All about the Culture and Tourism Department Abu Dhabi
Offering a unique blend of beautiful cultural monuments and impressive 21st-century megastructures, the UAE’s capital has secured its position as a leading tourist destination in the region. From beautiful mosques and museums highlighting the city’s historic past to thrilling theme parks and glitzy malls and hotels, the city has it all! The vision of its great leaders, as well as the coordinated efforts of various government agencies, has helped Abu Dhabi’s tourism industry grow exponentially. The Department of Culture and Tourism-Abu Dhabi plays an important role in efficiently executing the emirate’s impressive global tourism ambitions. The department regulates, promotes and develops local and international tourism in the capital city through three core sectors: Culture, Tourism and National Library.
Here’s all that you need to know about Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism.
ALL ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE AND TOURISM ABU DHABI
DCT Abu Dhabi was established in 2012 with the merger of two main culture and tourism agencies: the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage and Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority. The ultimate goal was to boost economic progress and enhance the UAE capital’s reputation by offering a unique experience for residents and visitors.
VISION, MISSION AND VALUES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE AND TOURISM ABU DHABI
Vision: “To enhance Abu Dhabi’s global reputation by offering a unique experience for residents and visitors alike, and establishing the emirate as a leisure and cultural destination of distinction.”
Mission: “Promote the emirate of Abu Dhabi and preserve its culture”
Values
- Pro-activeness
- Innovation
- Collaboration
- Excellence
- Reliability
- Trust and Leadership
The mission of the department has been defined by taking into account the emirate’s landscape, language and heritage. The focus is to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status as a place that combines modernity and cultural richness while highlighting the emirate’s enduring traditions of hospitality and innovation.
Based on these values and vision, many steps have been taken to create and maintain an ecosystem which unlocks the full tourism potential of the emirate. Many relevant projects are initiated through sustained investments and coordinated efforts. Similarly, policies are developed to create systems that can enhance Abu Dhabi’s position as one of the top global destinations.
The Department of Culture and Tourism has also come up with plans to increase the number of Emiratis in the UAE workforce as per the government’s vision. Different inclusive programs have been introduced to increase the participation of UAE citizens. Moreover, various projects are also run by the department including Khebraty, Khoutwa, Emirati Tourist Guide Training and Licensing Programme and Emirati Experiences.
THE ABU DHABI ECONOMIC VISION 2030 AND THE ABU DHABI PLAN
The Abu Dhabi Economic vision 2030 and the Abu Dhabi Plan is used to formulate the strategy at DCT Abu Dhabi. Working closely with multiple stakeholders, the department has successfully preserved and promoted local heritage and values. The primary goal is to attract foreign and local investment in the tourism sector and stimulate growth and economic diversification.
TOURISM INDUSTRY OVERSIGHT AND SUPPORT
The Culture and Tourism Department has played a key role in the development of tourism in the UAE capital.
DATA COLLECTION
To oversee the growth and potential of any industry, it is vital that accurate data is collected to identify areas of improvement and develop policies.
The Culture and Tourism Department operates an online revenue and statistics system, which is accessible to all hospitality establishments running in the emirate.
This data is then used to record, analyse and track the hotel’s performance. Key aspects include the number of rooms booked, occupancy levels, average stay period and combined revenue, etc. These results provide key insights into the industry which is then used for strategic decision making.
TRAINING AND SUPPORT
Industry stakeholders are given appropriate training to improve their performance.
A number of trade familiarisation trips are held for the overseas officers and tour operators to increase their knowledge about Abu Dhabi. The aim is to see an increase in the number of guests and a higher occupancy rate at hospitality centres.
ENGAGING WITH PARTNERS
The department strives to improve Abu Dhabi’s tourism landscape through local and international public and private partnership.
Marketing activities are conducted through the 10 global offices of the department. International tourism fairs and destination management conferences are mainly used as networking opportunities.
LICENSING
Furthermore, the department issues licences for hotels and tourism-related activities. These permits also serve as a tool for monitoring and ensuring the highest standards required at all times by stakeholders. The list of licences includes:
- Hotel establishment management & operation licence
- Hotel establishment licence
- Tour operator licence
- Travel agent licence
- Excursion boat licence
- Tourism restaurant licence
- Floating restaurant licence
CLASSIFICATION
The Department of Culture and Tourism operates classification in collaboration with other industry stakeholders. The aspect mainly covers resort establishments, hotels and hotel apartments. Similarly, factors that contribute to the star rating include guest experience, sentiment indices and benchmarking.
