Dubai Tours

Spectrum of the Seas anchors into Port Rashid

Dubai recently welcomed the innovative cruise ship ‘Spectrum of the Seas’ into Port Rashid, marking its debut into the Arabian Gulf.

A traditional ‘Plaques and Keys Exchange’ ceremony was hosted on board in the presence of the ship’s captain and key industry stakeholders from Dubai Cruise Committee. Reaffirming Dubai’s position as the ‘cruise hub of the region’, Spectrum of the Seas arrived in port bringing almost 4,000 tourists to the emirate in a single day.

Weighing 168,666 gross tonnes, Royal Caribbean’s new Spectrum of the Seas will be the largest and most advanced cruise ship to port in Dubai. The cruise brand revealed several new innovations and features on board the ship, displaying ‘first-at-sea’ activities such as the Sky Pad, a virtual reality bungee trampoline, RipCord by iFly sky diving simulator and North Star observation pod that offers guests astonishing panoramic views more than 300 feet above sea level. In addition, the ship’s interiors offer a music hall and SeaPlex; the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex with bumper cars, roller skating and basketball.

Mohamed Abdul Aziz Al Mannai, CEO of P&O Marina and CEO of Port Rashid at DP World, said: “The cruise ship terminal at Port Rashid has recorded significant achievements over the past few years, including the development of marine, commercial and tourism infrastructure. This strengthens the emirate’s global position as a hub for trade and cruise tourism and supports the tourism sector in Dubai and its efforts to establish the emirate among the best cities in the world.”

Al Mannai also outlined that the shipyard at Port Rashid welcomes close to half a million visitors annually and expects 725,000 visitors during the 2018-2019 cruise season, as a result of Dubai’s ongoing efforts to attract tourists and investors to the emirate.

Jamal Alfalasi, director of Dubai Cruise Tourism, said: “It is with great honour that we welcome the guests of Spectrum of the Seas, one of the largest and most revolutionary ships to the emirate. This visit strengthens Dubai’s position as the established cruise hub of the region; a key component of our strategic development. Over the past few years, we have seen an increasing number of reputable cruise liners visiting the emirate and our ongoing partnership with key stakeholders is testament to delivering top-class cruise facilities and providing distinctive services to enhance the tourists’ experience, marking Dubai as a significant destination for cruise tourists worldwide.”

New UAE visa rules ease the transi entry and 6 months visa

The Cabinet, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, adopted a number of visa facilitations for visitors, residents, families and people overstaying their visa to cater for a wider segment of the society.

The Cabinet approved a new legislative package, including a review of the current residency system to allow a two-year extension of the residency period for the dependents of their parents after finishing their university studies.

Transit visa

1. A new decision has also been approved to exempt transit passengers from all entry fees for the first 48 hours.

2. Transit visa can be extended for up to 96 hours for a fee of only Dh50.

3. Obtaining transit visa will be facilitated by a number of express counter at the passport-control hall across UAE airports.

Visa for overstayed job seekers

In the same context, the Cabinet adopted a decision to grant people overstaying their visa a chance to leave the country voluntarily without a “no entry” passport stamp.

. A new 6-month visa will be introduced for job seekers who overstayed their visa but wish to work in the country.

. The temporary visa enhances the UAE’s position as a land of opportunities and a destination for talents and professionals.

. As for Individuals who entered the UAE illegally, they will have the chance to leave voluntarily with a “no entry” stamp for two years given that they provide a valid return ticket.

. In a step aimed at simplifying the process and easing the financial burden on individuals wishing to adjust or renew their visa, they can now do so for a fee without having to leave and re-enter the country.

Dubai Unveils New Tourist All-access Pass for 33 Attractions

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has announced the launch of a new pass allowing tourists to visit attractions around the city for a fixed price.

The pre-paid card grants cash-free access to 33 key events and venues across Dubai and will be available to redeem from May 16, DTCM said.

