ABU DHABI, UAE — Abu Dhabi has launched a new awards program aimed at recognizing tourism businesses and frontline workers delivering outstanding experiences to visitors across the emirate.
The inaugural Visitor Experience Awards, introduced by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, have invited more than 400 tourism and cultural organisations to participate.
The program is designed to become an annual initiative, with 24 winners expected to be announced at a gala ceremony later this year.
The awards will assess how organisations and employees contribute to the overall visitor journey, including areas such as service quality, accessibility, innovation and customer experience.
Two award streams
The awards will be divided into two streams: Business Awards and Frontliner Awards.
The Business Awards will recognise organisations demonstrating strong visitor experience practices, while the Frontliner Awards will highlight employees whose direct interactions with visitors contribute to the quality of their experience.
Entries will be evaluated by an independent judging panel comprising public- and private-sector specialists from fields including tourism, hospitality, culture, customer experience, innovation, accessibility and service excellence.
Focus on Abu Dhabi’s visitor economy
The new awards are part of DCT Abu Dhabi’s wider Visitor Experience program, which seeks to raise service standards throughout the emirate’s tourism industry.
The initiative comes as Abu Dhabi continues to expand its tourism offering across cultural attractions, entertainment, hospitality and major events.
The emirate has invested heavily in destinations and attractions designed to appeal to both international visitors and residents, with Saadiyat Island, Yas Island, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Qasr Al Watan among its major visitor attractions.
DCT Abu Dhabi is also developing guidance and training for tourism professionals through its Visitor Experience Guidelines and VX Academy.
The wider program is intended to help businesses understand visitor expectations and improve how guests interact with destinations, services and attractions throughout their stay.
For visitors, the emphasis extends beyond individual attractions. Factors such as accessibility, hospitality, staff interactions and the ease of navigating a destination can all influence whether travellers recommend a destination or return.
The awards will provide a formal platform for highlighting organisations and employees that demonstrate strong performance in these areas.
DCT Abu Dhabi said the judging process will place emphasis on initiatives that improve the visitor experience while encouraging businesses to continue developing their services.
The 24 winners are expected to be announced later this year at a ceremony bringing together tourism leaders and industry representatives.
Further details on participating organisations, finalists and the awards ceremony are expected to be released by DCT Abu Dhabi as the program progresses.
