Abu Dhabi has been selected="true" as one of the top ten destinations in the world by expedia.co.uk, UK’s largest online travel agent. Abu Dhabi ranks among New Zealand, Argentina, China, Cape Verde, Alaska, Reykjavik, Berlin, Boston and Liverpool as one of the Top Ten places to visit in 2008.

Explaining the choice of Abu Dhabi as a leading global destination, expedia.com wrote: “Few places can have undergone such fundamental change over the past 50 years as the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Today visitors can enjoy the beach, desert safari’s, variety enough to quench even the strongest thirst for retail therapy.”

His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), the apex body that manages Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector, said: “The choice of Abu Dhabi in expedia.co.uk’s Top 10 places to visit in 2008 is a reiteration of the growing stature earned by the emirate in the global tourism industry. It also highlights the concerted efforts made by ADTA and stakeholders to showcase Abu Dhabi to global travellers and further develop the tourism luxurious offerings in the emirate through a carefully structured strategy, stressing on the influential role of the continuous programs managed and supervised by ADTA like road shows and Abu Dhabi Tourism Champion which had been launched in 2005 and covered major tour operators in basic cities in Europe.”

Talking of the emirate’s unique luxury attractions, Mr. Mubarak Hamad Al Muhairi, Director General of ADTA, stated: “Abu Dhabi has an eclectic spread of choices that meets the demands of global travellers. Apart from famed sea, sun, sand and luxurious choices, which visitors to the UAE are assured of, Abu Dhabi also offers a unique cultural and heritage environment that fascinates visitors.”