Government tours of Abu Dhabi will now be available on Airbnb.
Emirati Experiences is an initiative by the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi offering 20 tours by Emirati guides that promises a more intimate view of Abu Dhabi.
These include tours of an oud society where people can learn about classical Middle Eastern music, visits to a sandal-making factory and meetings with women where people can learn about family life and have open discussions about Emirati life.
The government has pushed initiatives that support Emiratis in the hospitality sector. As of November 2017, just 300 of the country's 1,200 registered tour guides were Emirati.
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Read more:
The nine Emirati Experiences tours and how much they are
Experience Abu Dhabi like a local: Emirati tour guides to showcase highlights and hidden gems
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“This co-operative initiative will no doubt result in greater visibility of our emirate to an international audience, which can only positively impact visitation numbers going forward,” said a statement by Sultan Al Dhaheri, the executive director of the department’s tourism sector.
Tours cost from Dh50 to Dh800 and can be booked online at visitabudhabi.ae.
“Following the success of Experiences in Dubai, this partnership will attract new guests to experience Abu Dhabi’s famous hospitality and discover one of the most dynamic and fast-growing tourism destinations in the world,” said Hadi Moussa, the general manager of Airbnb for the Middle East and Africa, in a statement.
