H2O Hospitality (H2O), a South Korean digital innovation firm in the accommodation and leisure sector, has inaugurated its regional headquarters in Abu Dhabi through a partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO).
This move underscores the growing economic collaboration between South Korea and Abu Dhabi, particularly focusing on synergies related to innovation and technology.
South Korea, ranked as the most innovative nation six times in the past decade by the Bloomberg Innovation Index, aligns well with Abu Dhabi’s recognition as the smartest city in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for 2023, as per the IMD Smart City Index.
ADIO has provided comprehensive support to H2O, including financial incentives, setup assistance, and connections to the Abu Dhabi ecosystem and international trade opportunities.
Badr Al-Olama, Director General of ADIO, emphasized the shared visions for innovation and digital transformation between Abu Dhabi and South Korea.
H2O’s new headquarters in Abu Dhabi’s Global Market (ADGM) aims to advance its international growth, replicating its success in Asia and targeting opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) hospitality market.
The UAE’s hotel industry has shown robust performance, generating over AED 12.2B in revenues and hosting 7.2 million guests in the first quarter of 2023.
H2O’s solutions, connected to 85+ online travel agencies, will contribute to Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector by enhancing guest experiences and providing digitized, efficient processes for hotels.
John Lee, Founder & CEO of H2O, stressed the importance of digital transformation for the hospitality industry and expressed commitment to supporting Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector through business expansion.
Salem Mohammed Al Darei, CEO of ADGM Authority, congratulated H2O for choosing ADGM as its regional headquarters, highlighting the strategic collaboration between ADGM and ADIO.
ADIO established an office in Seoul in 2021 to foster relationships with South Korean companies.
