Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal recorded over 700,000 visitor arrivals and 184 port calls in the 2022/23 season, with over 82,000 passengers starting their journey from the emirate as their embarkation port.
AD Ports Group noted that the first quarter of 2023 was particularly strong, exceeding the number of visitors for the whole year 2022 by more than 37%.
This increase reflects the anticipated rebound of the UAE cruise industry following COVID-19 and the commitment of the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, which opened in December 2015.
Regarding this achievement, Saif Al Mazrouei, Managing Director of the Ports Cluster at AD Ports Group, stated: “The growing number of visitors is a testament to Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for maritime tourism and the trust our cruise industry partners have placed in us by deploying their largest and most modern ships in the region.”
Both the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal and Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach have evolved to welcome guests and offer a great experience.
Saleh Al Geziry, Director General of the Tourism Sector at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said: 'Tourism is a driving force behind Abu Dhabi's economic progress and prosperity, with the emirate's growing appeal to cruise passengers playing a significant role in its success. The strong results of the 2022-23 season demonstrate the rapid development of this visitor segment and highlight the effectiveness of our robust growth strategy for cruise travel in Abu Dhabi.'
Noura Al Dhaheri, MD, Cruise at AD Ports Group, said: “The management and operations teams at Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal have worked tirelessly to make us the busiest cruise hub in the region. This achievement would not have been possible without world-class infrastructure and continuous improvements to our facilities, the commercial incentives offered, and our operational excellence. All of these factors are crucial to attracting more visitors. We remain committed to working closely with cruise lines to position Abu Dhabi as one of the world’s leading cruise destinations.”
