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Cruise terminal opens in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi - Facility has 111 vessel calls with 205,000 passengers during 2015-16.

Abu Dhabi opened its first purpose-built cruise terminal at Port Zayed. Authorities believe it will be an enabler of cruise traffic into the emirate as part of its economic diversification drive.
The facility was inaugurated by Shaikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor and Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, in the presence of Shaikh Sultan bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, chairman of Transport Department, senior officials of the Tourism and Culture Authority Abu Dhabi and officials from different government agencies.
The facility took one year for completion. It is being dubbed as a landmark achievement for the growth of cruise tourism in the emirate.
Abu Dhabi was opened to the cruise industry in 2006-'07, said Captain Mohammed Juma Al Shamisi, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Abu Dhabi Ports, which is responsible for the development of ports and industrial zones.
During the cruise season of 2015-'16, 205,000 passengers will use the terminal, while next year, the number will rise by 50,000 to 255,000 passengers, the chief executive said.
In the 2014-'15 season, Abu Dhabi welcomed 200,407 passengers from 94 calls by 14 ships.
The terminal can handle three vessels with 5,000 passengers at a time. Passengers can check in for Etihad Airways flights and book their luggage at the terminal after returning from the trip. "It will help them in quicker boarding," Al Shamisi said.
The design was chosen by Shaikh Hazza and is a fusion of Arabic influence with a modern touch. The building's roof design is a lattice work, taking the UAE's national tree, the ghaf, as inspiration. Wooden beams inside the building take inspiration from the UAE's traditional dhow sailing vessels.
During a tour to the facility, Shaikh Hazza instructed authorities to expedite construction work on Sir Bani Yas beach in the Western region. It will be the Gulf's first cruise beach stopover. Abu Dhabi is promoting eco-tourism on the Island.
The cruise terminal recently hosted three luxury cruise vessels on the same day: Island Sky owned by Noble Caledonia docked at Port Zayed as part of a 16-day voyage from Muscat to Mumbai; Europa 2, owned by Hapag-Lloyod, was on a 20-day cruise from Dubai to Mauritius; and Seven Seas Voyager, owned by Regent Seven Seas Cruises, berthed at Abu Dhabi as part of its global itinerary.
Port Zayed has scheduled 111 vessel calls with 205,000 passengers from across the globe during the cruise season 2015-16. This will represent a fivefold increase in number of passenger and ships visiting Abu Dhabi since the first cruise season during 2006-'07, said Noura Al Dhahery, a senior manager with the cruise terminal.
"This growth is projected to reach more than 300,000 passengers expected on 130 scheduled ship calls by 2019-'20," she said.
- haseeb@khaleejtimes.com