The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) marked International Tourism Guide Day, which takes place every year on February 21st, with a special celebratory event at Manarat Al Saadiyat which also honoured dedicated tour guides across the emirate.
Emirati tourist guides who have participated with DCT Abu Dhabi in the successful Emirati Experience initiative were recognised for their commitment, as well as other licensed tour guides who were rewarded for 10 years’ worth of service.
“There is no doubt that tourist guides are a vital component in our toolkit for promoting our extraordinary emirate to visitors to our shores,” said Ali Al Shaiba, Acting Executive Director of Marketing and Communication Sector at DCT Abu Dhabi. “They are the front-line ambassadors for Abu Dhabi, showcasing as they do our rich history and heritage, opening up the treasure chest of our culture to an international audience keen to know more… about not only our history and heritage, but also about the more modern attractions we have added to our extraordinary destination.
“We now have more than 950 tourist guides working across the emirate, with 148 of those Emiratis, and today we are here to honour 28 of these guides for their dedication and commitment to their role – each have worked tirelessly for more than ten years to make sure our visitors have the best experience possible when they come to Abu Dhabi.”
As part of its mandate to effectively promote the emirate to the world, DCT Abu Dhabi runs an Emirati Tourist Guide Training & Licensing programme, an immersive and in-depth training course that allows UAE Nationals to become licensed tour guides and offers them the practical and theoretical tools to operate to an international standard.
