Miral Breaks Records with Remarkable Traveller Surge on Yas and Saadiyat Islands in Abu Dhabi

Published on May 7, 2024

Miral, renowned for crafting immersive destinations and experiences in Abu Dhabi, unveiled staggering visitation figures for 2023, marking a remarkable surge in visits across Yas Island and Saadiyat Island and establishing a new standard. Announced at the Arabian Travel Market 2024, Yas Island boasted over 34 million visits, reflecting a 38% increase from 2022’s 24.9 million. Likewise, Saadiyat Island experienced a 44% growth in visitation compared to 2022.

Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral, said, “These record-breaking figures reiterate our commitment to positioning Yas Island as a global destination for entertainment and leisure, and Saadiyat Island as a leading beach, nature, and cultural destination. Aligned with Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030, our goal is to deliver new leisure, entertainment, and cultural destinations and experiences that enhance visitor experiences while generating sustainable value and contributing significantly to Abu Dhabi’s tourism growth and economic diversification.” 

In 2023, the theme parks and CLYMB on Yas Island experienced an impressive 83% increase in visitation compared to the previous year. Notably, visits from the GCC region surged by an astounding 125%, while international visits to the island’s theme parks rose by a substantial 167%, driven mainly by tourists from India, the UK, Russia, and Germany.

Yas Island also witnessed remarkable growth in consumer events, surpassing attendance expectations by an impressive 87%. Over 560 thousand attendees flocked to enjoy a myriad of world-class concerts, performances, family, and sports events, including popular acts like Lion King, UFC, NBA, Disney on Ice, Kevin Hart, Black Pink, the Backstreet Boys, and Amr Diab.

Moreover, Yas Island welcomed 23 MICE Groups in 2023, marking a significant 77% increase from the previous year, with a related spending surge of 62%. This success was largely attributed to Miral’s collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau, resulting in the creation of the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau and Miral Joint Business Event Fund, aimed at enhancing Abu Dhabi’s status as a prominent MICE destination.

During the summer of 2023, Yas Island witnessed a notable 96% surge in visitation to its theme parks in July and August compared to 2022. Additionally, hotels on the island experienced substantial growth, boasting a 90% occupancy rate from June to August.

Exciting developments are underway on Yas Island, including the expansion of Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi by 16,900 sqm, featuring an impressive 3.3 kilometers of new slide sections set to be completed by 2025. Furthermore, the highly anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park at Warner Bros. World™ Yas Island is in the works. Other projects include the development of Yas Bay Beach, a 560-meter beachfront addition enhancing leisure and lifestyle experiences at Yas Bay Waterfront.

On Saadiyat Island, in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), upcoming attractions include teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, a multi-sensory art experience at Saadiyat Cultural District, and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, expected to be the largest of its kind in the region.

Both Yas Island and Saadiyat Island received over 170 regional and international accolades in 2023, with Yas Island garnering 130 awards and Saadiyat Island receiving over 40 awards across the travel and tourism sector, recognizing their exceptional attractions, experiences, and contributions to the industry.

Miral’s portfolio continues to drive significant economic growth in Abu Dhabi and the UAE, aligning with Abu Dhabi’s new Tourism Strategy 2030. Launched in April 2024, the strategy aims to attract 39.3 million visitors, create 178,000 new jobs, and increase the tourism sector’s contribution to the UAE’s GDP to AED 90 billion annually by 2030.