Dubai's cruise tourism is all set to make a decisive comeback starting October 29, with more than 900,000 passengers expected to drop in during this peak winter season.
This year’s cruise season officially starts with the arrival of TUI Cruise Line’s Mein Schiff 6 at Hamdan bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal in Mina Rashid. Last year, Dubai received 98 cruise ship calls, with 338,697 passengers and crew, as the industry made a comeback of sorts from the devastating hit brought about by COVID-19.
Thus, in the coming weeks, Dubai and the UAE is set to welcome one of the best years for cruises since the region became a default industry itinerary in 2006.
Major cruise liners are scheduled to visit Mina Rashid and Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal (DHCT), which welcomed its first passengers last year. “At DHCT, we expect the first cruise liner to arrive on November 17, with 46 ship calls and more than 300,000 visitors expected until April 2023,” said Abdulla Binhabtoor, Chief Portfolio Management Officer of Shamal Holding.
Dubai Harbour is owned-operatedby Shamal Holding, which also manages Kite Beach, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Skydive Dubai, Deep-dive Dubai, X Dubai and Dubai Films, among other leisure and entertainment attractions.
Binhabtoor said: “The 2022-23 cruise season is widely considered a ramp-up season for the global cruise industry and very relevant to our region. Occupancy levels on the cruise ships are anticipated to increase significantly, and the cruise industry's feedback also supports this.”
Following the debut of the largest standalone dedicated twin cruise terminal in the Eastern hemisphere last year, Binhabtoor said DHCT is fully geared for the upcoming season.
