Dubai (Port Rashid-Dubai Harbour, UAE)

Cruise Port schedule, live map, terminals, news

Rating:
Dubai cruise port

Region
Asia

Local Time
2024-12-11 21:41

min: 63 °F (17 °C) / max: 80 °F (27 °C) 71°F
21.6°C
Wind: 92°/ 8 m/s  Gust: 11.7 m/sWind: 92°/ 8 m/s  Gust: 11.7 m/sMod. breeze
8 m/s
Min / Max Temperature80 °F / 27 °C
63 °F / 18 °C
  Port Map

Port Dubai cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Dubai, Port Rashid-Dubai Harbour, UAE. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

DayShipArrivalDeparture
1 December, 2024
Sunday
TUI Cruises Cruises cruise lineMein Schiff 413:0003 Dec, 22:00
1 December, 2024
Sunday
AIDA Cruises Cruises cruise lineAIDAstella14:00
2 December, 2024
Monday
Celestyal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelestyal Journey
2 December, 2024
Monday
TUI Cruises Cruises cruise lineMein Schiff 4
2 December, 2024
Monday
AIDA Cruises Cruises cruise lineAIDAstella01 Jan, 02:00
3 December, 2024
Tuesday
TUI Cruises Cruises cruise lineMein Schiff 422:00
3 December, 2024
Tuesday
AIDA Cruises Cruises cruise lineAIDAstella13:00
5 December, 2024
Thursday
AIDA Cruises Cruises cruise lineAIDAprima09:0007 Dec, 13:00
6 December, 2024
Friday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Euribia09:0007 Dec, 19:00
6 December, 2024
Friday
AIDA Cruises Cruises cruise lineAIDAprima01 Jan, 02:00
7 December, 2024
Saturday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Euribia19:00
7 December, 2024
Saturday
AIDA Cruises Cruises cruise lineAIDAprima15:00
8 December, 2024
Sunday
TUI Cruises Cruises cruise lineMein Schiff 413:0009 Dec, 23:00
9 December, 2024
Monday
TUI Cruises Cruises cruise lineMein Schiff 423:00
9 December, 2024
Monday
Celestyal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelestyal Journey14:0010 Dec, 19:00
10 December, 2024
Tuesday
Celestyal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelestyal Journey19:00
12 December, 2024
Thursday
AIDA Cruises Cruises cruise lineAIDAprima14:0014 Dec, 15:00
13 December, 2024
Friday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Euribia09:0014 Dec, 19:00
13 December, 2024
Friday
AIDA Cruises Cruises cruise lineAIDAprima
14 December, 2024
Saturday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Euribia19:00
14 December, 2024
Saturday
AIDA Cruises Cruises cruise lineAIDAprima15:00
15 December, 2024
Sunday
TUI Cruises Cruises cruise lineMein Schiff 413:0017 Dec, 19:00
16 December, 2024
Monday
TUI Cruises Cruises cruise lineMein Schiff 4
16 December, 2024
Monday
Celestyal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelestyal Journey14:0017 Dec, 22:00
17 December, 2024
Tuesday
TUI Cruises Cruises cruise lineMein Schiff 419:00
17 December, 2024
Tuesday
Celestyal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelestyal Journey19:00
19 December, 2024
Thursday
AIDA Cruises Cruises cruise lineAIDAprima14:0021 Dec, 15:00
19 December, 2024
Thursday
Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineNorwegian Dawn11:0020 Dec, 23:00
20 December, 2024
Friday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Euribia09:0021 Dec, 19:00
20 December, 2024
Friday
AIDA Cruises Cruises cruise lineAIDAprima
20 December, 2024
Friday
Regent Seven Seas Cruises Cruises cruise lineSeven Seas Voyager07:0018:00
21 December, 2024
Saturday
Costa Cruises Cruises cruise lineCosta Smeralda08:00
21 December, 2024
Saturday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Euribia19:00
21 December, 2024
Saturday
AIDA Cruises Cruises cruise lineAIDAprima15:00
22 December, 2024
Sunday
TUI Cruises Cruises cruise lineMein Schiff 413:0023 Dec, 23:00
22 December, 2024
Sunday
Costa Cruises Cruises cruise lineCosta Smeralda19:00
23 December, 2024
Monday
TUI Cruises Cruises cruise lineMein Schiff 423:00
23 December, 2024
Monday
Celestyal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelestyal Journey14:0024 Dec, 22:00
24 December, 2024
Tuesday
Celestyal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelestyal Journey19:00
24 December, 2024
Tuesday
Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineNorwegian Dawn07:0025 Dec, 16:00
26 December, 2024
Thursday
AIDA Cruises Cruises cruise lineAIDAprima14:0028 Dec, 15:00
27 December, 2024
Friday
Costa Cruises Cruises cruise lineCosta Smeralda13:0030 Dec, 13:00
27 December, 2024
Friday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Euribia09:0028 Dec, 19:00
27 December, 2024
Friday
AIDA Cruises Cruises cruise lineAIDAprima
28 December, 2024
Saturday
Costa Cruises Cruises cruise lineCosta Smeralda01 Jan, 02:00
28 December, 2024
Saturday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Euribia19:00
28 December, 2024
Saturday
AIDA Cruises Cruises cruise lineAIDAprima15:00
29 December, 2024
Sunday
TUI Cruises Cruises cruise lineMein Schiff 413:0031 Dec, 21:00
29 December, 2024
Sunday
Costa Cruises Cruises cruise lineCosta Smeralda
30 December, 2024
Monday
Costa Cruises Cruises cruise lineCosta Smeralda13:00
30 December, 2024
Monday
TUI Cruises Cruises cruise lineMein Schiff 4
30 December, 2024
Monday
Celestyal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelestyal Journey14:0031 Dec, 22:00
31 December, 2024
Tuesday
TUI Cruises Cruises cruise lineMein Schiff 421:00
31 December, 2024
Tuesday
Celestyal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelestyal Journey19:00

