Hotels and Travel

Planning your trip to the World Ports & Trade Summit

Abu Dhabi offers business travellers a unique combination of benefits – the facilities and services of a leading international business centre coupled with the attractions and recreational possibilities of a luxurious tourist destination.

For information on travel, booking a hotel, the venue, or to discover what Abu Dhabi is really like, click on the tabs at the top of this page.

Where to stay in Abu Dhabi

Traditional hospitality and the highest standards of modern-day luxury and service come together in Abu Dhabi to offer guests an unmatched accommodation experience. From luxurious seven-star hotels and stunning beach and desert resorts to affordable international hotel chains, the emirate has an extensive variety of accommodation options to make visitors feel right at home.

The city has become a very popular holiday and business destination, and we advise you to book well in advance.

Hotels within walking distance of ADNEC include: Aloft Hotel, Park Hyatt Capital Gate Hotel
Hotels within a 5 minute drive of ADNEC include: Holiday Inn Express, Park Rotana, Shangri-La, Traders Hotel, Fairmont Bab-al-Bahr

Our recommended travel agent for the event is Prestige Travel who can also assist with flights, transfer and visa arrangements:

Rafil Hammoudi
Prestige Travel
Tel: +971 2 632 3222 / Fax: +971 2 632 0633 / Email: rafil.hammoudi@pttuae.com

Getting to Abu Dhabi

Situated half way between Tokyo and New York, Abu Dhabi’s geographical location ensures easy access from the world’s major trade centres. Business travellers can reach Abu Dhabi from London, Shanghai, Cape Town or Moscow within eight hours and Abu Dhabi International Airport is well served by more than 25 international airlines such as British Airways, Lufthansa, Gulf Air, Air France, Qatar Airways and KLM. Etihad Airways, the national airline of Abu Dhabi, will fly to 70 destinations by 2010.

On the ground, Abu Dhabi benefits from a highly efficient road system. Journey time from the international airport to the main business district averages just 20 minutes. Traffic flow is well managed and you should have little problem with traffic during your stay.

Visa Information

1. No entry visa is required for GCC citizens

2. Citizens of the following 33 countries will be issued with a free-of-charge VISIT VISA on entry to the UAE: UK, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Finland, Malta, Spain, Monaco, Vatican, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong

3. Citizens of other countries should apply to their nearest UAE embassy or contact our official travel agent, Net Tours for assistance with visa applications.

About Abu Dhabi

Steeped in the ancient culture and heritage of Arabia, Abu Dhabi combines year-round sunshine, and the contemporary chic of downtown Abu Dhabi with the spice, mystique and old world charm of Arabian adventure. With hospitality remaining one of the most treasured values of Arab culture, Abu Dhabi cannot fail to impress. Whether you opt to stay for the weekend after the Summit, or would like to do some exploring after a day of business, we urge you to get out and discover the real Abu Dhabi. Explore the emirate’s old souqs, sip a fragrant Arabic coffee, ride the dunes on a desert safari, or dive into a dazzling marine life - there is something for everyone.
10 things you should know about Abu Dhabi
1. In less than 50 years, Abu Dhabi has been transformed from little more than empty desert inhabited ‎by nomadic tribes into a thriving 21st century society.‎ Abu Dhabi is at the heart of one of the world’s most rapidly advancing regions. Abu Dhabi city is ‎easily accessible from key European, Asian, African, American and Australian business centres.‎ Abu Dhabi city is the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The wider Abu Dhabi emirate occupies ‎over 80% of the country’s total landmass.‎ Unknown to most, Abu Dhabi is archipelagic with nearly 200 islands dotted along its coast – island-‎hopping is a popular pastime.‎ Abu Dhabi is on its way to becoming a global cultural centre with the creation of the Cultural District ‎on Saadiyat Island. This 27 square kilometre island lying 500 meters offshore the UAE capital is being ‎transformed into a signature cultural, leisure and residential destination. The island will be home to the ‎largest single concentration of premier cultural institutions including the Zayed National Museum, the ‎Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, a performing arts centre and maritime museum – all ‎designed by award-winning international architects.‎ Emirates Palace is one of the world’s most majestic and opulent hotels. Often mistaken as the ‎presidential palace, emirates Palace is decorated with gold-leaf, marble and hung with almost 1,000 ‎Swarovski crystal chandeliers. Abu Dhabi has an expanding range of other fabulous hotels.‎ Abu Dhabi offers fantastic social activities. Choose from fascinating city tours, desert safaris, visit the ‎Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque – the UAE’s most imposing religious and national landmark ‎or participate in a range of water sports in Abu Dhabi’s warm, calm waters.‎ Visitors can experience an authentic taste of Arabian culture and heritage.‎ Abu Dhabi enjoys a subtropical climate with sunshine almost every day.‎ Abu Dhabi is home to the formula 1™ Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi grand Prix. This international ‎headline race joins an impressive line-up of world-class events which have enabled the emirate to emerge ‎as a major global events contender. these include the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge endurance race, ‎the annual Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, the Gourmet Abu Dhabi gastronomic festival, the Abu Dhabi ‎Desert Challenge rally, the Abu Dhabi Red Bull air Race and the Al Ain Aerobatics Championship.‎
Useful links: Abu Dhabi Tourism Autority: http://www.visitabudhabi.ae Abu Dhabi Government Portal: http://www.abudhabi.ae/en Abu Dhabi Week: http://www.abudhabiweek.ae Time Out Abu Dhabi: http://www.timeoutabudhabi.com

Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre

Since opening in February 2007, the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) has been dubbed the world’s most modern exhibition centre. With 55,000sqm of interconnecting floor space, state-of-the-art conference theatres, 30 meeting rooms, 2,000sqm of food courts and plenty of car parking, the venue welcomes 1.5 million visitors every year as the Gulf’s largest purposes built exhibition facility.

The ultra modern infrastructure of the ADNEC complements the capital’s status as the economic and political hub of the UAE, providing the perfect platform to support the Summit's growth for the future.

Find further information at www.adnec.ae

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