Dubai Cruise Tourism (DCT) is a department within Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) responsible for promoting Dubai’s cruise tourism offering globally. It also monitors the state-of-the-art cruise terminals in Mina Rashid, Dubai.
DCT is the centre point of contact for all concerned parties within the Cruise Tourism business including ship agents, tour operators and cruise lines as well as other government bodies like customs, immigration, police, CID and DP World, in order to ensure smooth, swift and safe port calls.
Under the patronage of DTCM the purpose-built cruise terminals ensure that the international visitors arriving in Dubai through the seaport are well catered to, delivered world-class services and experience the renowned Arabian hospitality. Dubai has the most modern and the largest dedicated facility in the Middle East for cruise operations spanning over 36,500m2 on a pier stretch of 2,200m. The facility enables Dubai to handle complete passenger turnaround of five cruise ships simultaneously.
Facilities and services available at the terminals include:
- currency exchange
- post office
- shops selling electronics, jewellery and souvenirs
- duty free shops
- cafes
- mini marts
- aerial and coach tour operator outlets
- seating areas
- shopping mall help desks with free shuttle services
- a business centre with free internet access
- complementary Wi-Fi access and DTCM help desk to assist visitors.
The help desk also distributes city maps in various languages and brochures detailing the main tourist attractions in Dubai.
The continual strategic efforts of DTCM since the early 1990s paved the way for Dubai to pioneer as a home port for cruising in the Arabian Gulf since 2006; today, it is the only hub for six world’s leading cruise lines and over 20 international cruise lines have Dubai as a turnaround port of call in their ship’s itineraries. The department works closely with the industry and commissions various international joint marketing activities to grow this vital tourism sector for Dubai.
In 2013, DTCM, in conjunction with the tourism authorities from regional destinations such as Abu Dhabi and Oman, formed the Cruise Arabia Alliance to create awareness of the cruise offering in the region and support the industry to enable a regional source market. Recent inclusions in the alliance are the tourism authorities of Qatar, Sharjah and Bahrain.
The department continues to significantly investment in the industry to encourage a new generation of tourists to cruise in the Arabian Gulf by targeting new travellers from traditional source markets such as Europe and North America, while at the same time tapping into growth in emerging source markets including China and India, and further enhancing GCC as a source market for cruising in the region.
