Dubai’s cruise season is picking up steam as the weather cools. Dubai Cruise Tourism stated a 19 percent rise in cruise tourism passengers this season is expected as a total of 110 cruise ships are scheduled to stop in the emirate.
According to a statement from Dubai Cruise Tourism, part of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), on Sunday the last two weeks of November alone will see Mina Rashid welcome 11 ship calls carrying more than 39,954 passengers and crew, with nine of the 11 vessels staying overnight in Dubai.
The statement said passenger numbers are likely to rise by 19 per cent over the 2013/2014 season, with an additional 60,000 travelers set to board, land or travel at the port. Six vessels, which are using Dubai Cruise Terminal as their home port, are expected to make 83 trips from 63 last seasons. It added that more than 381,000 passengers will arrive in the emirate over the next seven months.
Dubai Tourism expects the emirate’s cruise sector to have further sustained growth, impelled by the opening of a new 27,000 square metre terminal at Mina Rashid by year-end, which could allow it to handle up to five cruise ships simultaneously, and the implementation of a multiple-entry visa for cruise tourists.
According to Dubai Residency and Nationalisation Department the new visa rule, which took effect August 1, allows tourists to enter the UAE though any of its ports, travel out of them and come back on the same visa. The visa, which costs Dh200, is valid for 60 days from the date of issue to the first entry into the UAE. After the first entry, it is valid for 30 days.