Dubai is a Persian Gulf (Arabian Sea) cruise port, the UAE's largest city (population around 3,4 million) and Emirate of Dubai's capital. Since 2020, the city has two cruise ports with 3 passenger terminals - two Terminals in Port Rashid (Mina Rashid, operational since 1972) and two new (2020-opened) in Dubai Harbour (Palm Island Cruise Terminals).

Dubai is the world's only city with cruise ports and terminals operated by a government (UAE's Department of Tourism). This provides extra attention to every passenger, along with enhanced travel experiences including certified tour guides, a swift entry system (no visa issues), premium transportation.

Approx 35 km (22 mi) to the southwest of Dubai is Mina Jebel Ali - currently ranked the world's 9th-largest by annual cargo volumes (~14 million TEU-containers), as well as the world's largest artificial harbor (1979-opened). Port Jebel Ali (locode AEJEA) is operated by DP World and currently has 67 berths and land area 135 km2 (52 mi2) which includes the Free Zone (Middle East's largest) and the National Industries Park (sized 21 km2 / 8 mi2, houses manufacturing and processing facilities). Jebel Ali is one of the Maritime Silk Road that links China with Europe via India and the Suez Canal. Due to the harbour's depth and facilities' sizes, Jebel Ali is also the most visited by US Navi vessels foreign port, including by aircraft carriers and other large battleships.

Jebel Ali and Dubai's Port Rashid are interlinked via a highway.

PCFC (Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation) is a Dubai Government organisation (2001-established) under which umbrella work several local companies and entities - Dubai Customs, JAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone), Dubai Ports Authority, Dubai Development Authority (Licensing & Monitoring), Dubai Maritime City Authority.

DP World (2005-founded) is a holding formed by merging Dubai Ports International and Dubai Ports Authority. DP World (currently ranked the world's largest cargo port operator) specializes in maritime services, supply chain cargo logistics, and management of port terminals and free trade zones.

Dubai cruise port

At Dubai's cruise port Mina Rashid is currently berthed/permanently moored "RMS Queen Elizabeth 2" - the famous Cunard ocean liner (1969-built, IMO 6725418).

  • In November 2008 the QM2 boat was retired and sold to Istithmar (subsidiary of Dubai World/investment company) with plans to be converted into a 500-room hotel ship with mooring at Palm Jumeirah.
  • The project was postponed and the boat remained docked at Mina Rashid.
  • The refurbishment started in March 2017 and was completed in April 2018.
  • The QM2 ship was renamed "Float Dubai" (215-room hotel ship) and its grand opening was held on October 14, 2021.

Rashid Port's cruise ship schedule shows vessels with voyages visiting Muscat, Bahrain, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi, ports in India, East Asia and Australia (on relocation voyages). Dubai also amazes tourists with all its almost unlimited city tour possibilities.

