Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, has just inaugurated DP World’s third cruise terminal in Dubai. Alan Lam reports.
The new Hamdan bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal is currently the largest in the world, covering an area of 28,000 square metres, capable of handling 14,000 passengers a day. It is the latest addition to the Dubai Cruise Terminal at Mina Rashid.
On 11 December, the terminal welcome 4,000 passengers from Costa Cruises and Aida Cruises ships.
"Dubai’s vision is to attract 20 million tourists a year by 2020,” saidSultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of DP World, “with the Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing anticipating cruise tourist numbers reaching the one-million mark by that time."
"The new building will increase the handling capacity of the three cruise terminals in Dubai from two million tourists a year to seven million,” he added."The terminal is the largest and most modern cruise facility in the Middle East and the wider region, enabling the award-winning Mina Rashid to now serve up to seven cruise vessels at one time and more than 25,000 passengers in its three cruise terminals. This expansion came in response to requests from cruise liners and will enable them to increase the number of their trips to Dubai."
As well as modern handling facilities, the terminal offers passengersa streamlined immigration and customsprocedures, coordinated by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.
Its features also include duty-free outlets, shops, ATM machines, currency exchange and a VIP business centre.
