Cruise Saudi, the government owned organisation tasked with developing cruise tourism in Saudi Arabia, has acquired the 2017 built cruise ship World Dream for a reported $330 million.

The 150,695 gross ton vessel was sold at auction in Singapore following the collapse of Genting Hong Kong, its previous owner, early last year. The new owner has renamed the ship Manara.

“One of collapsed cruise ship operator Genting Hong Kong’s flagship Asia-based cruise ships has been sold by liquidators in Singapore for US$330 million. World Dream, launched in 2017 to serve the Asian market and with capacity for 5,000 passengers, was snapped up in late February by Cruise Saudi – a relative newcomer to the global cruising industry and financially backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund,” Inside Asian Gaming reports on its website.