Abu Dhabi vs Dubai
Abu Dhabi and Dubai are level on the CIRA Index at 60. Abu Dhabi grades better on 5 measures, Dubai on 6; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.
Scores by each organisation's criteria
- CIRA Index: Abu Dhabi 60, Dubai 60
- OECD: Abu Dhabi 66, Dubai 70
- UN Tourism: Abu Dhabi 64, Dubai 68
- UNDRR: Abu Dhabi 56, Dubai 65
Theme by theme
- Demand and seasonality: Abu Dhabi 95, Dubai 88
- Economy and jobs: Abu Dhabi 94, Dubai 88
- Climate and hazards: Abu Dhabi 35, Dubai 35
- Water and environment: Abu Dhabi 38, Dubai 44
- Community and housing: Abu Dhabi 50, Dubai 83
- Access and continuity: Abu Dhabi 67, Dubai 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Tourism intensity: 4.5 visitor nights per resident per year (region figure) (Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi & Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi (SCAD), 2024). At or below 5: 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.
Where Dubai is stronger
- Average length of stay: 3.7 nights per visitor (Public Debt Management Office, Dubai’s Tourism industry Achieves Third successive Record-breaking Year, 2025). At or above 3.5: grade 4/4.
- Jobs in tourism industries: 5.2 % of employment in accommodation and food services (Dubai Statistics Center, employed persons by main economic activity (Labour Force Survey), 2019). At or below 8: grade 4/4.
- Municipal waste per resident: 401.5 kg per resident per year (Government of Dubai Media Office / Dubai Municipality, 2021). Between 350 and 450: grade 3/4.
- Rent growth: -3 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Cushman & Wakefield Core, Dubai residential market (Q2 2026), Q2 2026 (year on year)). At or below 3: grade 4/4.
- Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (Dubai Government Media Office / Traveller365, 2026). Grade 4/4.
- Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan with named owners, operators and recovery funding (Skift, Dubai turns to new visitors and events to ride out tourism slowdown (June 2026), 2026). Grade 3/4.
Country context (World Economic Forum)
- United Arab Emirates: #22 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
- United Arab Emirates: #22 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
Abu Dhabi in full · Dubai in full
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