Total tourist number increased by 172% as 633 thousand passengers via 120 Cruise vessels in 2018.
DP World with a world class infrastructure and a strong robust growth of Dubai as an established cruise hub in the region, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal the biggest cruise terminal in the world in term of size and handling capacity, receives more than 2.3 million tourists since its inauguration in 2014 and up to till end of 2018.
Robust Tourist Growth
Dubai’s Hamdan Bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal recorded a milestone with 172 percent increase in Cruise tourists’ numbers from 2014 with a 232.6 thousand visitors to 2018 with 632.7 thousand visitors, in addition of recorded significant growth of vessels calls from 94 calls in 2014 to 120 calls in 2018. In the year 2015 Hamdan Bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal received around 270.9 thousand visitors, 564.2 visitors in 2016, and 602.4 visitors in 2017.
DP World will continue provide the support thru the development of infrastructure, Terminals, and berthing with a length of 1900 meter can accommodate up to 7 mega ship at a time carrying more than 18,000 passengers. This number of cruise visitors arriving in one day can be smoothly handled with the 70 thousand square meter of car parking can take up to 36 big buses, 150 taxis, and sufficient number of private cars. Mina Rashid Cruise Terminals recorded for 10 consecutive years as a Middle East Leading Cruise Port by the World Travel award.
5 Cruise Ships
Dubai, UAE 5th January 2019: DP World welcomed five international Cruise Liners at the Hamdan Bin Mohamed Cruise Terminal 3 carrying 23,317 visitors, announcing the start of a cruise tourist season with Cruise Vessels Aida Prima with 6700 visitors, MSC Splendida with 7918 visitors, MscLirica with 3860 visitors, Costa Mediterranea with 5,550 visitors, Horizon with 3700 visitors.
Achieving the Objective of Dubai
Mohamed Abdulaziz Al Mannaei Executive Director Mina Rashid and CEO of P&O Marinas Said: DP World is keen to develop Cruise Terminal Facilities to the world highest standards and actively contribute to attract more of international cruise lines to Dubai to support vital role of the tourism sector in promoting economic growth. As continues development in Hamdan Bin Mohamed Cruise Terminal meets the requirements of major international cruise ships, to promote the location of Dubai as a central hub on the map of cruise tourism regionally and globally.
Dubai’s vision is to welcome a million Cruise Tourists by 2020, as confirmed by 10 international companies to keep Dubai as their main destination for the winter season 2020-2021, which will support to arrange 10 international cruises starting from Dubai. A variety of sizes of cruise ships between medium, luxury and Mega to meet the various budgets and geographical areas, and explained that the tourist visa which allows them to enter the country multiple times has been an important factor in efforts to attract the Cruise tourists from around the world.
Hamad Bin Mejren, Senior Vice President, Stakeholders, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing said: “Dubai is fast becoming a favoured destination amongst international cruise lines and cruise tourists, and we are dedicated to showcasing the robust growth of the city as an established cruise hub for the wider region. We are delighted with the arrival of five more cruise ships in a single day during this season, further cementing Dubai’s position as a prime gateway to a cruising holiday. Moreover, this season and every weekend starting in December 2018 through March 2019 we will have 4 ships in-port. Indeed, this latest success can be attributed to the continued contribution being made by our valued network of industry partners and various public and private sector stakeholders, and is a reflection of our commitment to work within a collaborative framework to boost the growth of the emirate’s cruise industry and tourism sector at large”.