Port Mina Rashid's proximity to Dubai Airport and the downtown makes it an ideal choice as cruise ship tourists can get easy access to all the city's attractions. The cruise port has quay wall length 2,3 km (1,43 mi) and berthing capacity to handle 7 mega-cruise liners (max 25,000 passengers) simultaneously in a day.

In 2016, Dubai and other UAE cities introduced a new (multi-entry) visa system allowing cruise passengers to visit various UAE tour destinations with 1 permit. Previously, UAE visas were only for tourists arriving and leaving the country on a cruise ship. The new multiple-entry visas allow tourists to fly to Dubai Airport, embark on cruise vessels (Mina Rashid) and travel to Abu Dhabi and other Persian Gulf ports with a single visa - rather than obtaining 2 or 3 separate visas. The new UAE visas are also cheaper (AUD 59) in comparison to Dubai's 96-hours visa (AUD 44).

In January 2017 was signed an exclusive contract between the city's RTA (Roads and Transport Authority) and DP World (Mina Rashid terminals' owner and operator). By this deal are provided taxi services for passenger transportation between the city and the new terminal Hamdan bin Mohammed at Port Rashid. RTA's services include both taxis and VIP limousines to greet disembarking cruise ship tourists. The taxi corporation has 5000+ cabs. Its 2015 annual report showed 47+ million taxi trips serving ~94 million customers.

In the period 2014-2017, the port handled around 1,9 million cruise tourists via 489 vessels. During Port's first season (2013-14) were handled 93 calls and 320,000 passengers.

During season 2016-2017 (October through July), Port Rashid had scheduled 156 cruise ship visits and handled 625,000 passengers. This was a 15% increase over season 2015-16 (134 ship calls). The number of disembarking passengers was over 625,000 (18% increase over season 2015-16). For comparison, during 2006-2007, the cruise port was visited by around 105,000 passengers. The steady annual growth of 16-18% is supported by an increasing number of visitors from India. Their number grew by 25% (2015-2016) and by 30% (2017-2018). Currently, India is the cruise port's 14th source country (following countries like Germany, Italy, UK, USA).

During season 2017-18, the port had as clients 23 cruise companies, of which 6 used it as homeport (for roundtrips). The number included the newcomers NCL-Norwegian and Thomson-Marella. In 2017-2018, Celestyal Cruises for the first time ever started offering roundtrip 3-night / 4-day Arabian Gulf mini-cruises with the ship Celestyal Nefeli.

To boost berth bookings, for October (2018) and April (2019), DP World reduced cruise port charges by 50%. During season 2018-19, Port Dubai handled ~725,000 cruise ship tourists, and ~825,000 in season 2019-2020.

In 2019, in Dubai Royal Caribbean introduced the world's most expensive cruise shore excursion. Part of RCI's "Cruise Arabia and Africa" program, the new tour is offered on 7-day Arabian Gulf itineraries starting December 2019. The cruise excursion's cost is AED 122,000 (USD 33,000) per person. The cruisetour package is inclusive of a shopping trip (with personal shopper and photo session at Dubai Mall) and a visit to Rose Arbaji Centre (with 3-course meal and 3-hour spa treatments). The exclusive tour was first offered on Jewel of the Seas (homeported in Dubai in 2019-2020).

 

In late-November 2020, DP World's Port Mina Rashid won again the title "World's Leading Cruise Port" at WTA-World Travel Awards 2020. The port has received this prestigious award for 13 successive years - since 2008.

On May 16, 2021, the AIDA ships AIDAprima and AIDAvita became the first vessels to dock at the new DHCT-Dubai Harbor Cruise Terminal (located between Bluewaters Island and Palm Jumeirah Island).

Following the COVID crisis, during season 2021-2022, Port Dubai received 98 cruise ship calls and 338697 tourists (passengers plus crew), and expected in season 2022-23 0,9+ million tourists.

Port Dubai

On September 18, 2017, DP World Ltd announced that the company entered into agreements to purchase Maritime World LLC (sole owner of Dubai Maritime City) for USD 180 million. DP World also acquired Drydocks World LLC for USD 225M or made a total capital injection into Dubai port of USD 405M.

Dubai Maritime City is a world-class facility and industrial business zone in a prime location (adjacent to the Mina Rashid port). Maritime City's main business is its commercial and industrial park (sized 2,3 km2 / 1 mi2) located on an artificial peninsula. The park provides Economic Zones World additional land as an alternative to the congested Jebel Ali Free Zone (located at the city's far western end).

