Great news! After proudly reigning as the GCC Capital of Tourism in 2025, the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism has officially crowned Al Ain the Arab Capital of Tourism for 2026. And it is the very first time any destination has snagged both the GCC and the pan-Arab titles in back-to-back years. Talk about a glow-up!
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) didn’t just submit a nomination. They submitted a blueprint for excellence, where their winning pitch highlighted everything that makes Al Ain a spectacular escape, including:
- Future-ready: With their sustainable infrastructure and top-tier digital smarts.
- Seamless travel: Integrated mobility and accessibility for everyone (including people of determination).
- The best bits: An exceptional mix of ancient heritage, vibrant culture, spectacular nature, and family-friendly fun.
All in all, it’s an oasis, a wellness retreat, and an adventure hub, all rolled into one perfect package!
A year-long mega-party
DCT Abu Dhabi is joining forces with partners to kick off an epic, year-long bash packed with cultural extravaganzas, unmissable festivals, community projects, and high-impact global campaigns. No doubt it’s going be a super exciting year ahead!
The goal? To pump up Al Ain’s visibility and cement its status as a regional tourism titan. This all aligns perfectly with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Strategy 2030. They’re not playing small or lagging. They are transforming the whole emirate!
The numbers don’t lie! Al Ain’s appeal is soaring. Check out these stats from the first half of the year:
- Hotel Guests: Up a massive 12% year-on-year (that’s 228,000 happy visitors!).
- Al Ain Oasis: Visits rocketed by 40%!
- Qasr Al Muwaiji Fort: A whopping 49% surge!
- Al Qattara Arts Centre: Attendance jumped by 42%!
And, just to make things even more enticing, DCT Abu Dhabi brilliantly reopened the stunningly renovated Al Ain Museum in October.
Al Ain is clealry riding a wave of success, following in the footsteps of Manama (GCC 2024) and Baghdad (Arab 2025). Stay tuned for the full list of spectacular 2026 programming coming out soon!
