Dubai cruise season: 900,000 cruise passengers and crew will be passing through the city
For many, Dubai brings to mind images of towering skyscrapers, golden sands and all things luxurious. This is a city that seamlessly blends old and new, glamour and tradition. One moment you could be atop the Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest building – and the next, wandering the souks, the smell of spices in the air. At the end of October the city will be hustling and bustling with loads of tourists with hundreds of thousands of people sailing into Dubai Harbour aboard cruise ships. The 2022-2023 season starts on Saturday, October 29 and will see 166 ship calls between Mina Rashid and Dubai Harbour and with that an estimated 900,000 cruise passengers and crew. dubai cruise season
The cruise industry is an integral part of Dubai’s tourism sector and plays an important role in reinforcing the emirate’s status as a global tourism hub. The 2022-2023 season starts on Saturday, October 29 and will see 166 ship calls between Mina Rashid and Dubai Harbour and with that an estimated 900,000 cruise passengers and crew.
Average temperatures in November sit at around 25°C, with highs of 30°C and lows of a comfortable 19°C. This means November is an excellent choice for those looking to soak up some sunshine – with reliable suncream to hand, of course.
By February temperatures have cooled even further and are perfectly pleasant with highs of 24°C and lows of 15°C, making Dubai a popular winter sun destination. If you are visiting Dubai, find the best activities here.
Proving that Dubai is a hub for cruise liners to dock at, the 2022-2023 season will welcome a huge increase in ships compared to 2021-2022 season
Dubai has taken important steps to facilitate cruise travel through the strong ongoing development of ports and cruise terminal infrastructure, hassle-free entry procedures and visa facilities, and strengthening collaborations with leading industry players and stakeholders to further drive cruise visitation. Its popularity as a cruise destination has expanded significantly over the past decade, resulting in the world’s biggest cruise liners consistently including Dubai as a port of call in their cruise itineraries.
The previous season was the first time that Dubai Harbour received ships. saw 98 ship calls and more than 338,697 passengers and crew land in Dubai. It is no surprise that tourists are flocking to Dubai this winter. The city has the winning combination of perfect weather, exciting attractions and top-notch restaurants. If you are docking in Dubai Harbour there are plenty of trendy haunts nearby.
Some major cruise liners scheduled to visit Dubai this season include MSC Cruises & TUI Cruises and Ponant (MSC World Europa, Opera, Mein Schiff 6 & Le Bougainville), which will make the award-winning Mina Rashid Cruise Terminal their home port for the season. In addition, C.S. Aida Cosma (arriving on 17 November) and C.S. Costa Toscana, the two new LNG-powered cruise ships, will arrive at the Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal.
Several cruise liners arriving in Dubai have outlined their commitment to sustainability and decarbonization. Coupled with the energy-efficient infrastructure and facilities in Dubai’s ports, this will help achieve the ambitious sustainability goals outlined in the UAE’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the UAE Net Zero 2050 initiative.
Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal
The infrastructure at the Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal comprises two terminal buildings that offer passengers and crew a safe, comfortable, and seamless experience. Designed to process over 3,250 passengers per hour, the highly efficient and modern terminals are located on a pier stretch of over 910 meters and can accommodate a complete passenger turnaround of two mega cruise ships simultaneously.
Throughout the season, more than 300,000 cruise passengers are expected to arrive at the Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal, marking accelerating growth for the cruise industry in the country.