Drydocks World is a leading company specializing in ship repairs and operating the Middle East's largest shiprepair yard. The shipyard also has capabilities for newbuilds and vessel conversions. Drydocks were integrated into P&O Maritime - DP World's fully-owned maritime services subsidiary company.

In May 2018, Carnival Corporation and Meraas (holding company) signed a partnership deal for "Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal"/DHCT. Starting late 2020, the facility became a homeport and transit destination for Carnival Corporation ships in the region. Carnival offers roundtrips and relocation voyages from Dubai to attract passengers from India and China. Read more in the port's "Terminal" section.

In July 2018, DP World and Zhejiang China Commodities City Group signed an agreement to construct Traders Market (build-up area 3 km2) at Jebel Ali Port Free Zone. The new facility is in Jafza South (adjacent to Dubai Expo 2020) and is divided by trade sectors (including household goods, building materials, foods-beverages, cosmetics-healthcare, energy-power, engineering-technology).

  • The partnership deal followed an agreement signed in 2018 between DP World and ZPG (Zhejiang Seaport Investment and Operation Group) for a warehouse in Yiwu (the world's largest wholesale market for small commodities) with cargoes destined for Dubai and the Middle East.
  • Both projects will boost the UAE-China trade by offering integrated logistics, warehousing, customs clearance facilities, trade licenses. Jebel Ali Port Free Zone provides access to over 2 billion people regional market and DP World's global network of 80+ cargo terminals, enabling trade in countries with over 50% of the global GDP.

In 2017, China was ranked Dubai's number one trading partner, with total annual trade for FY2017 AED 176,5 billion (USD 48 billion).

Port Rashid (aka Mina Rashid)

Dubai's Mina Rashid port is an artificially made commercial seaport opened in 1972. In 1978, it was expanded to 35 berths (mostly used by container ships). The port is equipped with 9 gantry cranes (cargo capacity 1,500,000 TEUs). Here dock general cargo and RoRo vessels, cruise ships and luxury yachts.

  • address: "PO Box 17000. Dubai United Arab Emirates"
  • phone number +971 4 301 9300
  • UN-LOCODE (United Nations location code) - AEDXB
  • developer/ operator - DPWorld
  • supported by excellent road, metro rail and air infrastructure
  • capability to accommodate 4 cruise ships at a time
  • deep water berths (depth 43 ft / 13 m)
  • sheltered harbor area
  • access unrestricted by tides

The Terminal's area was initially sized 3450 m2 (37130 ft2), increased to 30,000 m2 (323,000 ft2) in 2020-21, when the second terminal (at Dubai Harbour) was completed.

Port Dubai, along with its cruise terminal also has a cargo ship terminal (Dubai Maritime City) and dry dock facilities (Dubai Drydocks) for marine vessel refurbishments and repairs. The cruise port is accessible the whole year round - 24/7, 365 days a year.

In 2019 was inaugurated the Dubai Ferry service linking downtown Al Wajeha Al Maeyah Marine Transport Station (near Dubai Mall / one of the world's largest and most-visited retail shopping destinations) with Dubai Marina Mall (owned by Emaar Malls, subsidiary of Emaar Properties). The ferry crossing time is ~80 min (one-way), with complimentary shuttle service to Dubai Mall and back. Tickets are priced AED 68,25 (USD 18,6) per adult and AED 52,5 (USD 14,3) for kids 5-12 years old.

On December 7, 2019, MSC Cruises signed with DP World a long-term agreement for preferential berthing rights at Mina Rashid Port. The deal was signed on the Dubai-homeported liner MSC Bellissima (2019-built). Currently, MSC is the biggest cruise shipping company operating in the Arabian Gulf.

In 2020 was completed the new Dubai Harbour Cruise Port & Marina project (read more in the Terminal section).

Cruise itineraries to and from Dubai

Follows a list of destinations visited by cruise ships leaving out of Dubai:

  • World Cruises - around the world voyages starting in Europe or Australia visit Dubai before or after their Suez Canal transition. Generally are offered smaller world cruise segments with departures from Dubai to ports in Europe (westbound, to Southampton) or on eastbound routes - in Asia (to Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tianjin) and Australia (to Sydney, Brisbane). The shortest segments are between Dubai and India, Singapore, Greece, Italy, Turkey.
  • 7-day Dubai cruise deals (round-trip departures) are the most common itineraries. They include visiting ports in the UAE (Abu Dhabi, Khor Fakkan) also in Oman (Khasab, Muscat) and Bahrain (Mina Salman).
  • Transition itineraries (via Suez Canal/RepositionCruises.com) are with either eastbound routes (from Europe-Mediterranean to Asia) or the reverse/westbound routes (from Asia to Europe /via the Mediterranean Sea).

