More cruise ships expected to dock at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed terminal

Passengers come mostly from Europe and the UK and often visit Abu Dhabi as part of regional tours which include Dubai, Bahrain, Muscat, Khor Fakkan and Khasab.

Captain Mohamed Al Shamisi, the chief executive of Abu Dhabi Ports, launches Seatrade Middle East Workboats & Offshore Marine 2015 on Monday. Courtesy Seatrade Middle East

The number of cruise ships docking in Abu Dhabi is set to increase by a fifth this season as the capital’s new Zayed Port cruise terminal opens by the end of this year.

Abu Dhabi Ports said yesterday that it has scheduled a total of 112 cruise ships to stop in the emirate during the new 2015-16 season, up from 94 the previous season, representing a 19 per cent increase.

The ships will bring a total of 205,000 passengers to the capital between September and May, up from 185,000 who flocked through the gates of Port Zayed last season.

Passengers come mostly from Europe and the United Kingdom and often visit Abu Dhabi as part of regional tours which include Dubai, Bahrain, Muscat, Khor Fakkan and Khasab.

The first cruise liner to dock in the capital this season was the 620-passenger MS Insignia, which pulled into Abu Dhabi on September 18.

The government-owned port operator, which also manages Khalifa Port, said that its new 2,500 passenger capacity Port Zayed terminal was now more than 60 per cent complete.

It reported that the envelope of the building had been completed and the fit-out for the passenger hall was 30 per cent finished.

w“The upcoming modern cruise terminal at Zayed Port will be a demonstration of our commitment to innovation and stakeholder focus,” said Captain Mohamed Al Shamisi, the chief executive of Abu Dhabi Ports.

“These developments further boost the Emirate’s tourism development, a major component in its economic diversification.”

The number of cruise liner passengers visiting Abu Dhabi has increased dramatically since the capital’s first cruise season in 2006-07 when 36,000 passengers arrived at Port Zayed in 29 ships.

Yesterday, Capt Al Shamisi gave the keynote presentation at the Seatrade Offshore Marine & Workboats Middle East conference and exhibition in the capital.

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