Cruise lovers can look forward to enjoying a greater number of stopovers in the Middle East following news that a new cruise terminal will be inaugurated in Dubai in February 2010.
Announced by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), the facility will be capable of accommodating four ships simultaneously and is expected to boost tourism.
Dubai is the region's best cruise tourism destination and the terminal located in the Port Rashid complex, which is based upon Dubai's contemporary Arabic design, will enhance its appeal.
Traditional domes, arches and carvings are at the centre of the facility's design, with ATMs, a post office, duty free shop, souvenir shops and Wi-Fi enabled internet access provided.
Costa Cruises is already using Dubai as its regional cruise hub and will use the destination to inaugurate the latest addition to its fleet
Costa Deliziosa on February 23rd.
There was a 37 per cent increase in cruise visitors to the emirate as 250,000 tourists called into Dubai last year and the figure is expected to grow.
Written by Chris Smith.
