Abu Dhabi vs Baku

Abu Dhabi and Baku are level on the CIRA Index at 60. Abu Dhabi grades better on 12 measures, Baku on 6; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Abu Dhabi 60, Baku 60
• OECD: Abu Dhabi 66, Baku 55
• UN Tourism: Abu Dhabi 64, Baku 60
• UNDRR: Abu Dhabi 56, Baku 43

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Abu Dhabi 95, Baku 65
• Economy and jobs: Abu Dhabi 94, Baku 69
• Climate and hazards: Abu Dhabi 35, Baku 40
• Water and environment: Abu Dhabi 38, Baku 50
• Community and housing: Abu Dhabi 50, Baku 75
• Access and continuity: Abu Dhabi 67, Baku 42

Where Abu Dhabi is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 48.3 % of nights by residents of the same country (region figure) (Aletihad Newspaper / Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), 2024). At or above 45: grade 4/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 79 % average annual occupancy (region figure) (Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), Hotel Performance Report 2024 (reported by Aletihad), 2024). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
• Unemployment rate: 2.2 % of the labour force (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Income per head: 79,344 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2024). At or above 60,000: grade 4/4.
• Economic diversity: 86.2 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (region figure) (Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi (SCAD), Statistical Yearbook of Abu Dhabi 2020, 2019). At or above 80: grade 4/4.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Country disaster risk: 2.3 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). Between 2 and 3.5: grade 3/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 100 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (region figure) (Emirates News Agency (WAM) / TAQA Water Solutions, 2024). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated city plan with public early warning for heat, flood or fire (Emergencies, Crises and Disasters Management Centre - Abu Dhabi (ADCMC) / NCEMA, 2024–2026). Grade 3/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A written destination crisis plan (Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), 2023–2025). Grade 2/4.
• Government effectiveness: 82.5 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). At or above 80: grade 4/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), 2023–2026). Grade 2/4.

Where Baku is stronger

• Jobs in tourism industries: 4.9 % of employment in accommodation and food services (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Research by World Travel & Tourism Council; Travel & Tourism by World Travel & Tourism Council), 2026). At or below 8: grade 4/4.
• Extreme heat days: 8.6 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 5 and 15: grade 3/4.
• Tropical nights: 87.8 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 60 and 100: grade 1/4.
• Water scarcity: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 297.2 kg per resident per year (country figure) (State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan via ResearchGate, 2024). At or below 350: grade 4/4.
• Rent growth: 7.4 % change in rents over the last 12 months (country figure) (Central Bank of Azerbaijan (via JAMnews, 'Baku Home Prices Rise 12.4% as Wages Lag at 7%'), Q2 2026). Between 6 and 10: grade 2/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• United Arab Emirates: #22 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Azerbaijan: #58 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Abu Dhabi in full · Baku in full

The CIRA Index ranking · City vs city · How the index works · CIRA Studio · Put your city in the pilot