AROYA Cruises has confirmed that its flagship vessel, Aroya, will homeport in Dubai and Dammam during late winter 2026, marking the Saudi Arabian cruise line’s debut Arabian Gulf season.
The deployment follows the line’s autumn 2025 Red Sea programme and will see Aroya sail a series of week-long cruises roundtrip from Dubai between February 28th and March 14th, 2026.
These itineraries include visits to Muscat, Khasab, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Sir Bani Yas. Owned by Cruise Saudi, AROYA indicated at Arabian Travel Market in Dubai last year that it was considereding an Arabian Gulf season.
During the same event, Mashhoor Baeshen, Executive Director, Commercial & Business Development, Cruise Saudi, said the response from the local market had been extremely positive.
“The response has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s clear there’s real appetite in the local and regional markets for new products, new experiences, and new ways to travel,” he said.
“What we’re seeing is the emergence of a new source market for the global cruise industry — both in Saudi Arabia and across the wider Arabian Gulf region. AROYA has helped open the door to cruising for many people who had never considered it before.”
Following her itineraries out of Dubai, the 3,400-passenger Aroya will then operate a five-night cruise from Dubai before repositioning to Dammam in late March.
From the Saudi port, AROYA will continue offering sailings across the Gulf until April 30th, calling at destinations including Doha, Sir Bani Yas, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Khasab.
At the close of its inaugural Gulf season, the vessel will reposition to the Red Sea on a nine-night cruise from Dammam to Jeddah, featuring calls at Dubai, Khasab, Muscat and Salalah. Once in Jeddah, two short itineraries to Egypt are planned for May 2026, with five-night roundtrips to Sharm El Sheikh and Ain Sokhna, the gateway to Cairo.
Built in 2017, Aroya is a mid-sized cruise ship with capacity for around 3,400 guests. At 150,000 gross tons, the vessel features a wide range of onboard amenities, including multiple dining venues, lounges and bars, a theatre, spa and fitness facilities, as well as family-friendly spaces such as kids’ clubs and pools.
The ship was originally ordered by Dream Cruises before being acquired and adapted for AROYA’s entry into the regional cruise sector, with a focus on tailored experiences for Arabian Gulf and Red Sea guests.
The Arabian Gulf deployment makes the region the third in AROYA’s network within a 15-month period.
The brand launched in the Red Sea in November 2024 and expanded to the Mediterranean in June 2025, where Aroya is currently sailing seven-night itineraries from Istanbul’s Galataport Cruise Terminal to Greece, Turkey and Egypt.
Categories: Cruise News, Middle East Cruise News
