Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi has identified aviation and high-end business and leisure tourism as key elements in its economic growth strategy and is judiciously investing income from oil exports to become a major regional aviation hub, experts say.

It's reaching out to the world through its fast-expanding airline Etihad Airways and continues to build tourist attractions such as golf courses, museums and malls, the global financial crisis notwithstanding.

"Gross domestic product is a measure of growth in the economy. If the tourism sector grows, its contribution to Abu Dhabi's GDP and the UAE's GDP will be rising," said Abu Dhabi economist Mohammad Amerah.

Towards this end, Abu Dhabi has already completed a Formula 1 racetrack and a Ferrari theme park on the Yas Island, which are proving to be major tourist magnets. Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Zayed National Museum on the Saadiyat Island should be ready to open in September 2013 while the Guggenheim Museum is set to open its doors to visitors in December 2013.

A Warner Bros theme park in collaboration with Hollywood film producer Warner Bros Entertainment is also in the pipeline.

"[Tourism] will stimulate and diversify the economy, generate new private sector opportunities and elevate the emirate's international standing," the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi says in its policy agenda.

As matters stand, there will be more than 26,000 hotel rooms in Abu Dhabi by 2012. Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) drew up a five-year strategic plan under which it aims to attract 2.7 million hotel guests a year by 2012.

Rise in hotel guests

Statistics Centre — Abu Dhabi (SCAD) said the number of hotel guests in the emirate rose 2.5 per cent on year to 1.54 million in 2009.

As well, Abu Dhabi International Airport's $6.8 billion (Dh24.97 billion) redevelopment plan remains in place. The delivery of projects is lined up all the way to 2030. The projects will be completed in phases.

John Siddharth C.P, aviation industry analyst for South Asia and Middle East at global business research and consultancy firm Frost and Sullivan said: "Abu Dhabi airport is expected to handle about 40 million passengers by 2030".

"All the airports across Middle East would witness a sharp increase in 2020 due to the FIFA world cup scheduled to be hosted by Qatar," he said.

"Abu Dhabi airport does have the potential to grow into a major hub provided the expansion plans do not face any major time constraints," he added.

Aiming high

Etihad Airways is aiming to fly 25 million passengers a year by 2020 and to expand its network to up to 100 business and leisure destinations.

It's currently flying on 66 routes and has 57 aircraft in its fleet.

In a recent interview with Gulf News, Etihad's Chief Executive James Hogan said: "We will continue to build our networks in Asia and the Middle East and over the coming years you will begin to see more destinations in America".

"We have also launched our deal with Virgin in Australia, which will bring Virgin Australia to Abu Dhabi in February," Hogan said.

Siddarth also said: "[An] interesting strategy by Etihad is its all-economy carrier which would try to penetrate into the low-cost segment of the Middle East market. The low-cost market currently accounts for about eight per cent of the total seats, which is expected to grow by approximately two to three per cent annually till 2015".