Gold Medal, a leading UK travel company, has heralded Abu Dhabi as one of its most popular destinations for this summer following a surge in demand from British holidaymakers visiting the United Arab Emirates (UAE).As a travel consolidator, offering a variety of online travel services and products including airfares, hotel reservations and car rental to travel agents, Gold Medal , has reported a remarkable 294 per cent rise on the previous year in forward 2017 summer holiday bookings from the UK to the UAE capital.

Etihad Airways operates five weekly flights from Edinburgh, and flies twice daily from Manchester and three daily Airbus A380 flightsfrom London Heathrow,to Abu Dhabi.

James Harrison, Etihad Airways General Manager UK, said: “We are very pleased that Abu Dhabi is proving so popular with British travellers. The tourist appeal of the city goes from strength to strength, as this strong data shows, and increasing numbers of visitors are being drawn by its appeal as a year-roundholiday destination.”

British travel agents will get to sample for themselves the many attractions of AbuDhabi when Etihad Airways and the Abu Dhabi Tourism &Culture Authority (TCA) host a large familiarisation visit to the emirate in September. They willbe able to sample the cultural attractions, beaches, sports facilities and excellent hospitality for which Abu Dhabi is increasingly renowned