As winter approaches, ports across the Arabian Gulf are preparing for a season of cruise embarkation. In Dubai, passengers will soon wheel their suitcases through the sprawling Mina Rashid cruise terminal, while in Abu Dhabi, the capital’s waters are gearing up to welcome new international liners.
While the idea of taking to the seas for a holiday is still relatively new in the Gulf, it is a trend on the rise, with an increasing number of travellers now considering a cruise. And with everything from a three-night hop around the GCC to a 21-day discovery combining Gulf waters and Southern Africa, there is plenty to choose from.
Cruises sailing in the UAE
One of the stars of the coming season is MSC Euribia, which returns in November and will operate three, four and seven-night itineraries from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Perfect for first-timers, the three-night voyages start from $389 per person. Sailings begin on November 8, with the final voyage scheduled for April 1.
Ports of call include Doha, perfect for culture aficionados; Bahrain, home to Unesco-listed Dilmun burial mounds; and Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, where passengers can head out on a jeep safari among roaming gazelles and giraffes. Shorter sailings are particularly popular with Gulf residents looking for a weekend escape.
“For many locals, a week at sea felt too long, but the shorter, more affordable itineraries provide the perfect entry point,” says Dominic Noranho of Cruise Master.
Angelo Capurro, executive director of MSC Cruises, says the line has seen a major increase in interest from the local market. “We are now more or less 50/50 in terms of international and local passengers, a huge jump that reflects a 107 per cent rise from the local market compared to the year before.”
Celestyal Cruises is also making waves in the region after signing a partnership with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism. The 1,260-passenger Celestyal Journey and 1,360-passenger Celestyal Discovery will run three, four and seven-night Gulf circuits, starting from $339 this season.
As well as marking Celestyal’s maiden call in Ras Al Khaimah, passengers can enjoy trips to Muscat for dolphin-watching and Doha where the impressive National Museum of Qatar awaits. The highlight has to be Celestyal’s December 6 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix sailing, which includes five days cruising between Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas and Dubai, two nights in a hotel in the UAE capital, tickets to the Formula One Grand Prix on Yas Island and onboard talks from F1 champion David Coulthard, with prices from $2,138.
German operator Tui Cruises is doubling down on its Gulf presence this season with two ships, Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5, operating round-trip itineraries out of Dubai. The Magic of the Orient week-long itinerary takes in Khasab, Muscat and Abu Dhabi, while the seven-night Festive Days cruises in December include stops in Doha, Abu Dhabi and Sir Bani Yas Island. Prices start from €749 ($870), on an all-inclusive basis, meaning most dining and drinks are included in the base price. The first sailing this season is scheduled for November 30.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s new cruise line Aroya will launch in February, with five and seven-night departures from Dubai taking in Sir Bani Yas Island, Khasab, Doha and Dammam. With a USP that’s geared towards the Gulf market, the ship will feature halal dining, spacious cabins and Arabic-language entertainment on board, with prices from $533.
For travellers looking to push the boat out, Regent Seven Seas has a regional presence via the Seven Seas Navigator, an ultra-luxury vessel where guests can opt to book suites with private butler service. Its 19-day voyage from Cape Town to Doha, departing November 25, gives guests the chance to combine African safaris and the Seychellois islands with stops in Muscat, Fujairah, Dubai and Doha. The premium, all-inclusive fare, starts from $11,599, excluding flights to South Africa.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s offerings may appeal to travellers planning ahead to next season. The cruise line’s 21-day Middle East and Africa sailing on Norwegian Sky will depart Athens on September 6, calling at Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Doha, along with stops in Greece, Egypt and Jordan. Perfect for those who want to sample a regional cruise this year and decide to go ahead with a bigger commitment next year. Prices start from $4,079, excluding flights.
From families to first-time cruisers
In a region where package holidays are still often defined by resorts, the cruise market is diversifying quickly. Families remain the biggest audience, largely thanks to on-ship water parks, children's clubs and entertainment, but dnata Travel has seen a marked rise in luxury demand too.
“Comparing April to August 2024 with the same period this year, our own data shows double-digit growth in bookings, with passengers spending more, from an average of Dh2,700 to Dh4,500,” says Meerah Ketait, dnata’s head of retail and leisure. “It is a clear sign that Middle East first-time cruise passengers are willing to pay more for comfort and exclusivity.”
Short GCC sailings are popular with families looking for a weekend at sea, while Oman’s coastlines remain one of the strongest regional draws. Beyond the Gulf, cruise operators say they are also seeing a steady rise in UAE travellers joining voyages abroad.
Kevin Bubolz, vice president and managing director of Norwegian Cruise Line for the region, notes a lift in bookings from the Middle East. “Guests here are realising that cruising offers flexibility, from Mediterranean city-hopping to wellness-focused escapes in the Caribbean or Alaska,” he tells The National.
A golden moment for Gulf cruising
Several forces are shaping this boom. Ports across the UAE have been modernised, making embarkation smoother than in many long-established European cities. Dubai, already a magnet for international tourists, was also recently named the world’s safest cruise stopover.