Among the cruise lines operating from Dubai are AIDA, Costa, MSC, Royal Caribbean, TUI, Marella UK, Seabourn. The list of other UAE cruise ports also includes the Sir Bani Yas Island (private resort destination for MSC and Costa ship tourists). Costa and AIDA were the first to start homeporting in Dubai (since 2006).

"Project Orient Limited" (POL) planned to build two ocean cruise liners for a regular passenger shipping service between Europe-UK and Australia (Southampton - Sydney). The scheduled itinerary is 26 days in one direction (Southampton to Sydney, and the reverse Sydney to Southampton). The included call ports are Fremantle (at the 20-day mark), also Dubai, Mumbai India and Singapore. Each of the STX France-built vessels will be 200,000 GT tons and with capacity 1600 pax. The expected cruise pricing starts from ~GBP 2900 per person (one-way fares with double occupancy).

Dubai cruise terminal

SInce 2020, Dubai City has two cruise ports and all 4 cruise terminals. The Port is located approx 15 km / 9 mi (north, 25-min drive distance) from Dubai Airport (DXB) and approx 37 km / 23 mi (south, 30-min drive distance) from Al Maktoum Airport (in Jebel Ali). It is easy to use a taxi transfer between the Port and downtown.

On May 16, 2021, the ships AIDAprima and AIDAvita became the first to dock at Dubai Harbour's new Palm Island Cruise Terminal.

Dubai Harbour is owned and operated by Shamal Holding (investment firm), which also manages Jumeirah Zabeel Saray (beach resort), Skydive Dubai and Deep-dive Dubai, Kite Beach Dubai, XDubai (adventure and extreme sports), Dubai Film (movie production and rental house), and other entertainment attractions.

(NEW) Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminals and Marina

Opened in October 2020, Dubai Harbour's two new passenger terminals (aka Palm Island Cruise Terminals) have combined floor area 27,870 m2 (300,000 ft2/two equally-sized buildings), total Quay Wall length 910 m (2950 ft), total Pier length 910 m (2985 ft, which allows 2 largest ships to be berthed simultaneously), Pier width 28 m (92 ft), Shipping Channel depth 12,5 m (43 ft), Shipping Channel width 300 m (984 ft), Turning Basin diameter 540 m (1770 ft), Bollards (Tee Head type, capacity 200 tons each), four Passenger Boarding Bridges.

Both Terminals are complete with entertainment venues, leisure spaces, premium retail shopping areas. The new cruise ship terminals in Dubai Harbour are approx 30 km (20 mi) from two international airports (Dubai International, and Al Maktoum/aka Dubai World Central) or just 30-min drive distance from the cruise docks.

Dubai Harbour's two terminals are with berthing capacity 3 mid-sized ships (simultaneously) and 13,200 passengers (at a time). The project was via partnership with Shamal Holding LLC (2016-founded, Dubai-based Investment company with 8 subsidiaries).

Dubai Harbour is linked with the city's transport network (directly connected with its road grid and monorail system).

The new facility was officially inaugurated on December 17, 2021, following the arrival of its first cruise ships - Costa Firenze and AIDAbella. The special ceremony was attended by Abdulla Binhabtoor (Shamal Holding's CPO) and Carnival Corporation top-rank executives, including Giora Israel (SVP Global Ports & Destinations Development), Torben Seidenschnur (Costa Group's Director CEO Office & Strategic Development), Michael Thamm (Costa Group's and Carnival Asia's CEO), Felix Eichhorn (AIDA's President), Mario Zanetti (Costa's President).

(NEW) Dubai Harbour Marina

Smaller ships and superyachts may alternatively dock at Dubai Harbour Marina - the largest and most advanced leisure boating facility in the region of Middle East-North Africa. The marina has total capacity 1100 (boat slots/berths) and can accommodate smaller-sized ships and mega-yachts with max LOA length 160 m (525 ft).

