Significant port expansion plans for the cruise industry were outlined at the Seatrade Middle East Cruise Forum, Abu Dhabi, which was attended by global cruise line executives, regional ministers, tourism leaders and delegates.

Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Qatar, Oman and Ras Al-Khaimah all spoke of port expansion plans that would enable the region to grow its share of the lucrative cruise market.

Launching the summit, Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA) and host of the Seatrade Middle East Cruise Forum, said, "I am delighted to announce that the current temporary cruise terminal at Mina Zayed will now become the site of the permanent one. The concept design will be announced in Q1 2014." Mohamed Juma al Shamisi, Acting CEO, ADPC, said, "This season (2013/2014), we are expecting more than 76 ship calls, including ten maiden arrivals and a visit from Cunard’s latest luxury flagship, the Queen Elizabeth. The new cruise terminal is a significant investment and offers a much improved customer experience. As both port owner and terminal operator, we have expanded both our range of ancillary and marine services to meet the specific needs of visiting cruise ships as well as improved access to the port with Gate No 2 at Zayed Port dedicated to serve traffic to cruise lines. But this is only the beginning." Once finished, the permanent port will have capacity for three to four cruise ships at one time.

Chairman of the Qatar Tourism Authority, Issa Al Mohannadi, expanded on Qatar’s cruise ambitions as part of a strategy to attract seven million visitors annually by 2030. He said that commercial port activities would be relocated to a new site outside of the capital Doha in 2016, at which time the existing facility would be redeveloped with increased draught to 12 metres to act as a dedicated cruise tourism port - with the bonus of a location within walking distance of the iconic Museum of Modern Art.

"With Dubai hosting Expo 2020, there will be significant focus on the region and this gives us an opportunity to collaborate and use cruise as a link between destinations to attract a bigger number of visitors," he said.

Port development was also a feature of Oman’s presentation by the Director-General of Tourism Development at the Ministry of Tourism, Salim Al Mamari, who confirmed Sultan Qaboos Port would cease to cater for cargo vessels from August 2014, with redevelopment covering three new cruise berths, ferry and marina berths, hotels, souks, restaurants and other tourism facilities.

Expansion is also planned for Salalah with a separate cruise terminal, while Khasab port in Musandam in the north was being re-designed with additional facilities for cruise ships, he added.

In other developments around the region, Dubai is pushing ahead with a new terminal, according to Hamad bin Mejren, Executive Director of Business Tourism at Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Government of Dubai. He said the new facility at Mina Rashid would be operational in the first quarter of 2014 and would be four times the size of the current terminal.

In addition, the Director of Ras Al-Khaimah Tourism Investment ’&’ Development Authority, Khalid Motik, said his emirate is keen to learn more from the cruise line representatives on their requirements for additional ports of call in the region, revealing that a cruise facility at Mina Saqr was planned for launch by 2016/17.

Both Assistant Under-Secretary of Bahrain, Shaikh Khalid bin Humood Al Khalifa and Khalid Jasem Al Midfa, Director-General of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), supported the formation of a regional committee to meet regularly to discuss issues including the creation of diverse on-shore itineraries as well as liaison with both cruise companies and their potential passengers a suggestion endorsed by Oman’s Salim Al Mamari.

Organised by Seatrade with the support of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau, the 3-day Seatrade Middle East Cruise Forum took place at the newly opened five-star Rosewood Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island.
 

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