Frommer’s, the best-selling travel guide, has listed Abu Dhabi as one of its top 10 destinations of 2010. According to Frommer’s, the list of recommended destinations, voted for by journalists and readers, represents “a mix of emerging hotspots, under-appreciated cities and places to visit before they are overrun by tourist crowds”. The announcement follows leading tourist guide Lonely Planet’s inclusion of Abu Dhabi in its top 10 destinations for 2010.

“This is a fantastic endorsement on which to end what has been an incredible year for Abu Dhabi,” says Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA).

“It has been a year which has seen the destination achieve world-class event status with the staging of the Etihad Airways Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Abu Dhabi has expanded its tourism proposition with a number of private sector operators bringing in new attractions and a significant growth in the emirate-wide hotel stock with new gold-standard properties in Liwa Desert, downtown Abu Dhabi city and on the magnificent Yas Island. We have a tremendous foundation on which to build even further in 2011.”

Frommer’s commends Abu Dhabi for its beautiful beaches, greenery, distinct Emirati character and the preservation of its conservative heritage. Fiona Quinner, Frommer’s UK commissioning editor, described the destination as offering “excellent value-for-money flights with Etihad airways and the usual excellent Arab hospitality”.