CRUISE TOURISM
Sir Bani Yas Island is the only dedicated cruise stopover beach in the region that welcomes leading international cruise lines. Currently, cruises operate from October to May, and the department works closely with different stakeholders to facilitate current operators and attract new ones.
SUSTAINABILITY
The department works as per the Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and Health System (OSHAD) guidelines. It inspects sites, conducts audits and offers training exercises to all hospitality and accommodation properties in the emirate. The required standards of services are maintained through constant monitoring.
GO SAFE
Endorsed by the Abu Dhabi government, the Department of Culture and Tourism implements a program to ensure that all hygiene standards are met to minimise the spread of Covid-19.
INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES
To maintain a constant line of communication, the Industry Development Committees (IDC) was established in 2011. IDC ensures that any issues that may arise at the industry level are promptly addressed. Key industry stakeholders and government officials arrange quarterly meetings to sit together and find effective solutions.
CULTURAL MANDATE
The Department of Culture and Tourism strives to promote and preserve the rich culture and heritage of Abu Dhabi. A wide range of exhibitions, cultural events, educational and outreach programs are hosted in this regard. Likewise, several archaeological and historical sites are protected by the department and museum management is also a part of the department’s mandate.
The list of current and future museums under the department’s supervision include the following:
- Louvre Abu Dhabi
- Zayed National Museum
- Guggenheim Abu Dhabi
- Al-Ain Museum
- Al Ain Palace Museum
- Al-Jahili Fort
- Qasr Al Muwaiji
The department documents, preserves and ensures the maintenance of historic buildings classified by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. These include the oasis in Al Ain and the archaeological sites of Jebel Hafeet, Hili as well as Bida bin Saud.
It also organises programs to highlight the significance of these locations in showcasing local values, culture and heritage. The list of such initiatives includes Louvre Abu Dhabi – Student Ambassadors, Proud Expressions, Wahat Al Karama, The Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, Mamsha Al Khair, International Conference on the Archaeology and Bait Al Gahwa.
LIBRARIES
The National Library was established in 1981 and is the largest facility of its kind in the UAE. The management is also responsible for the establishment of other libraries, publishing work of Emirati writers and researchers and collecting Arabic and Islamic manuscripts. The different libraries operating in the emirate to facilitate this include:
- Qasr Al Watan Library
- Khalifa Park Library
- Mazyad Mall Library
- Al-Bahia Library
- Al-Marfa Library
- Al Wathba Library
- Zayed Central Library
SPONSORSHIPS
DCT Abu Dhabi sponsors partnership events based on arts, culture and business tourism themes. The idea is to promote Abu Dhabi as a leading destination for people from all walks of life.
DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE AND TOURISM EVENTS
The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi hosts multiple events to create rich and diverse experiences for all visitors. Some of the most prominent programs include:
- Abu Dhabi Classics
- Abu Dhabi International Book Fair
- Traditional Handicrafts Festival
- Abu Dhabi Culinary Season
- Al-Ain Book Fair
- Abu Dhabi Art
- Mother of the Nation Festival
- The Culture Summit Abu Dhabi
- NYE Countdown Village
- Abu Dhabi Summer Season
E-SERVICES
The E-Services portal launched by DCT Abu Dhabi allows various stakeholders to complete their applications online. Moreover, the system has provisions for data requests, program registration and other similar options. The complete list of online services includes:
- Tourism Licensing System
- Hotel Revenue & Tourism Statistics
- Library Catalogue
- Exhibition Spaces Booking Application
- Events Licensing System
- E-classification
- Sponsorship Application
- Investment
- Notification & Circulation
- Alumni Program
DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE AND TOURISM LOCATION
The Department of Culture and Tourism location is in Nation Towers Corniche, Building B, Abu Dhabi. For any queries, you can call 800-555 or use the live chat facility on the official DCT Abu Dhabi website.
The role of the Department of Culture and Tourism is critical in terms of developing Abu Dhabi as an attractive destination for residents as well as tourists. DCT Abu Dhabi also works with other prominent government bodies such as the Department of Health and Transport Department to facilitate tourists. There are plenty of exciting places to visit in Abu Dhabi, making it a popular destination for tourists and residents.
