Abu Dhabi records double digit slump in figures

Abu Dhabi’s hotel market continued to readjust last month, according to the latest figures from STR Global.

Hotel properties in the UAE capital reported the largest decreases in all three key measurements, the data revealed.

Compared to May 2009, occupancy rates fell 24.8 percent to 55.2 percent while the average daily rate (ADR) dropped 37 percent to US $188.86; and revenue per available room (revPAR) decreased 52.6 percent to $104.17.

Overall, the Middle East/Africa region reported more favourable results, added STR Global.

The region’s occupancy ended the month virtually flat with a 0.8 percent increase to 62.2 percent, ADR increased 1.3 percent to $144.35, and revPAR grew 2.1 percent to $89.75.

The figures also showed that while occupancy rates fell by 15.6 percent in Saudi Arabia, ADR was up by 12.5 percent in May. However, revPAR dropped five percent.

Although Dubai's occupancy rate increased by more than eight percent, the UAE results were dragged down by Abu Dhabi.

UAE hotels, overall, saw a small increase in occupancy but both ADR and revPAR slumped by more than 14 percent last month, compared to May 2009.

Regionally, Amman, Jordan, reported the largest occupancy increase, rising 13.9 percent to 71.1 percent.

Only one Middle East market posted a double-digit ADR increase - Beirut, Lebanon (up 27.4 percent to $210.57) while Muscat, Oman, fell 8.8 percent to $202.42, and Dubai dropped 7.4 percent to $191.94.

Beirut rose 24.6 percent in revPAR to $147.66, followed by Amman with a 17.8 percent increase to $114.44.