New Airbnb Deal Set to Boost Holiday Home Sector in Abu Dhabi

Memorandum of Understanding between Airbnb and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi will help diversify and regulate accommodation options for visitors to the emirat

High-quality accommodation options for visitors looking for alternatives to traditional hotels in the UAE capital have been given a significant boost after a new agreement was signed between the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and popular international vacation rental platform Airbnb.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will see the two organisations collaborate to pro-mote the holiday home sector in the UAE capital. The MoU follows DCT Abu Dhabi’s request earlier this year for holiday homeowners to register on its new online licensing system to help regulate and enhance this growing market within the tourism sector.

Under the MoU, Airbnb will provide DCT Abu Dhabi with access to its City Portal, which will share important data and insights on the Airbnb platform about rental activities taking place in Abu Dhabi. Airbnb will also launch a dedicated responsible hosting page on the platform, helping new and existing hosts in the emirate with understanding and following local rules for holiday homes. Furthermore, areas of collaboration include supporting DCT Abu Dhabi in encouraging holiday home hosts to comply with regulations and raising awareness of Abu Dhabi’s diversity in accom-modation offerings.

“The signing of this agreement with Airbnb demonstrates our commitment to expanding accommodation options available in Abu Dhabi that will enhance the emirate as a premier tourism destination in the region. In part-nering with the world-leading home rental platform, we are ensuring tourists and residents in Abu Dhabi are provided with more choice for safe and secure short-term accommodation. This cooperation will help us meet the rising demand for high-quality alternatives to established ho-tels and hotel apartments across Abu Dhabi.”

H.E. Saood Al Hosani, Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi,

As a regulator of holiday homes in Abu Dhabi, DCT Abu Dhabi will use such strategic agreements to enable leading holiday home rental platforms to offer short-term rentals responsibly, and to help diversify the growing tourism and hospitality sectors.

“We are delighted to be part-nering with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi to help encourage responsible hosting and to boost tourism in the emirate. This partnership will contribute to help grow and diversify tourism, increase consumer choice, and attract new guests to this exciting destination. We look forward to working together with DCT Abu Dhabi, and to the many opportunities this partnership creates for travelers in the future.”

Velma Corcoran, Regional Lead Middle East Africa at Airbnb

To access the platform or learn more information about its offerings, please visit: https://www.airbnb.co.za/help/article/3180/responsible-hosting-in-abu-dhabi?locale=en

About the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi's culture and tourism sectors, fuels economic progress and helps achieve Abu Dhabi's wider global ambitions. By work-ing in partnership with the organisations that define the emirate's position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the Emirate's potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies and systems to support the culture and tourism industries.

DCT Abu Dhabi's vision is defined by the emirate's people, heritage and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi's status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives and creative thought.

About Airbnb

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 1 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer unique stays and one-of-a-kind activities that make it possible for guests to experience the world in a more authentic, connected way.

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