Dubai Harbour has welcomed the arrival of its first cruise passengers aboard the liner AIDAbella as the emirate prepares to see over 500,000 visitors during the cruise season.
Operated by AIDA Cruises, the maiden call of the AIDAbella at the Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal marks the start of the cruise season at Dubai Harbour.
About 1,200 passengers and 600 crew members arrived at the terminal which is capable of the simultaneous handling of two of the largest cruise ships currently operating globally.
Shamal Holding is the driving force behind making Dubai Harbour an exceptional seafront district.
Dubai’s 2021-2022 season, which commenced in October, is expected to welcome 126 ship calls and over 500,000 cruise visitors, contributing further to the momentum of Dubai’s tourism recovery.
More than 150,000 passengers are forecast to visit Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal in its first season.
Abdulla Binhabtoor, chief portfolio management officer, Shamal Holding, said: “Today marks a very special day for us, and we are excited to welcome the first cruise passengers to the Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal.
“Not only does this mark the beginning of a new era for the cruising industry in the UAE, but it further elevates Dubai Harbour’s position as an extraordinary seafront district in the region.”
Binhabtoor added: “Along with the launch of Expo 2020 Dubai this year, the opening of the cruise terminal represents a significant milestone in realising Dubai’s destiny to become the most visited city in the world.
“We look forward to working with partners across the trade and tourism ecosystem to advance and play a leading role in delivering the objectives of Dubai’s Tourism Strategy.”
Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: “The continued success of our cruise business depends on a number of key factors such as partnerships with more and more leading cruise lines, collaboration with major Dubai entities such as Shamal Holding and the availability of world-class infrastructure and facilities like the Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal.
“With the new cruise season in full swing, we are proud to be consistently included as a key port of call by the world’s largest and most popular ocean liners, as evidenced by the arrival of AIDAbella and the first passengers to the new Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal, further reinforcing Dubai’s global reputation as the ultimate cruise gateway to the region.”
The infrastructure at the Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal comprises two terminal buildings designed to process over 3,250 passengers per hour.
“We are excited and proud to bring AIDAbella, the ninth ship back into service… A special highlight of this year’s cruise season is the World Expo 2020,” said Felix Eichhorn, president of AIDA Cruises.
AIDA Cruises is the market leader in the German-speaking cruise market and currently operates one of the most modern fleets in the world with 13 cruise ships, including the first ever LNG propulsion cruise ship built.
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