Abu Dhabi unveils Visitor Experience Awards to recognise tourism excellence

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has launched the inaugural Visitor Experience Awards, recognising organisations and frontline professionals delivering outstanding experiences across the emirate.

More than 400 tourism and cultural organisations have been invited to take part in the new annual programme, which aims to promote service excellence and strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading global tourism destination.

The awards feature eight categories, covering both businesses and frontline teams.

They recognise achievements while encouraging innovation, accessibility and continuous improvement across the tourism and cultural sectors.

An independent judging panel made up of experts from Abu Dhabi’s public and private sectors will assess the entries.

The panel brings together expertise in tourism, hospitality, culture, customer experience, innovation and service excellence.

The awards will have two main streams: Business Awards, recognising organisations that excel in visitor experience, and Frontliner Awards, celebrating individuals who create memorable experiences for visitors.

A total of 24 winners will be announced at a gala ceremony later this year, attended by tourism leaders and industry representatives.

The awards are part of DCT Abu Dhabi’s wider Visitor Experience programme, alongside the recently launched Visitor Experience Guidelines and VX Academy.

Together, these initiatives aim to raise service standards and deliver seamless, authentic and memorable experiences for visitors across Abu Dhabi.

Introducing the Visitor Experience Awards, a flagship initiative dedicated to recognising the businesses and frontline teams that make every visitor's journey unforgettable. pic.twitter.com/IZaWDcpyV4

— Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (@dctabudhabi) August 17, 2026