UK Travellers Rate Dubai As Best Destination For 'Short-Break' Holiday

An increasing number of British travellers have rated Dubai over destinations like New York, for a 'short-break' holiday.

With greater superior air links between Dubai and the UK and the emirate offering a charming blend of Arabian hospitality and five-star luxury, year-round sunshine and clean sandy beaches, British holidaymakers are heading towards Dubai in larger numbers.

Dubai has seen a robust increase in visitor arrivals from the UK over the last 10 years. Since 2002, the UK has emerged as Dubai's top travel origin market with exceptionally strong growth of over 30 per cent in 2004. Around 600,000 British guests arrived in Dubai last year.

Establishment of six five-star luxury properties in 2005 and improved air-connectivity has also helped Dubai strengthen its position in the UK market. Currently 115 direct flights link Dubai and the UK and 190 UK tour operators feature Dubai in their programs, with their numbers expected to grow in parallel with the rapid expansion of Dubai's tourism infrastructure.

"Dubai offers an unique experience for short break travellers with golf, skiing on sand and snow, a wide-ranging shopping opportunities, exceptional high-end spa facilities and other cultural options that are rare in a single destination," said the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing’s (DTCM) Manager, Overseas Promotions, Khalifa Ali Buamaim. He is representing the DTCM at the World Trade Market in London.

Properties welcoming visitors for the first time in 2005 include the Grosvenor House at Dubai Marina with 218 rooms and top 11 floors dedicated to premium executive accommodation; Villa Rotana Suites (due to open at 2005 end) and Al Murooj Rotana on Sheikh Zayed Road with a total of 588 units; Park Hyatt's exclusive 225-room property at Dubai Creek and Golf Club with eight unique spa rooms; 342-room Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa on Jumeirah Beach and the Al Jaddaf Waterfront (due to open by end 2005) to provide a further of 330 rooms.

In 2004, Dubai's hotel and furnished apartments numbered 383 with 35,396 committable rooms. An additional 15,000 rooms will be made available by 2009.

A number of luxury, designer and upmarket hotels are expected to come up in the next three years which include the Armani hotel, with 353 rooms and apartments due to open in 2007-2008 in Burj Dubai. Luxury fashion house Gianni Versace is also planning to open a luxury Creek-side resort in Business Bay by 2008. The Palazzo Versace Dubai will offer 220 suites and 204 villas plus the Conrad Hotel by Hilton on Sheikh Zayed Road with its 350 rooms that are scheduled to open in 2007.

"The sustained increase in visitors from the UK has enabled some of the world's best hotel operators to add to their existing properties in Dubai and open a new range of luxury, city centre, beach resort and boutique hotels to meet future demand," Mr. Buamaim concluded.


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