Abu Dhabi vs Tel Aviv

Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv are level on the CIRA Index at 60. Abu Dhabi grades better on 10 measures, Tel Aviv on 8; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Abu Dhabi 60, Tel Aviv 60
• OECD: Abu Dhabi 66, Tel Aviv 58
• UN Tourism: Abu Dhabi 64, Tel Aviv 57
• UNDRR: Abu Dhabi 56, Tel Aviv 71

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Abu Dhabi 95, Tel Aviv 45
• Economy and jobs: Abu Dhabi 94, Tel Aviv 92
• Climate and hazards: Abu Dhabi 35, Tel Aviv 55
• Water and environment: Abu Dhabi 38, Tel Aviv 44
• Community and housing: Abu Dhabi 50, Tel Aviv 58
• Access and continuity: Abu Dhabi 67, Tel Aviv 63

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.
• Income per head: 79,344 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2024). At or above 60,000: grade 4/4.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 551.2 kg per resident per year (region figure) (Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi (SCAD), Waste Statistics, 2014). Between 550 and 700: grade 1/4.
• 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.
• 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 Tel Aviv is stronger

• Average length of stay: 9.3 nights per visitor (country figure) (Ministry of Tourism (Israel), H1 2025). At or above 3.5: grade 4/4.
• Jobs in tourism industries: 2.7 % 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.
• Extreme heat days: 4.2 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Water scarcity: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Green space: 18 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Husqvarna Urban Green Space Index (HUGSI) Report 2024, 2024). Between 10 and 20: grade 1/4.
• Rent growth: 3.2 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (reported by Ynet News), Q1 2025 – Q1 2026). Between 3 and 6: grade 3/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan with named owners, operators and recovery funding (Israel Ministry of Tourism, Tourism Recovery and Rehabilitation Plan, 2024–2026). Grade 3/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• United Arab Emirates: #22 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Israel: #50 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Abu Dhabi in full · Tel Aviv in full

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