Prices will start from Dhs399 ($109) with select and unlimited packages available.

Attractions covered by the offering include the world’s tallest building the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Parks and Resorts, IMG Worlds of Adventure, Wild Wadi Waterpark, Ski Dubai and desert safari tours.

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Tourists will also receive a 50 per cent discount on tickets to aqua show La Perle with every purchase.

The Dhs399 select package allows users to visit one attraction each from three tiers of locations and is valid for seven consecutive days after the first day of use.

The Dhs899 ($245) unlimited package covers an unlimited amount of events and activities and is valid for three days.

DTCM said the passes would help tourists save money and make the most of their trip to Dubai.

Dubai received 15.79 million overnight visitors last year, representing a 6.2 per cent increase on 2016.

It is aiming to attract 20 million tourists annually by 2020.

Dubai Opera launches behind-the-scenes tours

Dubai Opera is opening its impressive performance space to give visitors a behind-the-scenes look.

Much like they can at the Royal Opera House Muscat, visitors to Dubai’s cultural precinct can now go on a tour of the venue, which includes the acoustic concert hall, 2,000-square-metre event space and access to the exclusive VIP suite.

From 10.30am each day, an experienced guide leads each group and offers the stories and facts about the design and creation of Dubai Opera, which in recent weeks celebrated its one-year anniversary.

“Dubai Opera is a new generation of entertainment venue with a fascinating story to tell,” says Jasper Hope, the chief cxecutive at Dubai Opera. “Our new tour is a great way for anyone to spend an hour out of the sun learning what makes an opera house tick.”

Beginning at the external box office and lasting approximately 60 minutes, the tours can be booked by emailing tours@travel-culture.com The tour schedule is available on dubai.travel-culture.com

Adult tickets are Dh75 and children (ages 3 to 16) cost Dh40. Rates for schools are priced at Dh35 per child. Private tours are also available.

Dubai Opera kicked off its season on September 7 with a trio of Mozart’s best-loved operatic masterpieces.

Why Dubai Tops Every Traveller’s Wish List?

Dubai – the name itself inspires awe and your mind will put you on wanderlust in a millisecond. There are many reasons for Dubai being the favorite destination of travellers across globe. Let us cite 5 reasons why Dubai Tops every traveller’s wish list:

1. Bespoke luxury

The city of Dubai offers plenty of luxury experiences. The 5 star hotels provide private helicopters for their guests. Dubai is shopping lover’s favorite destination. The Dubai Mall has everything you need under one roof. You can enjoy cruising on a private yacht in Dubai. Dubai desert safari includes camel rides, belly dancing, campfire with barbecue etc… that in itself is a one-of-a-kind experience.

2. Safety

Dubai is one of the safest places for women. You can wear whatever clothes you are comfortable with and roam around in the city. The police also plays an important role in ensuring safety to each and everyone. The laws are stricter and crime rates are lower compared to other countries. Road safety is also fairly good in Dubai city.

3. Cleanliness

Dubai beaches are awarded blue flag for cleanliness. The quality of sea water is pretty good and is free of pollutants. Some commercial markets in Dubai have hygiene ambassadors who promote cleanliness in the city by conducting awareness camps. The water and air pollution rate is comparatively low in the city.

4. Multicultural

Dubai is so multicultural that it has people from more than 100 countries. People show mutual respect for one another. All kinds of religious festivals are a big part of Dubai’s culture.

5. Sight-seeing

There are a lot of places to visit in Dubai. Among them Burj Khalifa tops the list. It’s the tallest man-made structure. Dubai museum is in Al-Fahidi Fort. It was built in 1787 to defend Dubai Creek. Dubai Creek separates the city into two; Deira and Bur Dubai. One of the beautiful mosques in Dubai is the Jumeirah mosque. Dubai aquarium is another top tourist attraction. It is in the Dubai Mall. Dubai Mall is one of the largest shopping malls in UAE. It is shopaholics favorite destination; electronic goods, books, clothes or just anything, you name it and you can find it in this mall. The Palm Jumeirah, that looks like a palm tree from above, is the eighth wonder of the world.

