Abu Dhabi launches cruise crew discounts and digital cruise guide for passengers

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced three new initiatives to improve the passenger experience on cruises to and from the emirate in the UAE during the upcoming 2024/25 cruise season.

The DCT Abu Dhabi has revealed that a digital cruise guide will be made available exclusively for cruise passengers, while a new visitor information centre will also be launched at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal in Port Zayed in the heart of the city.

In addition, the tourism regulator in the emirate will also be making a Cruise Crew Pass available to all crew working aboard visiting and homeporting cruise ships. The pass will provide discounts on food and beverage, retail, and attractions across the emirate.

The announcements were made at this year’s Seatrade Cruise MED, which was hosted in Málaga, Spain, with more than 2,000 visitors and 175 cruise line personnel from more than 80 countries attending.

The event is a premier opportunity for Abu Dhabi to promote itself as a major cruise destination in the region, alongside other regional destinations such as Dubai, Doha, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain within the Cruise Arabia Alliance (which has no affiliation with this blog).

The move comes amid significant growth in the UAE and wider Arabian Gulf cruise sector, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi having rapidly re-established themselves as leading homeporting cruise destinations following the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This coming cruise season four ships will be homeporting in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai between November 2024 and March 2025, while an additional three cruise ships will homeport exclusively in Dubai, the leading homeport for cruise ships in the region. 

More than 700,000 cruise tourists visited Abu Dhabi on cruise calls and homeporting itineraries during the previous cruise season, representing growth of more than 200% compared to the previous season, which marked the regional cruise sector’s recovery from the pandemic.

At the 2023 World Cruise Awards the emirate was voted the World’s Best Cruise Destination, while Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal at Zayed Port operated by AD Ports Group was announced as both the World’s Best Cruise Terminal.

Abu Dhabi offers a wealth of iconic attractions. The majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque stands as a symbol of Islamic architecture. The Louvre Abu Dhabi blends art and culture on Saadiyat Island, while Ferrari World thrills speed enthusiasts. Yas Island’s entertainment hubs and the Corniche promenade offer further allure.