Abu Dhabi named best cruise destination in Middle East and the world for 2025

Abu Dhabi has been named both the World’s Best Cruise Destination and the Middle East’s Best Cruise Destination for 2025 by the World Cruise Awards.

The dual recognition positions the emirate at the forefront of global cruise tourism and reflects what the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi described as a long-term, strategic approach to developing a competitive, diversified, and resilient cruise sector.

The awards come after Abu Dhabi welcomed close to 700,000 cruise arrivals during 2024, underlining the scale and momentum of its cruise operations, supported by infrastructure development and the breadth of experiences available to cruise visitors.

Central to the emirate’s cruise proposition is its dual-port strategy, which offers cruise lines and passengers two distinct entry points. The Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal at Zayed Port serves as a primary gateway to the capital, featuring streamlined immigration processes and close proximity to the city’s cultural, leisure, and entertainment districts.

From the terminal, visitors can access sites across the Saadiyat Cultural District Abu Dhabi, including Zayed National Museum and Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, as well as attractions across the wider emirate.

Complementing the urban cruise port is Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach, the Arabian Gulf’s only dedicated beach cruise terminal, providing a contrasting island experience focused on beaches, wildlife encounters, water sports, and nature-based excursions.

The two ports enable cruise itineraries to combine city and resort-style calls within a single programme.

The recognition also reflects Abu Dhabi’s growing role in regional cruise collaboration. As a founding member of the Cruise Arabia Alliance, the emirate is working with neighbouring destinations to strengthen itinerary connectivity across the GCC.

For the current season, Abu Dhabi is scheduled to receive 174 cruise calls, representing a 27 percent year-on-year increase.

Supporting this growth are initiatives aimed at the broader cruise ecosystem. These include the expanded Crew Pass 2.0 programme for visiting crew members, as well as trade-facing platforms designed to support itinerary planning and destination sales.

The Experience Abu Dhabi Experts e-learning platform offers certified training for travel professionals, while the Abu Dhabi Pass reseller portal provides wholesale access to attractions and experiences, enabling agents to build pre- and post-cruise programmes.