Dubai moves to streamline customs procedures for cruise tourists

Dubai has put in place plans to make customs and passport control procedures faster and more efficient for cruise passengers disembarking via the new Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal.

During a recent visit to the Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal, the city’s second cruise port after Dubai Cruise Terminal, a top border official issued directives to continue enhancing the services provided across all border crossing points.

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His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Council for Border Crossing Points Security, toured the new Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal during its first week of operation.

He highlighted the importance of the cruise industry as an integral part of Dubai’s tourism sector and the role it plays in strengthening the emirate’s status as one of the leading cruise hubs in the region.

He was briefed on immigration and customs procedures provided at the port, in addition to the measures taken to facilitate the movement of passengers arriving in Dubai or departing on cruise ships.

Dubai’s 2021/22 cruise season kicked off in December with the arrival of five cruise ships homeporting in the city and sailing roundtrip cruises in the Arabian Gulf until March next year.

Two of those cruise lines, Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises, as part of the Carnival Corporation group of cruise lines, will be using the Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal exclusively.

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Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal was developed in partnership with Carnival Corporation, which will use it as the regional hub for its itineraries in the Middle East. The cruise terminal includes two terminal buildings and forms part of the wider Dubai Harbour development.

Located in the heart of Dubai, Dubai Harbour is within close proximity to Dubai International Airport, Al Maktoum International Airport and the city’s most prominent landmarks, sitting between the Palm Jumeirah Island and Blue Waters Island, home to the new Ain Dubai observation wheel.

Dubai Harbour features the region’s largest stand-alone dual cruise terminal and can simultaneously receive two of the world’s largest cruise ships.

Dubai is expected to receive more than 126 cruise ship calls and more than 500,000 cruise tourists during the 2021/2022 cruise season. Dubai Harbour alone is expected to receive more than 150,000 passengers in its first season.