Tuesday 22 June 2021

Abu Dhabi to resume Cruise Tourism

Posted by Zaishan at 15:50 Abu Dhabi Tourism

The resumption of cruise tourism by Abu Dhabi will enable the emirate to rebuild a sector that recorded significant growth in 2019, with mor...

The resumption of cruise tourism by Abu Dhabi will enable the emirate to rebuild a sector that recorded significant growth in 2019, with more than 500,000 visitors, up 46 per cent from 2018, and 192 port calls, up 43 per cent from 2018.

The DCT has announced the resumption of cruise liners in Abu Dhabi starting from September 1st 2021, after months of closure in 2020 as a result of the strict COVID-19 precautionary measures.

@dctabudhabi will resume cruise tourism at Zayed Port and Sir Bani Yas Island #inAbuDhabi from 1 September 2021, following successes achieved by implementing precautionary measures to combat the pandemic.

.@dctabudhabi will resume cruise tourism at Zayed Port and Sir Bani Yas Island #inAbuDhabi from 1 September 2021, following successes achieved by implementing precautionary measures to combat the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/rqOamvAYtB
— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@admediaoffice) June 22, 2021

Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and @AbuDhabiPorts will implement strict safety measures to protect passengers and crew, including requiring passengers to be vaccinated and have a negative PCR test result within 48 hours, plus daily sterilisation of terminals and a comprehensive emergency response plan.

HE Ali Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi explained more about the benefits of opening up cruise ships to the ports of the capital city. “We are delighted to welcome all cruise liners back to Abu Dhabi after a challenging year. This step comes part of the leading efforts to enliven the Emirate’s tourism sector after the impressive results we’ve achieved in combatting the spread of the pandemic, and yet another step towards strengthening the UAE capital’s position as a world-class hub for maritime tourism. We will continue to work closely with our partners at Abu Dhabi Ports to further boost the maritime tourism sector and attract more businesses and tourists providing them with unparalleled services and experiences while exploring Abu Dhabi and its diverse offerings.”.

Noura Rashed Al Dhaheri, Managing Director - Cruise Business, Abu Dhabi Ports, said: “We are well prepared to receive and welcome vaccinated visitors to the UAE’s capital once again and are excited to see the resumption of cruise activities at both Zayed Port and Sir Bani Yas Island. As the well-being of all travellers visiting our esteemed Emirate remains our highest priority, we have implemented a cruise management plan to ensure an efficient, smooth, and safe return to regular cruise operations.

As part of its strategy, DCT Abu Dhabi will be announcing a series of initiatives throughout the year. These include upcoming projects and events, as well as participation in international events as part of its continuous efforts to promote the destination to global audiences. Abu Dhabi is also seeing the development of several landmark projects, such as Al Qana, the 2.4 kilometers canal project, World’s first Warner Bros Hotel, Waterfront of Al Qana, near the Grand Canal, the largest aquarium in the Middle East and Snow Abu Dhabi – the world’s largest indoor snow park with 11,660 square meters, all set to open later this year.