Dubai Cruise Ship Terminal (DCST, DCT?) at Port Rashid (Mina Rashid) information and guide.
Dubai cruise ship terminal expansion
29 January 2012 - Capacity to eventually be expanded such that the terminal can handle up to 7 cruise ships at one time (press release).
26 October 2011 - A second terminal is planned with opening date expected before end of 2012 according to an announcement by DP World. Capacity will increase from two to five cruise liners.
New Dubai cruise ship terminal opened
Official opening date of the Port Rashid cruise terminal in Dubai was Tuesday 23 February 2010.
In September 2009, the DTCM said the new terminal would open in January 2010.
The terminal was opened by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai.
As part of the ceremony,
the naming of the Costa Deliziosa Italian passenger liner took place, another first for Dubai, and any Arab city.
The Port Rashid terminal is operated by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).
Port capacity is for 4 cruise ships at a time.
The new terminal might have been prompted by reports of criticism from Costa Cruises in Europe who started using the Dubai terminal as a base in 2006, but the terminal became a construction site in 2008-2009 resulting in passengers using makeshift facilities in Port Rashid.
Dubai Cruise Terminal is the best in the Middle East for 2010, and was the best in the world apparently. DCT received the "Middle East's Leading Cruise Port award" for 2010, and the "World's Leading Cruise Port award" for 2008 and 2009 from the
World Travel Awards (WTA). The WTA are based in London, UK, and the gongs are awarded based on votes from travel and tourist industry personnel such as travel agents, rather than real customers. Information according to a 27 May 2010 press release from DP World which appeared to say that the area of the terminal had shrunk (see facts and figures below).
Boats using the Dubai Cruise Terminal (DCT)
Brilliance of the Seas (operated by Royal Caribbean, capacity 2,500 oarsmen passengers) - 8-day cruises in the Gulf, visiting Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Fujairah, Muscat. Based at DCT for 2010-2011 (not confirmed)?
During the 2010-2011 winter season, the Costa Deliziosa (capacity 2,800 passengers) and Costa Luminosa will offer week long cruises in the Arabian Gulf from Dubai, with stopovers in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Fujairah, and Muscat.
Dubai cruise ship statistics and numbers for the Port Rashid terminal
Year
Number Ships
Number Passengers
Comments
2015
195
575,000
estimate
2014
180
525,000
estimate
2013
165
475,000
estimate
2012
150
425,000
estimate
2011
135
375,000
2010
120
390,000
2009
87
261,000
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
10,000
2003
10,000
Tourist and visitor numbers, and cruise ship numbers in italics are estimated figures.
Dubai Cruise Terminal information (might be out of date)
Original Dubai Cruise Ship Terminal opened in 2001.
Capacity was 2 boats simultaneously (4 from February 2010).
Terminal area was 3,300 sq meters. Increased to 3,800 sq m from February 2010? Back to 3,300 sq m in 27 May 2010 press release from DP World.
Quay length 335 meters (increased?)
Port Rashid GPS co-ordinates are Latitude: 25° 16' 2" N,
Longitude: 55° 16' 15" E
Dubai Cruise Terminal contact details
DTCM general information tel +971-4-2821111, toll-free complaints line UAE 800-7090, email info@dubaitourism.ae.
Dubai Cruise Terminal Director is Mr Jamal Humaid Al Falasi, tel +971-4-3457001, fax +971-4-3450168.
Port Rashid Port Authority +971-4-8815555
DP World head office tel +971-4-8811110
Queen Elizabeth II Ocean Liner (QE2)
The QE2 ocean liner is (as of February 2010) moored at Port Rashid after being bought by Istithmar World in 2007 for $100 million.
Istithmar was planning to convert the vessel into a luxury hotel but plans have been put on hold while it, and its parent company Dubai World, sort out their finances.
Last update Sunday 29-Jan-2012. Page development 4L 5C.
