Abu Dhabi vs Bangkok

Abu Dhabi and Bangkok are level on the CIRA Index at 60. Abu Dhabi grades better on 9 measures, Bangkok on 7; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Abu Dhabi 60, Bangkok 60
• OECD: Abu Dhabi 66, Bangkok 57
• UN Tourism: Abu Dhabi 64, Bangkok 63
• UNDRR: Abu Dhabi 56, Bangkok 61

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Abu Dhabi 95, Bangkok 70
• Economy and jobs: Abu Dhabi 94, Bangkok 56
• Climate and hazards: Abu Dhabi 35, Bangkok 25
• Water and environment: Abu Dhabi 38, Bangkok 50
• Community and housing: Abu Dhabi 50, Bangkok 75
• Access and continuity: Abu Dhabi 67, Bangkok 75

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.
• Largest foreign market: 12 % of international arrivals or nights (region figure) (Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi / TTN Worldwide, 2024). At or below 15: 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.
• 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 Bangkok is stronger

• Extreme heat days: 32.4 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 30 and 60: grade 1/4.
• Water scarcity: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 394.2 kg per resident per year (Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Environment Department via The Circulate Initiative Circularity Assessment Protocol, 2023). Between 350 and 450: grade 3/4.
• Green space: 31 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Husqvarna Urban Green Space Index (HUGSI), 2024). Between 30 and 40: grade 3/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (Bangkok Post, 2026). Grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan tested in an exercise or a real event, with lessons published (TAT Newsroom, 2026). Grade 4/4.
• Travel advisory: 2 stricter of the US and Canadian government advisory for the country, 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel) (country figure) (US State Department and Government of Canada travel advisories, 2026-09-29). Between 1 and 2: grade 3/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• United Arab Emirates: #22 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Thailand: #38 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Abu Dhabi in full · Bangkok in full

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