Sometimes we don’t realise how awesome it is to live in Abu Dhabi.
But it seems like the UAE capital is increasingly making waves across the world.
Now, two of our biggest tourist attractions have been named in a list of the planet’s best places to visit.
Louvre Abu Dhabi and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi have earned their places among the elite, which features 100 attractions across six continents and 48 countries.
Entries include museums, parks, restaurants, attractions and hotels.
Compiled by the respected Time magazine, the rankings show Abu Dhabi’s efforts to become a world-renowned tourism destination are already bearing fruit.
Gaurav Sinha, a tourism expert based in Dubai, told The National: “We have The Louvre, Warner Bros, Yas Island and a tremendous amount of investment, effort and the right brands entering the market
“It’s one thing to invest money in creating landmarks, per se, and another thing to bring trusted operators like Warner Bros into markets like Abu Dhabi. The long-term strategy is yielding dividends.”
More: Incredible timelapse footages shows Louvre Abu Dhabi taking shape
Experts compiling the list looked at aspects such as quality, originality, innovation, sustainability and influence.
Judges praised Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi and said the Yas Island theme park is “designed to entertain all kinds of Warner Bros fans and also offer them a reprieve from the region’s often sweltering heat”.
While for Louvre Abu Dhabi, on Saadiyat Island, they remarked: “great fortunes like to associate themselves with great art”.
Dubai remains the top destination in the UAE for global visitors.
But Abu Dhabi is certainly making strides in the right direction due to an increased focus on diversifying its economy.
According to figures from holiday search engine Skyscanner, the capital has seen a 15 percent increase in bookings since last year, compared to Dubai’s six percent.
