Tuesday, Sep 27, 2016

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island is aiming to grow its visitor numbers, with a target of attracting 48 million visitors annually from 2022, and plans to add more developments to the island including 1,500 new hotel rooms.

Mohammad Al Zaabi, chief executive officer at Miral Asset Management, the developer and manager of many key projects on Yas Island, said the growth plan is part of the Yas Island vision 2022, which aims to make Yas one of the world’s top 10 destination for families.

In 2015, the island saw 25 million visitors, and Al Zaabi said Yas is expected to meet its target of increasing that figure by 15 per cent for 2016. In 2018, Yas is aiming to attract 30 million visitors.

“Yas Island also looks to host 100,000 corporate travellers, and is projected to have 4,000 rooms across family, lifestyle, and business hotels... With ambitious development plans underway, Yas Island is set to be home to 10,000 residents and another 10,000 community to the island every day,” the CEO said, referring to targets for 2022.

Currently, there are seven hotels on Yas Island — all of which are owned by Aldar Properties, the Abu Dhabi-listed developer. Though Aldar has been reporting lower year-on-year occupancy rates at the hotels in the past few quarters, Al Zaabi said there was demand for more hotel rooms on the island on the longer term.

“The way we see the growth of the island, and to position it as a top destination for leisure and entertainment, we believe that we need more rooms on the island. Today, we have 2,500 rooms on the island. The growth in the visitor numbers and the number we’re targeting will require more rooms,” he said.

Al Zaabi declined to disclose when the additional 1,500 rooms will come online or which brands will operate them, saying more details will be announced over the next year. He added that Miral is currently studying various new projects submitted by developers for Yas Island.

Al Zaabi was speaking to reporters ahead of a launch event on Tuesday to announce the new brand identity for Yas Island. As part of the new brand, Miral is also launching a new logo for Yas, along with a social media campaign titled #YasDream to engage visitors.

Yas Island is home to attractions like Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, Yas Mall, Yas Marina Circuit, and in 2018, will also house a Warner Bros theme park.

By Sarah Diaa Staff Reporter

Gulf News 2016. All rights reserved.