Abu Dhabi: Hotels in the UAE are reporting high occupancy this winter in what is the onset of the peak season in one of the flourishing economies of the Middle East, industry executives said.

Christmas and New Year are acting as catalysts to bring holidaymakers from across the world to the UAE, particularly Abu Dhabi and Dubai, they told Gulf News.

Mild weather conditions, law and order, easy-going lifestyle and retail sales promotions are other factors that are pulling in tourists.

"Right now, 230 out of our 394 rooms and suites are occupied. Until the night of January 2, there is going to be more than 95 per cent occupancy as we are getting more and more individual bookings," said Ahmad Elzanaty, reservations sales representative at Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace Hotel.

Emirates Palace has rooms that range from Dh1,760 to suites that cost as high as Dh42,000 for a night's stay.

Mohammad Awaad, a reservations agent at Beach Rotana, a five-star hotel in Abu Dhabi, said the hotel does not have rooms to rent until January 3.

Hotels in Dubai, the Gulf's tourism hub, are reporting heavy influx of tourists, with occupancy levels of more than 90 per cent.

"The festive season is always a peak period for our hotels in Dubai. The occupancy is strong all year round, with the hotels running at full capacity over the festive seasons," said Mia Hedman, a spokes-woman for Burj Al Arab operator Jumeirah Group.

"Our hotels have planned many festive activities and celebrations and we look forward to a strong closing to 2007.

"The Dubai Shopping Festival attracts many visitors from all over the world to Dubai every year, and we anticipate maintaining the current high occupancy level throughout the period of the festival," Hedman said.

Caroline Esmail, a spokeswoman for Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel and Towers, said: "We are planning to close 2007 with 93 per cent occupancy. We are fully booked for Christmas and New Year."

Mid-range hotels are also reporting heavy bookings for the season.

Abu Dhabi's four-star Howard Johnson hotel reported its occupancy level at 85 per cent and the hotel is almost fully booked for Christmas and New Year.