Emirates Airline has underscored the importance of cruise tourism to its global leisure strategy, revealing it carried 180,000 cruise passengers into Dubai last year, while investing in infrastructure to make the city one of the world’s most seamless fly-cruise hubs.

Speaking at the Connections Cruise Arabia forum, Rehab Mansoor, Manager of Passenger Sales and Commercial at Emirates described cruise travellers as a “high-value segment” who not only sail from Dubai, but also extend their stays and contribute to the wider tourism sector. 

“Even though they may come for a seven-night itinerary, their elevated spending habits make them a premium contributor to the destination,” Mansoor said.

To facilitate growth, Emirates has expanded check-in infrastructure at the city’s two main cruise terminals, installing 16 counters at Port Rashid and 12 at Dubai Harbour. The system allows passengers to check in and drop baggage up to four hours before their flight, giving them additional time to explore the city baggage-free before heading to the airport.

“It has been a winner with our partners,” said Mansoor, positioning the service as a model of airline–cruise collaboration.

Emirates confirmed that it maintains long-standing partnerships with all major cruise operators sailing into Dubai, in some cases stretching back two decades. These agreements include coordinated scheduling to align flight arrivals and cruise departures, as well as the creation of packaged air-and-sea products tailored to different customer demographics.

Mansoor and cruise executives emphasised that the airline’s expansive global network, serving 145 destinations, positions Dubai as a natural gateway for cruise passengers from both established and emerging source markets. 

Collaborations with cruise lines are structured to match itineraries with flight schedules, ensuring smooth connections for international guests.

The comments at Connections Cruise Arabia came as Dubai positions itself to surpass 1.5 million cruise passengers annually by 2030, building on nearly one million arrivals over the past two years. 

Cruise lines including MSC Cruises, Explora Journeys, Costa Cruises, TUI Cruises, and Celestyal Cruises have already confirmed deployments in the region, citing Dubai’s airlift and infrastructure as key reasons for homeporting.

For Emirates, cruise integration aligns with its wider hub strategy, turning Dubai into both a transit point and a destination in its own right. With investments in cruise terminal facilities and bespoke services for passengers, the airline is helping cement the city’s role as a leading embarkation point in the global cruise market.