World’s largest natural flower garden opens in Dubai

Dubai has no shortage of mega projects this time it is indeed a miracle. Dubai’s desert has now been converted into an oasis of flowers at the Dubailand’s new venture the “Dubai Miracle Garden”, Billing itself as the world’s largest natural flower garden, the 72,000-square-meter attraction.

The name is apt, considering this mega-garden was -– like pretty much everything in Dubai –- built on desert land.

According Gulf News, Miracle Gardens’ landscaper, Akar, says it wants to demonstrate “that it’s possible to green the desert through judicious re-use of waste water, through drip irrigation.”

Here are some pictures of the garden courtesy Dubai Miracle Garden

The Dubai Miracle Gardens has more than four kilometers of walkways. It’ll be a miracle if you get through it without breaking a sweat

Billing itself as the world’s largest natural flower garden, the 72,000-square-meter Dubailand attraction contains 45 million flowers.

It’s beautiful! But what is it?
The Dubai Miracle Garden’s displays include flower-covered hearts, igloos, pyramids, cars, stars and this strange river of red we aren’t sure what to call.

Don’t break the rules
Don’t bother trying to bring home a bouquet for the wife. “Flower picking is not allowed,” says the list of visitor rules. Also off-limits? Barbecues. Leave your hibachi at home.

Closed for summer
The Dubai Miracle Garden will be closed from June to September, when temperatures average 40 degrees Celsius (104 F).

One can visit Miracle garden by taking a city tour of Dubai or bu just renting a car to Dubai Land

Dubai Emerging As A Mature Tourism

The National has published an interesting article about the boom of tourism in Dubai this year. Many people relate the increase in number of tourists in Dubai to the unrest in the Arab world however there is an other factor that can be the main cause of increase in tourism in Dubai and that is the increase of options to see in Dubai.

Dubai is not any more a shopping destination it has matured from mere 2 days shopping to the luxury beach travel desert adventures and also the remarkable Burj Khalifa is attracting a lot of people to come to Dubai.

In my own capacity as a tour-operator I have seen many different type of tourist coming to Dubai. There was a time the numbers of tourists counted were mainly just the transit passengers from south Asia, than came the time when we had lot of Europeans started to come and as the economy of the western countries was shaking a slump came. This slump it self has managed to be a learning curve for the Industry Dubai hotels have realized that they just cant keep increasing prices.

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The touroperators managed to get themselves organized and now are able to offer more professional tour services. Even the guides have been able to understand that the time is not always the same and now they must give good service to stay in the job hence the Industry has not been matured and is ready to accept more tourists.

Tourists come to another country for pleasure as well as for learning the new cultures and new systems. Dubai has now developed enough infra structure and also enoug of its high paced history which attracts people towards it.

I remember I used call Dubai “Concrete Paradise” that implieng that there was no substance in it there was no natural development in it. Now I can not say that any more. I am now myself developing new tour packages which are centered towards showing people the culture of Emirates and also history geography and the huge success in building the remarkable buildings like Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab and Ibne Batuta mall etc. Recently in our company we have started a new tour called Islam awareness tour that tries to show people how Muslims live their life and what are the teachings of Islam. In about 6 hours we are able to give enough material to a tourists that he or she can go home and actually can talk about the basics of Islam.

Similarly another half day city tour has also been developed that gives people a taste of traditional culture of Dubai. We take people to old areas of Dubai let them taste the spices and offer them traditional Lunch or breakfast at a special Arabian restaurant.

There are now ques at Burj Khalifa for entrance tickets just like at the Colosseum in Rome or any other place. People now come to Dubai not just to shop or to sat 2 days in transit but now its a full length tourist destination which need atleast 7 days to explore it.

