“We have chalked out an elaborate summer program for our visitors from Saudi Arabia and other parts of the GCC,” ADTA's Domestic Promotion Section Head Ati Al-Dhaheri told a press conference at the Westin Jeddah on Saturday.

“The Saudi guests who stayed in Abu Dhabi hotels during the first quarter of the year numbered 9,083, which is a 23 percent increase over the same period last year. This makes the GCC the second biggest overseas source for visitors. The proximity of Saudi Arabia to the UAE and the excellent air links between the two countries make the Kingdom a prime market on our doorstep,” he added.

Al-Dhaheri, who was accompanied by ADTA's Manager Sultan Matar Al-Muhaire, said the GCC was a primary source of visitors for Abu Dhabi with the first quarter of the year seeing as many as 26,685 GCC nationals staying in hotels throughout the emirate — a 29 percent rise over the same period last year.

"This makes the GCC the second biggest overseas source of visitors for Abu Dhabi after the UK," he added. Giving details of this year's summer program, he said the six-week family-centric festival "Summer in Abu Dhabi," now in its third year, has been significantly expanded by the ADTA with an entertainment line-up scheduled at eight venues across the UAE capital and Al-Ain. It is for the first time that the festival has reached out to Al-Ain, the emirate's eastern region heritage heartland. 

The festival, which runs from June 24 to Aug. 5, will have three major highlights including New York's award-winning Big Apple Circus. The circus, which will be making its first appearance in the Middle East, was the opening act of Britney Spears' highly successful “The Circus Starring Britney Spears" world tour.

Abu Dhabi will also host the legendary Irish dancing theatrical “Lord of Dance,” the world's highest grossing dance show, which is the brainchild of American-Irish dance sensation Michael Flately.

In addition, the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center, the venue for the circus, will host a series of edutainment zones with activities for every age group.

In fact, Yas Island, the entertainment destination 30 minutes drive from Abu Dhabi city, is taking shape. Here visitors will find Yas Marina Circuit, the world-class motor sports racetrack, which hosts the annual F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, to be held on Nov. 14.