And as destinations such as Venice and Barcelona struggle with overtourism and impose limits on large ships, cruise lines are looking to diversify their winter bases. The Arabian Gulf, with its modern terminals and steady winter weather, offers an appealing alternative.
The pilot launch this quarter of the Unified GCC Tourist Visa, a Schengen-style scheme allowing visitors to explore several Gulf states on one visa, is expected to increase demand further as the new system should make it easier for international travellers to sail seamlessly through Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Doha and beyond.
Cruise operators are already responding. MSC plans to send its largest ship, the 7,000-passenger MSC Europa, to the Gulf next year. Its luxury sister brand, Explora Journeys, is preparing Red Sea voyages combining Petra, AlUla and Luxor, before shifting to winter homeporting in Dubai.
Globally, the outlook is equally buoyant. According to recent research from Skift, the cruise industry will be worth $78 billion by next year, with the Middle East emerging as one of its fastest-growing regions. For UAE travellers, that means more ships, more choice and increasingly competitive prices.
For families, a Gulf cruise offers an easy, all-inclusive holiday close to home. For luxury travellers, it delivers privacy and service to rival the best hotels. And for first-timers, short regional sailings provide a relaxed way to test the waters before venturing further afield.
As Noranho says: “Each year, more people try a short cruise here, and then come back for longer adventures abroad. The growth trajectory is clear.”
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
EMIRATES'S%20REVISED%20A350%20DEPLOYMENT%20SCHEDULE
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Section 375
Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha, Meera Chopra & Rahul Bhat
Director: Ajay Bahl
Producers: Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak & SCIPL
Rating: 3.5/5
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed PDK
Power: 630bhp
Torque: 820Nm
Price: Dh683,200
On sale: now
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Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
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Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Less than 5,000 steps - sedentary
5,000 - 9,999 steps - lightly active
10,000 - 12,500 steps - active
12,500 - highly active
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Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
The team
Photographer: Mateusz Stefanowski at Art Factory
Videographer: Jear Valasquez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Model: Randa at Art Factory Videographer’s assistant: Zanong Magat
Photographer’s assistant: Sophia Shlykova
With thanks to Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
Ways to control drones
Countries have been coming up with ways to restrict and monitor the use of non-commercial drones to keep them from trespassing on controlled areas such as airports.
"Drones vary in size and some can be as big as a small city car - so imagine the impact of one hitting an airplane. It's a huge risk, especially when commercial airliners are not designed to make or take sudden evasive manoeuvres like drones can" says Saj Ahmed, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research.
New measures have now been taken to monitor drone activity, Geo-fencing technology is one.
It's a method designed to prevent drones from drifting into banned areas. The technology uses GPS location signals to stop its machines flying close to airports and other restricted zones.
The European commission has recently announced a blueprint to make drone use in low-level airspace safe, secure and environmentally friendly. This process is called “U-Space” – it covers altitudes of up to 150 metres. It is also noteworthy that that UK Civil Aviation Authority recommends drones to be flown at no higher than 400ft. “U-Space” technology will be governed by a system similar to air traffic control management, which will be automated using tools like geo-fencing.
The UAE has drawn serious measures to ensure users register their devices under strict new laws. Authorities have urged that users must obtain approval in advance before flying the drones, non registered drone use in Dubai will result in a fine of up to twenty thousand dirhams under a new resolution approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.
Mr Ahmad suggest that "Hefty fines running into hundreds of thousands of dollars need to compensate for the cost of airport disruption and flight diversions to lengthy jail spells, confiscation of travel rights and use of drones for a lengthy period" must be enforced in order to reduce airport intrusion.
Glossary of a stock market revolution
Reddit
A discussion website
Redditor
The users of Reddit
Robinhood
A smartphone app for buying and selling shares
Short seller
Selling a stock today in the belief its price will fall in the future
Short squeeze
Traders forced to buy a stock they are shorting
Naked short
An illegal practice
CHINESE GRAND PRIX STARTING GRID
1st row
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
2nd row
Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-GP)
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
3rd row
Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing)
4th row
Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)
Sergio Perez (Force India)
5th row
Carlos Sainz Jr (Renault)
Romain Grosjean (Haas)
6th row
Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
Esteban Ocon (Force India)
7th row
Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren)
8th row
Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso)
Sergey Sirotkin (Williams)
9th row
Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)
Lance Stroll (Williams)
10th row
Charles Leclerc (Sauber)
arcus Ericsson (Sauber)
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 0
Liverpool 2 (Mane 50', 54')
Red card: Andreas Christensen (Chelsea)
Man of the match: Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
The BIO
Favourite piece of music: Verdi’s Requiem. It’s awe-inspiring.
Biggest inspiration: My father, as I grew up in a house where music was constantly played on a wind-up gramophone. I had amazing music teachers in primary and secondary school who inspired me to take my music further. They encouraged me to take up music as a profession and I follow in their footsteps, encouraging others to do the same.
Favourite book: Ian McEwan’s Atonement – the ending alone knocked me for six.
Favourite holiday destination: Italy - music and opera is so much part of the life there. I love it.
Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