World record hopes for Emirati women’s giant mat

Seven Emirati housewives worked to preserve UAE culture and heritage

Dubai: Seven Emirati housewives got together and made a giant traditional mat from date palm tree leaves, as part of their efforts to keep this symbol of the UAE’s culture alive.
The seven women, who are all members of the women committee of Dibba Al Fujairah’s Culture, Theatre and Arts Centre, said it took them around six months to complete the project as they worked on it whenever they got some spare time out of their busy daily routines.
The mat is made of date palm tree fronds and is 24m and 30cm long. Its width is 74cm.

The traditional mat, known in the UAE as a ‘Haseer’, was widely used to furnish floors of houses, mosques and roof tops in the past. They are still used today, but mostly for outings, especially in the desert. The giant mat will be on display at the first Liwa/Ajman Date Festival which begins tomorrow and will continue until Friday, July 29.

Saif Al Dahmani, Head of Al Nakheel Foundation for Heritage and Handcrafts, is the one who suggested the idea of making the giant mat and is now working on promoting it. He is even trying to find a sponsor for the project to help get the mat registered with the Guinness World Records (GWR).

“We already exhibited the mat at the Liwa Date Festival which ended last week and we got a good response from visitors who were amazed at seeing the mat and appreciated the hard work that went into it,” he told Gulf News.

Common people

Al Dahmani said he chose the traditional mat because it is part of the country’s heritage and something that was used widely in the past, especially by common people. “I am basically coordinating with the women committee, as I am exhibiting this mat at various exhibitions,” he said. “I also promote the handmade products by these women on various occasions,” he added.
Mariam Juma, the general supervisor, who oversaw the project, said she feels proud of the women who dedicated time out of their busy lives to this project. She said the seven women spent six months first, weaving and then sewing the mat. “When we suggested to them the idea, we did not set a timeframe because we knew it is difficult for them to dedicated certain hours to this because of their other commitments.
“This is the first time the women committee of Dibba Al Fujairah has taken up such a project and we are happy it has seen the light,” she said.

Aisha Hamdan, one of the seven women who worked on the mat, told Gulf News they all took part in the project because they wanted to do something that represented the culture and heritage of the UAE as a country.
“This mat does not only represent us women from Fujairah, but the entire UAE,” she said.
Sindiyah Al Rahma, a 50-year-old housewife and mother of nine, said she spent her time working on the mat whenever she was free from her house responsibilities.
“I used to spend around one to two hours whenever I had some time on hand because I also take care of my house and children,” she said.
Fatima Hassan, a mother of six, said weaving and sewing has always been her passion.
“I learned it when I was a child and still love doing it. So the idea of making a giant mat putting our experience into it was very exciting to me,” she said.
Art of weaving
Halima Ali, another 50-year-old housewife and mother of nine, said she learned the art of weaving and sewing from her grandmother and mother and she still does it. She is also now passing on the skills she learned to her daughters.
“We have to pass on the experience of making these traditional handcrafts to the younger generations because they are part of our identity and we have to preserve it in a way or the other,” she said.

At a glance

Work on the giant mat started on December 1, 2010 and was completed on May 27, 2011.
The giant mat will be on display at the first Liwa/Ajman Date Festival, which starts tomorrow and runs until Friday, at Ajman Festival City, near Ajman City Centre.
For details on the festival contact: 050-3006888

Dubai Tourist Arrivals affected due to events in Middle East

Middle East events affect tourism in Dubai

The recent events taking place in the middle east and Libya have left a mixed impact on tourism. The total arrival of the people at Dubai airport although has not decreased as such but the tour companies are facing cancellations and the future bookings have shown decrease.

The DTCM’s media relations team created a webinar on 15th March for travel media to give an update about the state of tourism in Dubai the have shown exceptionally positive news about the forth coming events for tourism in Dubai.

According to DTCM, Dubai visitors have exceeded 8.5 million globally this past year. There was also an increase in hotel capacity which remained at an average of 70%. An additional 9500 rooms came available, making around currently 71,000 rooms available.

