Travellers keen go on a UAE cruise will soon be able to do so aboard the MSC World Europa, a new vessel that will sail the Arabian Gulf using one of the cleanest marine fuels available.
Next winter, MSC Cruises' most environmentally advanced ship will make the UAE its home port.
Traversing the Arabian Gulf, the 22-deck ship will offer seven-night sailings from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Sir Bani Yas Island, Dammam in Saudi Arabia and Doha in Qatar.
Currently still under construction at a shipyard in France, the MSC World Europa is set to be delivered to the cruise line in October before making its voyage to Dubai in December where it will begin winter sailings.
The mammoth passenger cruise ship will have 2,626 cabins and can accommodate almost 7,000 passengers. At over 330 metres in length, it will also have six swimming pools, 13 restaurants, an indoor promenade, aqua park and a spiral-shaped 11-deck slide, which will be the longest dry slide at sea.
Sailings will be powered by liquefied natural gas and the ship will have an underwater radiated noise management system, advanced wastewater treatment systems and a range of energy-efficient equipment.
MSC World Europa is the first in the MSC Cruises’ fleet to use cleaner fuel, something that is a key part of the company’s wider plan to eradicate carbon emissions.
“MSC World Europa will redefine the cruise experience with a variety of never-before-seen features unlike anything at sea today and the vessel will be an additional benefit to the UAE’s tourism industry,” said Gianni Onorato, chief executive of MSC Cruises.
“The ship will attract many international passengers from around the world, especially from Europe, and we hope to also see strong interest from guests from the GCC, especially the UAE”.
Winter cruising to Oman's Khasab and Muscat
It isn't the only MSC cruise ship headed for the Emirates.
The MSC Opera — a Lirica-class cruise ship — will also port in the UAE next winter.
Built in 2004 and refurbished in 2015, the 250-metre-long ship is able to reach destinations that are inaccessible to larger mega-ships. This is why the beauty of Oman's Muscat and Khasab will feature on MSC Opera's winter itineraries.
The seven-night sailings will finish with an overnight stay in Dubai to give international passengers plenty of time to explore the city.
A new jetty in Abu Dhabi
The news comes following the opening of a new jetty for passenger ships at Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. MSC Cruises said this new facility will be well received by cruise holidaymakers.
In November, the cruise liner held the naming ceremony for the MSC Virtuosa in Dubai. The city's largest cruise ship was inaugurated in a ceremony at Port Rashid attended by Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed, chairman of Dubai Council for Border Crossing Points Security, Hollywood actress Sophia Loren and musician Rag’n’Bone Man.
Since then, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the ship has been sailing around the Arabian Gulf and is one of the company's best-performing ships for the winter season, according to Onorato.
MSC Virtuosa will finish voyaging on Saturday, March 26, and the company has already extended the season by replacing the ship with the MSC Bellissima from April until Saturday, June 25.
The extension marks the first time that the company will offer spring break holidays at sea in the Arabian Gulf.
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Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
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Take your litter home with you
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- The most total field goals made in NBA history, as well as the most consecutive games scoring 10 or more points
- The only player in NBA history to reach 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 assists
- Four-time regular season MVP and four-time NBA Finals MVP
- Six-time NBA All-Defensive selection. Rookie of the Year in 2004
- The most All-NBA selections with 21 in a row, including a record 13 first team selections
- The most consecutive All-Star selections with 21
- The only player to play alongside his son; Bronny James was chosen by the Lakers in the 2024 NBA draft
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Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
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Ali Kiydin v Hemi Ahio
The Indoor Cricket World Cup
When: September 16-23
Where: Insportz, Dubai
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
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Company Profile
Company name: Yeepeey
Started: Soft launch in November, 2020
Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani
Based: Dubai
Industry: E-grocery
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Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
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Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now
The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE
Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000
Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6
Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm
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Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms
