DCT Abu Dhabi Receives UN Tourism QUEST Certification

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has been awarded the esteemed UN Tourism-QUEST, a quality certification for Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) that endorses and enhances excellence in the organisations’ leadership, execution and governance.

Achieving a compliance score of 99.6% for the certification, DCT Abu Dhabi has set a new benchmark globally as the organisation met the Best Global Criteria across both pillars of Culture and Tourism.

The official certification was presented to H.E. Saeed Ali Al Fazari, Executive Director of Strategic Affairs at DCT Abu Dhabi, by UN Tourism Executive Director Natalia Bayona at DCT Abu Dhabi’s exhibition stand at the World Travel Market in London.

Designed by UN Tourism, the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, the UN Tourism-QUEST certification promotes excellence within DMOs by assessing and advancing their performance across three core areas: Strategic Leadership, Effective Execution, and Efficient Governance.

DCT Abu Dhabi’s certification sets a new global standard, underscoring its commitment to the sector’s growth and contribution to economic development and cultural preservation that benefits citizens, residents and global visitors alike.

H.E. Saeed Ali Al Fazari said: “We are proud to receive this certification, recognising our achievements as a premier travel destination and our commitment to global best practices and standards. Meeting UN Tourism’s thorough criteria also reflects the long-standing, meaningful efforts of the department and the dedication of our diverse teams. This milestone strengthens our foundation for future growth, inspiring us to continuously enhance our capabilities and drive innovation and competitiveness in this dynamic, ever-evolving sector.”

The year-long certification process involved evaluations across 22 criteria and 126 indicators, with rigorous assessments of supporting documents and best practices. Collaborative audits, comprehensive site visits, and detailed in-person interviews further validated DCT Abu Dhabi’s alignment with the highest international standards.