Dubai’s new cruise terminal has been formally opened and officials say that it will help boost the economy of the emirate which expects a 24% rise in cruise tourists this year.
Dubai is set to host 120 ships with more than 325,000 passengers this year, compared with 87 cruise ships that brought 261,000 tourists to the emirate of Dubai in 2009.
During the course of the festivities marking the launch of one of the Middle East’s biggest cruise terminal facilities, the naming ceremony took place for a passenger cruise ship, Costa Deliziosa, making Dubai the first Arab city to host such a ceremony.
The inauguration of the new cruise terminal in Dubai and the naming ceremony of the Italian cruise has marked an important day for the Dubai tourism industry which will no doubt encourage other cruise operators to choose Dubai as their cruise hub.
Developed and operated by the DTCM at the Port Rashid complex, the new facility will have a capacity to accommodate 4 cruise ships simultaneously.
The new terminal was opened by the Dubai Crown Prince, Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in the presence of Chairman of Dubai Airports and Emirates Airlines Group, Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman and CEO of Costa Crociere, Pier Luigi Foschi, and Italian ambassador to the UAE, Paolo Dionisi.
Mejren said that the capacity of the new terminal has been increased and this is in line with future plan of the emirate to promote tourism in Dubai.
By 2013, the terminal is expected to receive 165 ships with 475,000 passengers, reaching 180 ships with 525,000 passengers in 2014 and 195 ships with 575,000 passengers in 2015.
Tourists and Hotels
Despite the economic down turn in Dubai, the emirate continues to attract high number of tourists and record high occupancy in hotels. This landmark development clearly reflects the growth potential of cruise tourism in Dubai and also the global interest in Dubai’s tourism facilities. Costa Deliziosa left Savona on the Grand Maiden Cruise and arrived in Dubai with over 2,600 passengers.
The DTCM Director-General Khalid A bin Sulayem said. “The cruise tourism plays a crucial role in the overall growth and development of the tourism industry in the emirate. We realised its importance long ago and created the infrastructure and services that were needed to tap its potential. The new terminal will meet the increase demand that has been recorded in cruise tourists to Dubai.”
Weighing 92,600 gross tonnage and with a total guest capacity of 2,826, the new ship has been built at a total cost of €450 million. During winter 2010-11 the Costa Deliziosa and Costa Luminosa — Costa’s top of the range offer — will be offering 7-day cruises in the Arabian Gulf with departure from Dubai and stopovers in Muscat, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.