Abu Dhabi has been named “World’s Best Cruise Destination” by the London-based World Cruise Awards this year, due to a significant increase in visitor traffic.
Additionally, the Emirate has been recognised as the “Middle East’s Best Cruise Destination”.
The Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal at Zayed Port, operated by the AD Ports Group, has also won awards for being the “World’s Best Cruise Terminal” and the “Middle East’s Best Cruise Terminal”. These announcements were made by the award-giving body on its official website.
Abu Dhabi Media Office said, “The four awards are a testament to Abu Dhabi’s position as a cruise destination of choice, highlighting the Emirate’s world-class facilities and hospitality.”
Abu Dhabi has been named the “Best Cruise Destination” by the World Cruise Awards, beating out other top destinations such as Mauritius, Mexico, Jamaica, Alaska, and the Philippines. The annual awards programme aims to recognise and celebrate excellence in the global cruise sector.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the world’s cruise industry, resulting in billion-dollar losses. However, as economies worldwide began to reopen, cruise passenger numbers started to recover.
The Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal at Zayed Port has experienced exceptional growth recently, with over 700,000 visitors to the Emirate during the 2022-23 season, nearly quadrupling the previous season’s 177,639 visitors.
During the 2022-23 season, there were 184 ship calls, which is an increase from 130 calls in the previous season.
The first quarter of 2023 was particularly strong, with 363,494 visitors and 120 calls recorded. This is a significant improvement compared to the first quarter of 2022, which saw only 89,953 visitors and 60 calls.
According to the Abu Dhabi Media office, in the first quarter of 2023, the number of passengers exceeded the total number of visitors in 2022 by more than 37%.