Business & Finance Club - Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi saw a 16 per cent increase in hotel guests last month compared to July 2009.

New figures released by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) yesterday showed guest numbers across the capital's 116 licensed hotels and hotel apartments rose to 137,714 - a 24 per cent increase on the same time last year.

The results mean July is the ninth consecutive month that Abu Dhabi's hotels have experienced double digit guests growth with international guests outstripping domestic occupants for the first time. The average length of stay has also increased by six per cent to 2.73 nights.

Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General of ADTA, said: "Growth in what is traditionally a slow summer month for Abu Dhabi is immensely encouraging.

"Our guest performance this year has now gone over the million mark leaving us well placed to meet, if not exceed, our 2010 target of 1.65 million.

"We are confident of what lies ahead in the coming months for Abu Dhabi [especially] the October launch of Ferrari World, which we believe will have strong regional and international appeal.

"In addition to this, ADTA is about to commission an attractions audit that will help identify gaps in our product..."