Carnival Corporation has signed a strategic partnership with Dubai-based holding company Meraas to develop the Dubai Cruise Terminal.
Set to open in October 2020, the terminal will serve as the main hub for cruise tourism in Dubai and will become Carnival Corporation’s primary hub for its homeporting and transit operations in the region.
The event was attended by Crown Prince of Dubai HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Under the agreement, signed by His Excellency Abdulla Al Habbai, Group Chairman of Meraas, and Arnold W. Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest leisure travel company, the companies will collaborate across several strategic areas including port development, terminal management and new cruise development opportunities at Dubai Harbour and the broader region.
Dubai is set to become central to Carnival Corporation’s operations in the region. The agreement mandates Carnival Corporation to assist Meraas in ensuring the cruise terminal meets the highest international standards of the cruise industry, while the relevant authorities will be responsible for security, immigration and customs.
Dubai to become major maritime tourism hub
The agreement highlights Meraas’ support for Dubai Tourism Vision 2020, which aims to attract 20 million visitors a year to the emirate, and strengthens the company’s contribution to Dubai Plan 2021, the strategic roadmap to establish Dubai among the world’s best cities.
Operations at the ‘Dubai Cruise Terminal’ are scheduled to commence in October 2020. Following discussions with His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DP, it was agreed on 26 March 2018, that ‘Dubai Cruise Terminal’ will become the main cruise terminal in Dubai and all cruise ships visiting Port Rashid will be redirected gradually from its opening date.
According to the Cruise Lines Industry Association (CLIA), more than 40 million people worldwide will travel on cruise ships annually by 2030, marking a 40 percent increase from 26 million passengers in 2017. At a local level, the maritime tourism sector is expected to contribute more than AED1.5 billion to Dubai’s economy by 2030.
Carnival Corporation is the world’s largest leisure travel company and is dually listed on both the New York Stock Exchange and London Stock Exchange. Operating international brands such as Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, P&O Cruises UK, P&O Cruises Australia, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn and Cunard, the company has a fleet of over 100 cruise ships visiting more than 700 ports around the world.
Carnival Corporation employs more than 120,000 staff and serves over 12 million passengers annually. The largest business of its kind in the GCC region, Carnival Corporation commands about 45 percent of Dubai’s maritime tourism market.
