Istithmar World 'considering' QE2 future

Monday, 8 February 2010 11:23 AM

OUT OF STEAM: The QE2 arrived in Dubai in November 2008, amid much fanfare. Its future, however, remains unclear.

Dubai World investment arm Istithmar World (IW) has admitted it is considering “a number of options” regarding the future of the QE2, the luxury cruise liner which it paid $100m for three years ago.

“There are a number of options being considered for QE2. IW is considering which option will best maximise value of the vessel,” a spokesperson said in a statement on Monday, following reports that Dubai World is preparing to sell a number of its high profile assets in order to finance its debt repayments.

The assets reported to be for sale include the QE2 and Canadian circus group Cirque du Soleil.

In January, IW confirmed that it had abandoned a plan to send the liner to South Africa for the football World Cup.

The ship is currently moored in Port Rashid in Dubai, where she arrived amid much fanfare in November 2008. The intention then was to convert the ship into a floating hotel, which would have seen her eventually moored at the Palm Jumeirah.

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Posted by: paul Tuesday, 5 October 2010 2:51 PM[UAE] - england

why cant she just be used as hotel as she is /was,i,d go and stay every year,being an ex qe2 cruiser,i miss the ship was a british built ship,new queen elizabeth is not ,and its carnival line to,so theres not a lot about her now thats british

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Posted by: BRANDO Saturday, 13 February 2010 10:10 PM[UAE] - UK

?There are a number of options being considered for QE2. IW is considering which option will best maximise value of the vessel,? So what are the options being considered by IW ? Have they mentioned any of them so far ? @ Ross Get your hand in your pocket and buy it then Ross, she "rightfully" belongs to whoever paid for it....and it still may be for sale so don't dilly dally. :)

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Posted by: Ross Burnside Monday, 8 February 2010 5:06 PM[UAE] - Scotland

Return her to British Waters where she rightfully belongs, and where her magnificent iconic lines can be looked after for the enjoyment of generations to come.

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Posted by: Sussex Sheikh Monday, 8 February 2010 1:47 PM[UAE]

As per pre-decessor QE1, how about a watery grave in Hong Kong harbour?

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