When spoken to some safari providers in Dubai they have seen 30% decrease in the safari bookings, however the efforts of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) it is expected that this short fall of tourist arrival will be covered immediately.

Seawing Dubai Develops new tours web site

The aireal tour company of which offers Seaplane tour in Dubai is planning a new website to help encourage more people to enjoy aerial tours of Dubai and other emirates.

Seawings, formed in August 2007, offers holidaymakers short low flights over Dubai. This gives a chance to experience a unique view of some of the Dubai’s most famous attractions, including Burj Al Arab, Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, World Islands and the Dubai Creek.

The company has been working on the new website for a while and is hoping it will showcase the unusual tour options offered to visitors as well as improving customer service.

Marketing and communications manager Carine Duvignaud said: “The original idea was to create a website that would provide guests with an idea of what Seawings was about and to make the flight booking process easier.”

Exotic Dubai and Travel & Culture Dubai has special tours deals with Dubai seawings please click here to get more details about our seawing tour offer

Seawings currently has three aircraft, 70 members of staff and operates up to 16 flights per day.

Amazon Kindle Now available for Dubai and other places

Amazon Kindle the revolutionary reading device which might change the way people read book is now available in Dubai and 100 other countries of the world.

Reading is being Revolutionized by Kindle

Kindle is just like a book it has no light coming out of it nor it gets hot it feels and looks like paper and it is specially designed for reading device.

To buy Kindle click the link below it is shipped directly to Dubai and other cities of UAE from Amazon

Book takes you away from your surrounding so does the kindle
The most elegant feature of a physical book is that when you read you start to forget the books texture environment and the shape of book rather you are Immersed in the author’s world and ideas. Amazon Kindle design objective is to make The Kindle disappear — just like a physical book — so you can get lost in your reading, not the technology or the tool your are reading on.

Paper-Like Screen with 50% Improved Contrast

Kindle uses Amazon’s all new, high-contrast E Ink screen with 50% better contrast, for the clearest text and sharpest images. With our new display, text “pops” from the page, creating a reading experience most similar to reading on printed paper. The words on Kindle are Sharp and natural with no glare or backlight, reading on Kindle is nothing like reading on a computer screen. Those who see it for the first time always do a double-take.

Read in Sunlight with No Glare

Kindle’s screen reflects light like ordinary paper and uses no backlighting, eliminating the glare associated with other electronic displays. As a result, Kindle can be read any where on the beach in the sun, in drawing room or in the train or jungle while you are travelling.

Adjustable Text Size

This is some thing a book can not offer unless you have a magnifying glass, Kindle has eight adjustable text sizes to enlarge or reduce text size while you are reading. You can increase the text size of your favorite ebook or periodical with the push of a button. If your eyes tire, simply increase the font size and continue reading comfortably. Now every ebook in your library can be large print.

Choices of font shapes and design of text

Kindle now has three font styles to choose from – our standard Caecilia font, a condensed version of Caecilia, and a sans serif option – so you can change your font style along with the font size.

Screen Rotation

Manually rotate the Kindle’s display from portrait to landscape to view maps, graphs, tables and Web pages.

Newspaper Reading

Using Kindle’s 5-way controller, you can quickly flip between articles, making it faster and easier to browse and read the morning paper. Want to remember the newspaper or magazine article you just read? Clip and save entire articles for later reading with a single click. Newspapers are auto-delivered wirelessly to Kindle before they hit newsstands.

Sharp Display of Images and Photos

Kindle’s high-resolution screen boasts 16 shades of gray and 50% improved contrast, for the sharpest text and images.

Full Image Zoom

Images and photos display crisply on Kindle and can be zoomed to the full size of the screen.

Precise 5-Way Controller

Kindle has an easy-to-use 5-way controller, enabling precise on-screen navigation for selecting text to highlight or looking up words. No on-screen fingerprints.