The new Marina is divided into three areas - Harbour Marina, Bay Marina, and Palm View Marina.

  • At Harbour Marina are the Harbor Master Building, Yacht Club, a promenade/esplanade (lined up with restaurants, cafes, retail shops), Helipad (helicopter-landing platform), Crew Facility. Harbour Marina's capacity is 566 slots/berths (for yachts with max LOA length 40 m / 131 ft), including 487x slots (for 12-22-meter boats) and 79 slots (for 22-40-meter boats).
  • Palm View Marina is surrounded by high residence buildings, hotels, beaches. Palm View Marina's capacity is 37 slots/berths (for superyachts with max LOA length 80 m / 263 ft), including 15 slots (for 12-22-m boats), 6 slots (22-40-m boats) and 19 slots (40-80-m boats).
  • Bay Marina is Dubai’s first dedicated to large yachts facility, with a separate Helipad. Bay Marina's capacity is 180 slots/berths (for superyachts with max LOA length 160 m / 525 ft), including 72 slots (for 12-22-m boats), 73 slots (22-40-m boats), 33 slots (40-80-m yachts) and 14 slots (80-160-m superyachts).

All marinas are fitted with wastewater and power connections, fueling stations, storage facilities, waste disposal, food and beverage outlets, buggy service.

Inaugurated in 2018 (November 13th), Dubai Harbour Marina is managed by D-Marin Dubai LLC (part of D-Marin / Istanbul Turkey-based global marina service company that currently operates 14 yacht marinas in 5 countries - Turkey, Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, UAE). Dubai Marina, like the cruise terminals, is one of the city's architectural landmarks, with contemporary-designed facilities housing brokerage and maritime insurance companies, crews, ship chandlers, premium retail shops, food and beverage outlets.

(NEW) Mina Rashid Cruise Terminal

Mina Rashid Cruise Terminal has 7 berths, which means it can handle 7 large-sized vessels (total passenger capacity 25,000) simultaneously. The terminal was renovated in 2010 and all cargo vessels were moved to the Jebel Ali Port. Port Rashid remained only a terminal for cruise ships. It can handle simultaneously up to 4 vessels. Cruise Terminal 3 is the largest facility (sized 125,000 m2), with capacity 14,000 passengers.

The building is in old Arabic style. Dubai Cruise Port terminal offers facilities like ATM machines, a post office, duty-free, an information center, souvenir shops, internet access, currency exchange, business center, coffee shop. Each hour, tourists can use City Center and Mercato Mall free shuttles.

Hamdan bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal (Port Rashid)

Dubai's new cruise ship terminal Hamdan bin Mohammed is located at Port Rashid (passenger and cargo port). The complex is considered one of the world's top 5 luxury cruise ports to dock at.

The new terminal was inaugurated in 2015. It is the world’s largest covered cruise facility with a daily passenger capacity of 14,000. For the period 2015-2020, the Hamdan bin Mohammed terminal's business grew 55%. Top daily performances were reported in 2015 (4 liners with ~20,000 passengers+crew), 2017 (5 liners with ~24,000 passengers+crew), 2019 (6 liners with ~35,000 passengers+crew).

Annually, 0,5+ million cruise ship tourists visit Dubai City via Port Rashid's terminals. The complex has as facilities coffee bar lounge, mini-mart, deli (lunch restaurant), premium shops (souvenirs, watches, jewellery, electronics), post office, business center, currency exchange office, ATMs, concierge tour services (to assist day tours in Dubai City). Among the services offered at the terminal are free Internet (and Wi-Fi) and 2 free of charge shopping shuttle buses (1 to Mercato Mall, 1 to City Center Drive) leaving from the terminal's station each hour.

(NEWEST/Carnival) Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal

DHCT-Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal is a new port development project which started in January 2017 and was completed in 2021. Among the attractions that the new complex features are a new building (total area 150,000 ft2 / 13,935 m2, max passenger capacity 6000) and Dubai Lighthouse (height 4380 ft / 135 m) housing a luxury hotel and featuring an observation deck.

This is Dubai's newest (second) cruise terminal facility for which construction was contracted Meraas (holding company, subsidiary of Dubai Holding/owned by the country's ruler/Sheikh). This way, the port became the world's first ever to build 2 new terminals simultaneously, with combined annual capacity 1,2 million passengers. As a location, Dubai Harbour connects some of the city's most famous neighborhoods.

