Abu Dhabi to become home port for luxury Italian liner

Abu Dhabi will become the main base for the cruise liner MSC Lirica after a deal was signed between Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and the vessel’s owner MSC Cruises.

The move is part of Abu Dhabi’s bid to strengthen its tourism industry and ambition to attract 2.3 million hotel guests to the emirate by the end of 2012, the official news agency WAM reports.

Under the deal, Mina Zayed Port will serve as the primary point for passengers to embark or disembark during the operator’s November 2011 to March 2012 schedule.

According to the report, the deal represents MSC Cruises’ entry into the Arabian Gulf. MSC Lirica is a 59,000-ton vessel with a capacity for 2,199 guests in 784 cabins.

"MSC Cruises' commitment to Abu Dhabi as a homeport will deliver both tactical and strategic outcomes for the emirate," Mubarak Al Muhairi, ADTA director general.

"Beyond the substantial, broad-based benefits to our domestic tourism sector through incremental gains in hotel guests, longer length of stay and greater spending, this partnership provides Abu Dhabi a firm footing on the international cruise tourism map and reinforces the strategic case for a world-class, purpose-built cruise terminal in the emirate." Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises CEO, said.