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Abu Dhabi has made an enticing move for event organisers and tourists alike by announcing a waiver on the 10% tourism fee applicable to event tickets sold until the end of 2024. This strategic decision by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi aims to stimulate further growth within the tourism sector of the emirate.

In a bid to enrich the tourism landscape and offer unwavering support to the event community, this exemption seeks to attract an even greater number of visitors to Abu Dhabi’s diverse and vibrant line-up of events spanning across the year. Saleh Mohammed Al Geziry, the Director General of Tourism at DCT, emphasized the initiative’s role in bolstering the emirate’s status as a top-tier tourist destination and reinforcing its commitment to the event organisers who contribute significantly to the entertainment and tourism ecosystem.

While the tourism fee waiver presents a valuable opportunity, event organisers are reminded of the need to secure event licenses through the Abu Dhabi Events Licensing System and adhere to the stipulated regulations. This includes the declaration of event-generated revenues, submission of related financial statements, and cooperation with designated auditors to ensure revenue declaration accuracy.

Accompanied by reductions in tourism and municipality fees for hotels and updated holiday homes policies, these initiatives collectively aim at fostering the growth of Abu Dhabi’s tourism and events industry. Notably, under the new policies, farmhouse owners have the opportunity to convert their properties into holiday homes, and landlords can acquire multiple holiday home licenses for different units, creating more accommodation options for tourists.