Cruising in the Middle East is about to start a new chapter. This week, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, approved the building of the Dubai Cruise Terminal, a partnership between Meraas Holding and Carnival Corporation in the developing Dubai Harbour. It’s part of an initiative to draw 20 million visitors a year to the emirate.
Dubai Cruise Terminal will begin operations in October 2020, and all ships visiting Port Rashid (Dubai’s current port) will eventually be moved to the new terminal. According to SmarterTravel’s sister site, Cruise Critic, Port Rashid is currently home to three distinct cruise terminals, a coffee bar, a deli/lunch operation, souvenir shops, and free internet in its business center. Several major shopping malls also offer free shuttles from the port.
Related:The Best Times to Book for Cruise Savings, by Destination
The new Dubai Cruise Terminal will be Carnival’s primary Middle East hub, and a press release says this will help grow the cruise tourism business in the Arabian Gulf region, seen as an emerging sector. Carnival will launch new cruises from this terminal, hoping to attract passengers from India and China. The new terminal will have two cruise buildings, with a capacity to host three major ships and up to 13,200 passengers at any given time. Another phase of the project includes two more terminal buildings, with an eventual capacity of six cruise ships.
Upon completion, the new Dubai Harbour (at 20 million square feet) will be home to the largest yacht marina in the Middle East and North Africa, featuring a shopping mall, luxury residential units, restaurants, cafes, a yacht club, and the new Dubai Lighthouse, as well as a road network, marine and air transportation facilities, a monorail line, and water taxis.
Related:10 New Bucket List Cruises for 2018
Arnold W. Donald, Chief Executive Officer of Carnival Corporation, said: “We have a long history in Dubai with our world-leading cruise brands. We are excited to be part of this important venture that will drive new tourism opportunities for Dubai and the region through cruising.” And while 2020 is still a little while away, the new cruise port will be a major win for Dubai’s tourism industry and Middle East travel in general.
You Tell Us: Which destinations would you like to be able to cruise to in the Middle East?
[viator_tour destination=”828″ type=”3-mod”]
More from SmarterTravel: Why Travelers Are Flocking to the Middle East in 2018 Where to Go in the Middle East and North Africa 6 Destinations on the Rise in 2018
We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
When it comes to using a car service to get around town, to and from the airport or from one destination to the next, travelers looking for a high-end option have a myriad of brands to pick from. Based on my personal experience, I can tell you that I’ve come to rely on Blacklane.
It’s a couple of pandemic years behind schedule, but on July 5th The Sphere was lit up for the first time, changing the Las Vegas skyline forever. But that was just a tease, and next month, on September 29, The Sphere will be opened in its full glory by U2 – with the band’s first live performance anywhere in the world in nearly four years.
Flying to the United Arab Emirates from the United States just got easier. Etihad Airways, one of the national airlines of the UAE, just announced new service between Boston and Abu Dhabi, beginning on March 31, 2024.
Get thee to New York's museums and get thee to them now. There's an end in sight to summer's dog days, and with the promise of cooler early-autumn days comes a fresh turnover in the exhibitions on offer throughout the city. Some of the big summer tentpoles—Africa Fashion at the Brooklyn Museum, installations at both MoMA and MoMA PS1—will run all the way into October, so if you haven't made your way to them yet, there's still time. Joining these holdovers are a myriad of newer options, the variety of which ensures that there's something for everyone. Find our guide below.
A French man known for taking part in extreme sports has died from what appears to be a fall from a high-rise apartment complex in Hong Kong, local police confirmed to Insider.
Every year, retired cruise ships are sold to ship-breaking yards in Turkey and India where thousands of workers painstakingly dismantle the massive vessels and sell their parts for scrap.
Sometimes it’s the look of a place that inspires us to want to visit. For travelers who roam the Internet looking for visual inspiration to decide where to go next, Pinterest has a handy new tool.
Enter the Liberty Richter “Kitchens of India” sweepstakes by June 15, 2016, for a chance to win the grand prize: a six-day trip for two to New Delhi, India, including air, transfers, and hotel.
Paris Hilton hasn’t been much in the limelight lately, and now we know why. The 35-year-old socialite and media magnet has been busy developing a new line of luxury hotels to open in Dubai, New York, and Las Vegas.
Enter the Family Circle “Sail Away with MasterChef” sweepstakes by August 31, 2016, for a chance to win the grand prize: a seven-night MasterChef cruise for two, including air to and from the cruise port, and a $650 check to cover port charges and other trip expenses.
Fall is often referred to as the sweet spot of travel for many destinations because you’ll encounter fewer crowds and pleasant weather, post summer’s high season.