Abu Dhabi gives Football Fans unique insight into Man City’s Pre-Season Tour

Abu Dhabi, July 22nd, 2010 — Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) is giving football fans a unique insight into Manchester City Football Club’s (MCFC) pre-season US tour, which sees the English Premier League outfit play five matches in four cities, culminating in a final game with reigning European champions, Italy’s Inter Milan.

The �Abu Dhabi Travellers Welcome Manchester City on Tour – Summer 2010′ – runs until 31st July across the USA, and is being hosted by ADTA as part of its recent three-year deal as �Official Tourism Destination Partner’ with the top-flight team.

Through ADTA’s website www.visitabudhabi.ae, fans can log on to read exclusive English ‘&’ Arabic updates from MCFC’s centre-back, Micah Richards, detailing the team’s progress throughout the tour. In addition, the Tour Video Diary is regularly updated on the website, with interviews, footage and training tips from the squad, which includes top international names such as Dutch World Cup finalist Nigel de Jong, English trio, Adam Johnson, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Gareth Barry and Argentina’s Carlos Tevez.

A �Spot-The-Ball’ competition will also run on the official MCFC website (www.mcfc.co.uk) after the MCFC v Sporting Lisbon match in New York on Saturday 24th July (UK time), giving a football enthusiast and friend the chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to Abu Dhabi.

“This is a great opportunity for football fans across the globe to get a different angle on what is happening with the team in the build up to the start of the English Premier League,” said Ahmed Hussein, Deputy Director General, ADTA.

“Via this sponsorship, we also have a strong platform to demonstrate the emirate’s own sporting credentials to the US market which has easy access to the emirate through Etihad Airways’ services from Chicago and New York.” MCFC has already been training in Portland, Oregon, and played its opening warm-up game last weekend against the Portland Timbers, winning 3-0. The team is now heading off to New York, where it squares up against Portuguese Liga Sagres outfit, Sporting Lisbon on 23rd July and the New York Red Bulls on 25th July.

MCFC will then head to Atlanta, Georgia for its 28th July game against Club America before rounding off the tour against Series A champions, Inter Milan, on 31st July in Baltimore, Maryland.

The fan engagement programme is being complimented by a wealth of on-ground activities for stakeholders and future Abu Dhabi visitors across the US, bolstering North American awareness of the emirate.

ADTA is Manchester City’s fifth global partner and joins Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE, Umbro, Etisalat and Ferrostaal.

Under the deal, which runs until the end of the 2013 Premier League season, Abu Dhabi’s brand will appear on perimeter boards around the City of Manchester Stadium at every home league and domestic cup game, ADTA has exclusive naming rights to the club’s Carrington training ground and is the sole title sponsor of all pre-season tours.

FNC to debate the possibility of a single national shopping festival

Abu Dhabi, Jun 27th, 2010 -The Federal National Council (FNC) is set to discuss the possibility of holding a single shopping festival in the UAE to run concurrently with the celebrations marking the National Day of UAE.
The FNC will hold its concluding session in the current legislative season on Tuesday.
The session to be chaired by Speaker Abdul Aziz Abdullah Al Ghurair will also debate a report by the FNC committee on the ‘Policy of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). Minister of Economy and Chairman of GCAA Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri will attend the session.
The FNC members will also address a number of questions to Minister of Energy Mohammed Bin Dhaen Al Hamili, Minister of State for Financial Affairs Obeid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Oweis and Minister of Education Humaid Mohammed Al Qatami.
The questions will pertain to the increase in fuel prices and the consequent rise in prices of commodities and services, among others.

Emirates airline online UAE visa application procidure

Emirates airline has launched a new online visa system for people from 56 countries, including India, Pakistan and the Philippines, visiting the UAE. here is a step-by-step guide to get your ticket and visa to Dubai online.