Dubai Harbour is on King Salman Str, between JBR Walk (shopping / dining promenade) and Palm Jumeirah (the famous man-made archipelago). The new complex covers a total area of ~1,9 km2 (0,72 mi2). The project included the cruise port terminal, a large shopping mall (0,33 km2 / 0,13 mi2), a yacht marina (capacity 1400 berths), 3x helipads, an events arena, as well as residential and office buildings, hotels and shops.

Dubai Lighthouse's facade is used as a screen for HD video projections and light shows. The residential complex includes both high and low buildings, as well as waterfront houses and villas, numerous retail shops, cafes and restaurants.

Construction works started in May 2018 after Meraas and Carnival Corporation signed an agreement for partnership, including port development and terminal management. The 186-hectares (1,9 km2 / 0,7 mi2) land development project was officially approved in January 2017 by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Ruler of Dubai).

In July 2019 was contracted ASGC Group (UAE-based and Dubai's largest construction company) to build the new Dubai Cruise Terminal (Meraas's real estate complex) located between Bluewaters and Palm Jumeirah (Dubai Harbour). ASGC will conduct all construction works (for both main terminal buildings), the 1-km long quay (docking area), also will implement all associated fit-out and external works and will install buildings' fixtures, fittings and equipment. Upon completion, the new terminal will have total floor area 2,7 hectares and daily passenger capacity of 15000.

Dubai Ferry Terminal

All sea connections between the city and the other UAE port cities are served by Mina Rashid Ferry Terminal. It is adjacent to the cruise ship terminal. Ferries dock in the Coastal Berth area. Dubai's Ferry Terminal (like all cruise terminals) is owned by DP World. Among the modern facilities are luggage belts, separate arrival/departure gates, security (police), UAE Customs office. The Ferry Terminal handles around 20,000 passengers per year.

Adjacent to Port Rashid are Dubai Drydocks and Dubai Maritime City. However, there's a plan all cargoship operations to be moved to Jebel Ali Port (by March 2018) leaving Port Rashid as a dedicated cruiseship terminal. The plan also included part of the port to be reclaimed by Nakheel (Dubai real-estate developer) to create an urban waterfront complex housing over 200,000 residents.

In 2019 was inaugurated the Dubai Ferry service linking downtown's Al Wajeha Al Maeyah Marine Transport Station near Dubai Mall (one of the world's largest and most-visited retail shopping destinations) with Dubai Marina Mall (owned by Emaar Malls, subsidiary of Emaar Properties). The ferry crossing time is ~80 min (one-way), with complimentary shuttle service provided to Dubai Mall and back. Tickets are priced AED 68,25 (USD 18,6) per adult and AED 52,5 (USD 14,3) for kids 5-12 years old.

Dubai tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

  • Dubai Creek and Creekside Park: this saltwater water way is 24-hour crowded with boats sailing to and from India, Arabia and East Africa. Take a water taxi, visit Creek and its Creekside Park with cafes, mini-golf, gardens and fishing quays.
  • Gold Souk: located on the north side of Dubai Creek, find the lowest prices in the world of dimanods, gold, silver, platinum and precious germs.
  • Spice Souk: right next to Gold Souk. A spice market. Smell the aromatic atmosphere of flower petals, incense, medicinal herbs, spices and aromatic oils.
  • Dubai Museum: located in the Al Fahidi Fort, on the Dubai Creek south coatsline. The place where you will find the history, traditions and Dubai culture and you will reveal the life in the desert.
  • Mall of the Emirates: enormous shopping center with over 400 shops, one of the worlds biggest. Find almost all world brands, restaurants, galleries, a ski slope, two mosques and a cinema.
  • Bastakia Quarter: located on Dubai Creek north coastline. Ancient area good for a walk.
  • Burj Al Arab hotel: the only seven-star hotel, fabulous and spectacular Burj Al Arab soars the sky. If you don’t want to book a room, try the restaurants or take a look at it from the Majlis Al Bahar beach.
  • Burj Khalifa: the tallest building in the world, 2,625 ft.
  • Al Mamzar Beach: beautiful park with gardens, beaches, play area, picnic tables, showers, cafes and lifeguard. Special day is Wednesday – Al Mamzar Beach is reserved only for women and children.
  • Jumeirah Beach Park: only a mile away from the Dubai cruise port terminal, direction South
  • The Desert: 4x4 tour in the desert to visit a native village, taste a local meal and all that combined with amazing belly dance.
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