Hotels in the UAE are reporting high occupancy this winter in what is the onset of the peak season in one of the flourishing economies of the Middle East, industry executives said.

Christmas and New Year are acting as catalysts to bring holidaymakers from across the world to the UAE, particularly Abu Dhabi and Dubai, they told Gulf News.

Mild weather conditions, law and order, easy-going lifestyle and retail sales promotions are other factors that are pulling in tourists.

"Right now, 230 out of our 394 rooms and suites are occupied. Until the night of January 2, there is going to be more than 95 per cent occupancy as we are getting more and more individual bookings," said Ahmad Elzanaty, reservations sales representative at Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace Hotel.