Cruise Arabia alliance puts Arabian Gulf on global map at Seatrade Europe 2025

The Cruise Arabia regional tourism alliance took centre stage at Seatrade Europe 2025 in Hamburg, positioning the Arabian Gulf as one of the world’s fastest-emerging cruise destinations. 

With Qatar Tourism leading a high-level delegation alongside key government and private sector partners, the event underscored the region’s collective ambition to grow cruise tourism and capture a larger share of the global market.

The Visit Qatar pavilion showcased the country’s integrated approach to cruise development, bringing together the Ministry of Interior, the Permanent Committee for Seaport Affairs, Mwani Qatar, Old Doha Port, and the General Authority of Customs. 

Private sector representatives including Qatar Airways, Discover Qatar, and leading travel companies also joined the platform, highlighting the breadth of support behind the sector’s expansion.

Qatar Tourism’s Chief of the Tourism Development Sector, Omar Abdulrahman Al Jaber, said cruise tourism is “a vital pillar of our strategy and aligns closely with Qatar National Vision 2030 by diversifying our offerings, attracting international visitors, and supporting economic growth.” 

He added that last season Doha Port welcomed nearly 360,000 visitors, reflecting growing international demand.

As part of its presence in Hamburg, Qatar Tourism hosted an exclusive networking event at the Vier Jahreszeiten Hotel on September 10th, drawing more than 150 industry leaders. 

Guests included representatives from global operators such as MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean, TUI, Viking Cruises, and Silversea, as well as regional tourism boards from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Oman, Bahrain, and Cruise Saudi. 

The gathering served as a platform to strengthen industry ties, highlight cultural experiences, and reinforce Cruise Arabia’s unified presence on the international stage.

This collaborative momentum was further demonstrated through a networking lunch with TUI Cruises and a site visit to Hamburg Cruise Center Altona by Qatari stakeholders to exchange operational expertise. 

Such initiatives underline the Cruise Arabia alliance’s determination not only to promote the region abroad, but also to adopt international best practices in port and passenger management.

Qatar is now preparing for the start of the 2025/26 cruise season in November, with 73 calls scheduled at Doha Port, including four maiden visits. The 2024/25 season ended with 87 calls, a 19% increase on the previous year, and 396,000 visitors, up 5% year-on-year. 

The state-of-the-art Grand Cruise Terminal has been central to this success, positioning Doha as a premier homeport in the Gulf, alongside Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Al Jaber said the collaboration seen in Hamburg highlighted a shared regional ambition. “As we look forward to the new cruise season, we remain committed to positioning Doha as a premier regional hub for marine tourism, forging new partnerships and showcasing the unique experiences that Qatar has to offer,” he said.