TravTalk India Online Magazine
Miral, leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences in Abu Dhabi, has not stopped developing tourist attractions in the UAE capital since 2010, with a new attraction coming up every year, says CEO Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi. Yas Island is now getting ready to host one of the biggest events from India – the IIFA Awards.
Hazel Jain
Yas Island is preparing to host this year’s International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA Awards), which will take place at the Middle East’s largest state-of-the-art indoor entertainment venue, Etihad Arena in May this year. It will be organised in collaboration with the Department of Culture & Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences.
Sharing some insights is Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, CEO, Miral, Abu Dhabi, who says, “We are honoured to host the most awaited mega event of 2022. Etihad Arena is an ideal setting for world-class events and hosting this grand celebration reinforces Yas Island’s position as a top global destination for entertainment and leisure, while cementing Abu Dhabi’s place on the world tourism map.” He recently handed Ranveer Singh, the ambassador for Yas
Island, the prestigious 10-year residence visa.
India in top two source markets
India, he says, is a very important market for Miral. “It is in the top two source markets for Yas Island as Indian visitors enjoy our world-class attractions such as Ferrari World, Warner Bros and many others. Abu Dhabi is ready to host massive events such as IIFA. We have lifted many of the restrictions with regards to COVID-19 and Yas Island is designed to host such big-ticket events. Our latest flagship attraction is the Etihad Arena. It has the largest hotel in Abu Dhabi – the Hilton Yas Island – as well as more than 25 restaurants that our visitors from India will enjoy very much,” Al Zaabi adds.
MICE is also a very important segment for Yas Island and Abu Dhabi at large, he says. “In fact we just launched a new Abu Dhabi Incentive Programme for MICE as we would like to attract more MICE to Abu Dhabi. It is the safest city in the world and our vision is to offer something for the entire family,” he adds.
Al Zaabi is a big fan of Bollywood and some of his favourite actors are Salman Khan and Ranveer Singh, who is also Yas Island’s ambassador for the next two years. He adds, “We have not stopped developing Yas Island since 2010 and we launch a new attraction every year. Sea World Abu Dhabi should be completed this year and we will soon announce its grand opening soon. It will be the first one to be located outside the US. Miral will continue to work towards positioning the island as the top destination for leisure and entertainment as well as MICE.”
Saadiyat Island
The Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has appointed Miral to oversee the destination management strategies of Saadiyat Island. DCT Abu Dhabi and Miral have a track record of collaboration and partnerships and share a commitment to propel the growth of the tourism sector in line with Abu Dhabi Vision 2030. The entities have already created top-tier products that have generated a dynamic tourism ecosystem in the emirate. Miral has been playing a crucial role in shaping a robust destination strategy for Yas Island. Miral will be responsible for building on Saadiyat’s current reputation of offering exceptional art and cultural experiences, raising awareness of the destination’s unique proposition and growing local and international visitor numbers.
