Abu Dhabi vs Doha

Abu Dhabi and Doha are level on the CIRA Index at 60. Abu Dhabi grades better on 8 measures, Doha on 7; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

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

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Abu Dhabi 95, Doha 67
• Economy and jobs: Abu Dhabi 94, Doha 92
• Climate and hazards: Abu Dhabi 35, Doha 50
• Water and environment: Abu Dhabi 38, Doha 44
• Community and housing: Abu Dhabi 50, Doha 100
• Access and continuity: Abu Dhabi 67, Doha 54

Where Abu Dhabi is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 28.7 % of annual nights (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: UN Tourism by United Nations World Tourism Organization), 2022, 2023 moving average). At or below 30: grade 4/4.
• 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.
• 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.
• Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (Abu Dhabi Airports, AD Ports Group, Etihad Rail, Integrated Transport Centre, 2026). At or above 4: 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.
• 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 Doha is stronger

• Average length of stay: 3.6 nights per visitor (country figure) (Qatar Tourism, 2024 Annual Performance Report, 2024). At or above 3.5: grade 4/4.
• Flood hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Country disaster risk: 1.5 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). At or below 2: grade 4/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 474.5 kg per resident per year (country figure) (Ministry of Municipality / Mordor Intelligence, 2023). Between 450 and 550: grade 2/4.
• Rent growth: -1 % change in rents over the last 12 months (country figure) (Cushman & Wakefield Qatar Marketbeat, 2025). At or below 3: grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan tested in an exercise or a real event, with lessons published (Euronews / Gulf Times / Qatar Tourism, 2026). Grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• United Arab Emirates: #22 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Qatar: #47 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Abu Dhabi in full · Doha in full

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