors accounted for more than 600,000 hotel guests across the emirate’s 167 hotels and hotel apartments in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra.

An internatio­nal survey has named Abu Dhabi the second-best city in the world to live, work and do business in, the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) announced yesterday.

The Ipsos City Index has seen that Abu Dhabi overtakes both London and Paris to move up two places since its last survey. More than 18,000 people, aged between 16 and 64, in 26 countries worldwide were interviewe­d for the Index, with New York maintainin­g the overall world number one spot. The leading destinatio­ns were chosen from an overall list of 60 cities, including major hubs such as Sydney, Hong Kong, Cape Town, Moscow, Toronto, and many more.

The results highlighte­d that 21 per cent of survey participan­ts listing Abu Dhabi as a top city to do business in, just 2 per cent below the leader, New York. Abu Dhabi ranked highest among participan­ts from the three younger generation­s — Generation X, Millennial­s and Generation Z, which were all consistent in placing New York and Abu Dhabi as their top two cities.

Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General, TCA Abu Dhabi, said, “The rise of Abu Dhabi in this global ranking is testament to the ongoing efforts to establish the emirate as not only a tourist destinatio­n of distinctio­n, but a location that internatio­nal communitie­s want to work, live and do business in. It’s distinct popularity among the younger generation­s highlight the need for global cities to diversify and innovate to sustain their position and strength as business and tourism hubs.”

“With the ongoing rise of tourism in Abu Dhabi we are confident that Abu Dhabi’s internatio­nal reputation will grow from strength to strength as more internatio­nal visitors experience what the Emirate has to offer.

“As we leverage the wealth of Abu Dhabi’s cultural heritage sites, such as the Unesco World Heritage Sites in Al Ain, and the forthcomin­g opening of Louvre Abu Dhabi, we are confident that our position on the map of leading cities will continue to be cemented,” Ghobash added.

Arrivals

In the period January to May, 2017, the emirate of Abu Dhabi recorded nearly 2 million hotel guest arrivals, 4 per cent growth compared to the same period in 2016.

Of this figure, domestic visitors account for more than 600,000 hotel guests across the emirate’s 167 hotels and hotel apartments in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra.

Adding to Abu Dhabi’s growing internatio­nal appeal is the recent accolade for Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which was ranked by travellers as the world’s No. 2 favourite landmark for the second year in a row by travel planning and booking website TripAdviso­r.

Ipsos is a leading internatio­nal market research firm, with a presence in 88 countries worldwide. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is controlled and managed by research profession­als.

 ?? WAM ?? An aerial view of Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi ranked highest among participan­ts from the three younger generation­s — Generation X, Millennial­s and Generation Z.
WAM An aerial view of Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi ranked highest among participan­ts from the three younger generation­s — Generation X, Millennial­s and Generation Z.

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