Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal has officially welcomed its first guests following the arrival of two passenger ships.
AIDAbella and Costa Firenze docked at the first dedicated cruise port in Dubai as Carnival Corporation executives attended a walk-through at the hub.
The opening of the 120,000 square metre-facility coincided with the start of the Dubai cruise season.
Carnival Corporation brands – AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises and Seabourn – are all scheduled to visit the cruise terminal by 2023. Betwen them, they are expected to make 90 calls in that time.
The twin terminal cruise port is equipped with four boarding bridges that can simultaneously support the full turnaround of the largest cruise ships.
Seating areas, washrooms, currency exchange outlets, ATMs, cafes, retail outlets, duty-free shops, dedicated parking, taxi stands all feature in the building.
Michael Thamm, group chief executive of Costa Group and Carnival Asia, said: “The two terminals stand as a tribute to the remarkable appeal of Dubai and the Arabian Gulf as a cruise destination.
“We look forward to working with Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal and its community partners to make Dubai Harbour a highly efficient and customer-friendly operation, while facilitating new tourism opportunities through cruising in the region.”