Record-breaking year for Abu Dhabi Ports’ Cruise Terminal, with 48% increase in passengers and 40% increase in vessels
- 2016/2017 season extended to June for the first time ever due to record demand
- Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal welcomed Princess Cruise Lines’ Majestic Princess on her maiden voyage to mark close of the 2016/2017 season
Abu Dhabi, UAE – June 14, 2017: Abu Dhabi Ports, the master developer, operator and manager of the Emirate’s commercial and community ports as well as Khalifa Industrial Zone (KIZAD), celebrated the successful close of its best-ever cruise season at Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal with the maiden call of Princess Cruise Lines’ Majestic Princess. The company recorded booming growth for the year with a 40% increase in vessel calls and 48% overall increase in passengers to Zayed Port and Sir Bani Yas from last year.
The 2016/2017 cruise season saw more than 345,662 tourists visit the Emirate, up from 232,605 in 2015/2016. Likewise, vessel numbers increased from 115 in 2015/2016 to 161 in 2016/2017.
Abu Dhabi Port’s two cruise destinations are Zayed Port and the Sir Bani Yas Island Cruise Beach, which was launched during last year’s season as the first dedicated cruise beach and eco-tourism stopover.
Captain Mohamed Al Shamisi, Chief Executive Officer, Abu Dhabi Ports said that the record-breaking season was testament to the growth of Abu Dhabi, as a global hub for both commerce and tourism.
“For several years, we have made significant investments in our port infrastructure and tourism offerings to build a world-class cruise hub here in Abu Dhabi. We offer market-leading services to provide cruise passengers with value added services that address all their needs, and support the maritime tourism sector’s role in enhancing Abu Dhabi’s appeal as a leading tourism hub. Today, I’m proud to say that the Company’s vision and strategy is paying off with another record-breaking year,” said Captain Al Shamisi.
Calls by maiden vessels like the Majestic Princess promise a brighter future for the Abu Dhabi cruise tourism industry as a whole as well as the company. Cruise ships from European and American markets now select Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminals as preferred destinations on their routes. Most 10 nationalities arriving at the cruise terminal include Germany (48%), UK (21%), Italy (10%), Russia (5%), The Netherlands (4%), USA and Spain (3%), and Belgium, Switzerland and Austria at 2% each.
While most years the company has typically seen the cruise season end in late April/early May, the Majestic Princess vessel’s arrival at the terminal this June is testament to passenger demand to experience Abu Dhabi. It also underscores the important role that Abu Dhabi Ports, in partnership with Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, is playing as the Emirate delivers against Vision 2030 and the national economic diversification strategy.
The Majestic Princess is the newest sister ship to Royal Princess® and Regal Princess®, offering the Princess experience and signature favourites, plus exciting new features with a Chinese flair. The 19-story ship carries 3,560 guests, 1,346 crew and was built and launched in 2017 as the latest addition to the company’s fleet.
Naturally with the boom in numbers visiting the Cruise Terminal in Zayed Port, there has been a consequent increase in visitors to the Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach which offers cruise ship passengers a unique beach destination with unrivalled tourism experiences. This season proved to be a great success with 33 cruise vessels calling at Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach with an approximate 54,000-passenger total visiting the unfettered white sandy beaches.
Further enhancements and developments to the beach were announced by Abu Dhabi Ports, as they wrap up the successful season as well as added value offerings for cruise visitors, with details to follow.
The unique cruise beach is like no other in the region and was developed to meet the demand for a beach call addition to the itineraries of the world’s leading cruise lines. It gives Abu Dhabi a competitive advantage, as anchoring at this multi award-winning nature-conservation desert island adds a unique proposition to an already diverse array of passengers seeking a mix of luxury and adventure.
Abu Dhabi Ports has spearheaded the development of the cruise tourism industry in Abu Dhabi by following an approach marked by three principles; investment in infrastructure, creating a niche in the growing passenger market and ensuring maximum integration across the industry supply chain.
Launched in December 2016, Sir Bani Yas Island offers its cruise visitors all the activities regularly anticipated on an island call, such as beach sports, snorkelling, kayaking, but also unique excursions such as a cultural heritage tours of the island and a safari tour of the wildlife reserve. Abu Dhabi Ports continues to develop extensive facilities for cruise passengers while keeping with local culture and always mindful of the delicate island eco-system.