Dubai forecasts 500,000 visitors as cruise season commences

The emirate’s popularity as a cruise destination has increased significantly 

The arrival of TUI Cruise Line’s Mein Schiff 6 at Hamdan bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal, Mina Rashid last week marked the start of Dubai’s cruise season.

The emirate, which is currently the region’s cruise hub, welcomed more than 2,000 passengers and crew on the Mein Schiff 6, the first of several luxury ships that will dock at the cruise terminals of Mina Rashid. 

The 2022 season is expected to welcome more 500,000 cruise visitors and 126 ship calls

Dubai’s ability to handle some of the world’s biggest cruise ships has bolstered its position as a gateway for both regional and international cruise itineraries with some luxury liners choosing Dubai as their homeport. 

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Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) director-general Helal Saeed Al Marri said: “In this landmark year for Dubai featuring Expo 2020 and the UAE Golden Jubilee, the arrival of TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 6 is a significant expression of confidence in Dubai as a cruise destination and marks a major step in the revival of the cruise industry in this part of the world.” 

Speaking about Dubai’s tourism sector, Dubai Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management chairman Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed, added: “Dubai’s effective management of the Covid-19 pandemic has enabled the emirate to restore normalcy in record time and accelerate the recovery of the tourism sector. The emirate has also been able to demonstrate its ability to swiftly negotiate any challenges and restore growth across all sectors.”