SYDNEY // Australians are inveterate travellers, due in large part to their island home's geographic isolation.
The 12,000km journey to Abu Dhabi from the continent's most populous city, Sydney, is a 17-hour flight, but one that would not unduly bother most Australians.
But will Australian tourists want to visit this oil-rich corner of the Gulf?
Opinion is mixed in the Australian travel industry: some operators insist the emirate is rather dull, while others believe it's an exhilarating place to explore.
"I was very excited about Abu Dhabi," said Claudia Rossi Hudson, the managing director of Mary Rossi Travel in Sydney.
"One will make comparisons with Dubai across the sand, but one gets more feeling of permanence and longevity, so to speak, in Abu Dhabi. There is a cultural vibrancy about it.
"It has wonderful hotels and there are new ones opening up all the time. There's a terrific arts community and obviously for business people it's a hub as well.
"I think those who've used Dubai as a stopover, or even as a destination, understand what the attractions are of the Gulf. I don't think it will be a hard sell."
Alan Collingwood, a veteran travel agent in Sydney, disagrees. He says Abu Dhabi will find it hard to compete with Dubai and establish itself as a rival destination.
"What I'm hearing in the industry is that there's not a lot to do in Abu Dhabi," he said. "The feeling is it's a bit boring. I think travellers arriving there often transfer to Dubai, where there seems plenty to do."
In the past 10 years, he said, Australians "have become well aware that Dubai has taken off. If Abu Dhabi invests in infrastructure and attractions it can create something in a relatively short period of time.
"There are no two ways about it: Abu Dhabi wants to become the next Dubai."
One of the major challenges facing Abu Dhabi is persuading travellers to make it their final destination rather than merely a stopover on the way to Europe, for example.
Jaqueline Preketes, the manager of Touchdown Tours in the Australian state of Victoria, thinks Abu Dhabi has good potential.
"I don't think it's considered exotic by Australians. It is considered undiscovered," said Ms Preketes. "Many travellers are now deciding that they don't necessarily have to stay in Dubai, they can go to Abu Dhabi, see a different city and experience a different culture.
"Abu Dhabi is an all-rounder destination. Right now it's very much used as a stopover. After people start discovering how close it is to the other emirates and how easy it is to drive around, I think that's when Abu Dhabi will probably change."
It would, she said, "take a good two years or so until tourists start to discover Abu Dhabi. It does have to start as a stopover first and then, I believe, it will grow into a destination in its own right."
@Email:pmercer@thenational.ae
The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
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Company info
Company name: Entrupy
Co-founders: Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder/chief executive, Ashlesh Sharma, co-founder/chief technology officer, Lakshmi Subramanian, co-founder/chief scientist
Based: New York, New York
Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.
Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius.
Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place.
Company%20Profile
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Terminator: Dark Fate
Director: Tim Miller
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Mackenzie Davis
Rating: 3/5
Ponti
Sharlene Teo, Pan Macmillan
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ALL THE RESULTS
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmomdov (TJK) bt Rey Nacionales (PHI) by decision.
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) bt Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR) by submission.
Catch 74kg
Omar Hussein (JOR) bt Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) by decision.
Strawweight (Female)
Seo Ye-dam (KOR) bt Weronika Zygmunt (POL) by decision.
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) bt Walid Laidi (ALG) by TKO.
Lightweight
Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) bt Leandro Martins (BRA) by TKO.
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) bt Sofiane Benchohra (ALG) by TKO.
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR) no contest.
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) bt Glen Ranillo (PHI) by TKO round 1.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) bt Aidan Aguilera (AUS) by TKO round 1.
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) bt Sasha Palatkinov (HKG) by TKO round 1.
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) by KO round 1.
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Wayne Rooney's career
Everton (2002-2004)
- Appearances: 48
- Goals: 17
Manchester United (2004-2017)
- Appearances: 496
- Goals: 253
England (2003-)
- Appearances: 119
- Goals: 53
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Company%20Profile
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THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 258hp at 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.4L/100km
Price, base: from D215,000 (Dh230,000 as tested)
On sale: now
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
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Cherry
Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo
Starring: Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo
1/5
More on Quran memorisation:
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