Abu Dhabi Airport traffic tipped to reach 5 million

The emirate of Abu Dhabi is poised for growth in its tourism sector, according to heads of the emirate's key tourism organisations, who have highlighted new developments in the capital and Al Ain as key to the destination's future success.

His Excellency Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, chairman of Department of Civil Aviation expressed his pleasure with the participation this year for both Abu Dhabi International Airport and Al Ain International Airport at the Arabian Travel Market.

His Excellency said: "Every year, we attend international travel exhibitions, including ITB and World Travel Market. The Arabian Travel Market has grown to be one of the important exhibitions in this sector, so we are pleased to be participating for the first time.

"The traffic out of our airports in the emirate of Abu Dhabi has been growing rapidly in the last few years and we expect to handle more than 5 million passengers in 2004 - posting a growth of 30 per cent year-on-year.

"With Gulf Traveller and Etihad Airways, the new national carrier of the UAE, both located in Abu Dhabi, we can really play a role in assisting the emirate's tourism drive."