The initiatives of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) to promote and market the emirate as ultimate cruise destination in the region has yielded impressive results with Dubai’s state-of-the-art cruise terminal playing a host to over 120,205 tourists in 2007, far more than the projected 105,000.

Mr. Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, DTCM Executive Director of Dubai Cruise Terminal, said: “The cruise tourism in Dubai is gaining strength each passing year and the year 2007 witnessed performance exceeding the projections. Dubai has emerged as preferred destination of choice for the global cruise liners. Several new cruise liners started using Dubai as a regional hub for their operations successfully. This spectacular performance is a major boost to the growth of regional cruise tourism.”

The ship-shaped Dubai Cruise Terminal, opened in 2001, measures 3300 square metres and is able to accommodate two ships simultaneously on a 335-metre quay.

The Dubai Cruise Terminal is the world's first to receive ISO-9002 certification and also the world’s only cruise facility run by the government tourism body, DTCM.  

DTCM signed an agreement with Cruise operator Costa Crociere. The agreement marks the creation of a full-fledged partnership between Costa Crociere and Dubai, providing for joint marketing initiatives in the next five years promoting both brands worldwide. 

During the current winter season 2007-2008, Dubai expects more than 200,000 cruise passengers to visit the emirate, giving a further boost to the booming tourism industry.  

Dubai handled 32,000 cruise passenger movements in 2006, up from 23,000 cruise passengers in the previous year. 

The DTCM has taken up an initiative to discuss the cruise tourism industry growth and expansion in the region with the proposed hosting of a meeting of senior officials of the AGCC cruise ports in Dubai in March.