TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 5 has entered drydock in Dubai for a planned maintenance and refurbishment period, temporarily suspending her winter deployment in the Middle East. The 2,500-guest vessel, delivered in 2016, concluded a series of regional voyages before standing down from service on Thursday, January 8th, 2026, and is scheduled to return to operations later in the month.
The company indicated that the stop forms part of routine upkeep ahead of the ship’s return to service on January 20th. The vessel departed her berth in Dubai and proceeded a short distance to the drydock, where she was secured prior to the commencement of works. As part of standard drydock procedures, lifeboats and tenders were lowered and positioned alongside the ship in preparation for the dock being drained.
Alongside technical inspections and maintenance, the docking includes a number of upgrades to passenger areas. These works comprise the installation of a new LED wall in the theatre, adjustments to the onboard sound system, replacement of the arena scoreboard, new carpeting in the Atlantik restaurant and updates to selected suites.
Upon completion of the programme, Mein Schiff 5 is set to resume her 2025–2026 Middle East season. The deployment features 7-night itineraries from Dubai and Doha, with calls at ports in the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar, including Sir Bani Yas, Abu Dhabi and Muscat. In early March, the vessel is scheduled to commence a series of repositioning voyages back to Europe via Africa, before continuing on to Spain.
The selection of Dubai as the location for the drydock reflects the city’s expanding role in cruise ship maintenance and refurbishment. Dubai Drydocks has strengthened its cruise-sector capabilities in recent years, having undertaken work on vessels such as AIDAstella, Carnival Spirit, Empress and Mein Schiff 4, as well as completing the extensive conversion of the former Cunard flagship QE2 into a floating hotel.
As cruise vessels increase in size and operational complexity, access to well-equipped shipyard infrastructure close to deployment regions has become an increasingly significant consideration for operators. With modern drydock facilities located adjacent to major cruise terminals, Dubai continues to consolidate its position as a regional service hub for cruise lines operating in the Middle East.