Crowds cheer QE2 into Dubai

World famous ocean liner the QE2 arrived in Dubai early on Wednesday evening, exactly 40 years to the day from when she first went to sea on her preliminary sea trials on Nov. 26 1968.

The ship docked at Mina Rashid at around 6pm UAE time and was greeted by hundreds of cheering well-wishers waving Union Jack and UAE flags.

A glittering fireworks display lit up the sky above the QE2, while the Dubai Police band struck up a tune, played Scottish bagpipes.

The cruise ship was met by a group of dignitaries from state-owned conglomerate Dubai World and real estate unit Nakheel, including Dubai World chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem and Nakheel CEO Chris O'Donnell.

The QE2 was accompanied into port by a flotilla of more than 60 local yachts, boats and leisure-craft, led by MY Dubai - the mega-yacht owned by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum - and Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster.

In the sky above the flotilla, one of Emirates' new Airbus A380 superjumbos made several passes.

Joining the A380 in the sky was several Royal Naval helicopters.

"It is a very emotional occasion. To see such an iconic vessel dock for the last time - this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Arabian Business correspondent Tom Arnold said, speaking from aboard the media yacht in the flotilla.

Passengers were to spend Wednesday night aboard the QE2 for an exclusive party and then disembark on Thursday, for the last time, after which the QE2 will transformed into a floating hotel that will be docked on the trunk of the Palm Jumeirah, one of three palm-shaped islands Nakheel is building off Dubai's coast.

Johann Schumacher, project director on Palm Jumeirah, told Arabian Business the refit could take two to three years, but it would be dependent on the condition of the ship.

"We are not going to rush this, this is a treasured icon that we will look after," he said in an interview.

Schumacher the QE2 would be positioned at the end of a 300m long T-shaped pier and this will be off the trunk of the Palm.

He said the QE2 would be transformed into a hotel with a theatre and restaurant, and alongside the QE2 there would be a mixed use development, including a museum of the QE2 and restaurants, as well as retail and residential areas.

He said the ship's iconic funnel, the subject of controversy in the UK, would be removed.

Schumacher said one of the plans for the funnel was to make it the centrepiece at the entry to the QE2 precinct to be built on the trunk of the Palm.

"It is one of those great icons that we would like to keep... We need to have something strong to show this is the [QE2] precinct," he said.

On Thursday, the official flag changing ceremony will take place on board the QE2 when current owner Cunard will formally hand over the ship to Nakheel.

The QE2 was purchased last year by Dubai World and Nakheel has already commenced construction on the luxury marina development on the Palm Jumeirah.

The QE2 left Southampton in the UK on Nov. 11 on her final journey, a 16-night cruise via Lisbon, Rome and Alexandria to reach Dubai.

The Duke of Edinburgh attended the farewell at Southampton Port, joined by hundreds of well-wishers.

Over the forty years the QE2 has circumnavigating the world 25 times, crossing the Atlantic Ocean 800 times and carrying 2.5 million passengers.

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