Dubai: Abu Dhabi, which is diversifying its oil-dependent economy, has attracted Dh200 billion investment in tourism projects, according to a top official said.

The UAE's capital set up its tourism regulatory body Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) to spearhead tourism projects.

Last year, ADTA's investment and development arm Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) launched a Dh100 billion Saadiyat Island project which has attracted billions of dirhams of investment in hotels and resorts.

Data

International tourist arrivals to Abu Dhabi grew 12 per cent to 1.34 million last year compared with 1.21 million in 2005, according to the latest ADTA data.

Hotel guest nights recorded 11 per cent growth to 3.9 million last year compared with 3.5 million in 2005.

"The open-door policy adopted (by the government) has reflected positively on the private sector's contribution to the tourist development projects, including the Al Saadiyat Island project, reckoned one of the largest tourist development projects regionwide," Mubarak Hamad Al Muhairi, ADTA director-general, said in a statement.