Step 1 After you book tickets click on “Manage a Booking” on www.emirates.com and follow on-screen instructions. One-way flights are not eligible. Pay $57 (Dh209) for a 30-day visa and $44 (Dh162) for a 96-hour visa (plus $17 (Dh62) service charge and sales taxes for both). Residents of some countries may have to pay deposit of Dh1,000.

Step 2 Upload copies of passport bio page, photograph and proof of residence for transfer to Dubai immigration.

Step 3Track status of visa application on “Manage a Booking” using visa application number

Step 4 Visa will be delivered electronically within four days. All payments are by credit card. Deposit will be reversed on credit card upon confirmation of exit from the UAE.

SNTTA Emir Cruises To Handle Ground Arrangements Of Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance Of The Seas In 3 UAE Ports

SNTTA Emir Cruises, the cruise management division of SNTTA Emir Tours, has been appointed by Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd (RCCL) to handle the ground arrangements for its super-luxury ship “Brilliance of the Seas” which begins its maiden Gulf cruise on January 18 from Dubai.

Dubai Tours Dubai Safari & Other Excursion may be booked privatly also by Exotic Dubai Tours

SNTTA Emir Tours, part of the UAE-based Liberty Investment Company (Liberty Group), will handle all shore excursions in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah. In addition, they will handle embarkation, disembarkation, airport and hotel transfers in Dubai as well as provide trained check-in teams at the Dubai Cruise Terminal.

Brilliance of the Seas will do weekly Arabian Gulf sailings that will begin and end in Dubai, and cover Muscat, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain on its route. Royal Caribbean’s entry into the region’s emerging cruise market is expected to give a big boost to tourism as the bulk of the guests will be coming from North America, UK and Germany.

“SNTTA Emir Cruises has been an exclusive partner of RCCL for over ten years, having handled the ground arrangements of all of its ships, including the famed Legend of the Seas and Azamara Quest,” said David Milican, Senior General Manager, SNTTA Emir Tours. “We are one of the few destination management companies that have an experienced team specialised in all aspects of a cruise ship’s ground requirements. We are, therefore, very excited to be handling the first seasonal tour of Brilliance of the Seas.”

“The entry of Royal Caribbean International in the Gulf cruise sector is a milestone that will dramatically change the tourism landscape in the region,” added Milican. “Though there are three cruise companies operating weekly sailings, the region still holds tremendous potential for the cruise industry. SNTTA Emir Cruises’ long-term strategy is to boost our market share further as cruising picks up momentum, driven by Dubai’s ambitious plan to become the No. 1 cruise hub of the region.”

Helen Beck, Regional Director, International Representatives-EMEA, Royal Caribbean International, said: “We are very much looking forward to widening our itinerary offering to our guests by positioning Brilliance of the Seas in Dubai and the Arabian Gulf. This is the first time that we have committed one of our ships to this region and, with the support and experience of our long term land partner, SNTTA Emir Tours, we feel certain of success.”

Brilliance of the Seas, which has 1,050 staterooms, has won wide acclaim for its many attractions, such as the open Centrum with ten-deck-high windows and ocean-facing glass elevators, a mini golf course, rock climbing wall, water slide and ultra hi-tech, self-leveling pool tables in its Bombay Billiards Club. The cruise ship will do weekly sailings in the Arabian Gulf between January and April, 2010.

SNTTA Emir Cruises is all set to play its key role of facilitating the movement of passengers, designing shore excursions and choosing tours that will give the tourists the right sampling of the culture and heritage of the UAE. This is seen as very crucial, as the passengers will be Western tourists, most of them visiting the UAE for the very first time.

According to Dubai’s Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM) projections, cruise tourism is set to grow 30 per cent in 2010. The new Dubai Cruise Terminal, which will be formally inaugurated in early February, is expected to host 120 ships and around 325,000 cruise tourists in 2010 (against 250,000 in 2009). The new terminal will enable Dubai to handle bigger cruise liners, and has been designed to accommodate up to four ships simultaneously