Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), together with Shangri-la Hotel, Qary’at Al Beri and Etihad Airways will be hosting Russia’s leading MICE producers on their first, fact-finding trip to the emirate.

The MICE operators will visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, carry out site inspections of some of the emirate’s newest hotels, tour Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, and get a briefing on the new Yas Waterworld, which is due to open later this year, embark on a city tour, visit exhibitions at Manarat al Saadiyat and experience the desert with a trip to the soon-to-open Arabian Nights Heritage Village.

“There is huge MICE potential coming out of Russia at present and an increasing number of MICE and business travel companies are including more UAE possibilities in their brochures and packages – our aim is to ensure Abu Dhabi features among it,” said Maxim Shandarova of TCA Abu Dhabi’s Moscow office.

Russians’ air access to Abu Dhabi has eased during the last six months with Etihad Airways, flying daily from Moscow and TransAero initiating twice-weekly, non-stop flights for tour operator bookings to Abu Dhabi.

Going by statistics, the number of hotel guests Abu Dhabi is receiving from Russia is on the increase. In the first four months of this year some 6,092 Russians stayed in the emirate’s hotels and hotel apartments – a 12% increase on the same period in 2011 – they accounted for 36,094 guest nights, which was a rise of 23% on the same comparative period.

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Charmaine Fernz