Abu Dhabi vs Muscat

Abu Dhabi and Muscat are level on the CIRA Index at 60. Abu Dhabi grades better on 9 measures, Muscat on 5; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Abu Dhabi 60, Muscat 60
• OECD: Abu Dhabi 66, Muscat 58
• UN Tourism: Abu Dhabi 64, Muscat 56
• UNDRR: Abu Dhabi 56, Muscat 49

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Abu Dhabi 95, Muscat 75
• Economy and jobs: Abu Dhabi 94, Muscat 83
• Climate and hazards: Abu Dhabi 35, Muscat 40
• Water and environment: Abu Dhabi 38, Muscat 25
• Community and housing: Abu Dhabi 50, Muscat 88
• Access and continuity: Abu Dhabi 67, Muscat 54

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.
• 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.
• Income per head: 79,344 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2024). At or above 60,000: 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.
• 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.

Where Muscat is stronger

• Average length of stay: 6.5 nights per visitor (country figure) (National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), 'Tourism Reality in the Sultanate of Oman' bulletin (reported via Oman Observer / Oman News Agency), 2025). At or above 3.5: grade 4/4.
• Jobs in tourism industries: 5.7 % 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.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 438 kg per resident per year (country figure) (Waste & Recycling magazine / Oman Environmental Services Holding Company (be'ah), 2024). Between 350 and 450: grade 3/4.
• Rent growth: 3 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Sands of Wealth / Savills Oman Research, 2025–2026). At or below 3: grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• United Arab Emirates: #22 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Oman: #62 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Abu Dhabi in full · Muscat in full

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