In the early 20th century, no one in the world would have believed that a barren desert country with humble fishing village settlements would one day become a pioneer in contemporary lifestyle. The UAE turned heads at the advent of the mid-1900s. Within a decade, it had made its place on the world map as an avant-garde destination for modern and cultural experiences.
It all started with Dubai. As the epitome of luxury and sophistication, along with a mind-blowing collection of innovative attractions, Dubai got international recognition that automatically got UAE noticed in the eyes of globetrotters. Dubai’s strategic positioning on the world map at the crossroads of Asia and Europe made it a focal point for trade and tourists to pass through. The emirate gained a reputation as the gateway to other continents, not just by air but also by sea. As the trade grew, new advanced and efficient ports were created in Dubai and gradually in other emirates in the UAE. Coupled with world-class infrastructure, the UAE gradually made its name as a popular destination for cruise travellers. Let’s get an insight into the major ports in Dubai and the UAE, exploring their significance as gateways to the Gulf regions and beyond.
Port Rashid, Dubai
Image Credit : portrashid.net
As the oldest commercial port in Dubai, the development of Port Rashid or Mina Rashid played a turning point in the maritime routes in the UAE. Its smooth operation has played a pivotal role in shaping Dubai from a small fishing settlement to a popular trading route. It further enhanced in making Dubai a commercial hub for trading. Eventually, It played a crucial role in the globalisation of Dubai City by facilitating the movement of materials. Today, it is a bustling port that caters less to cargo and more to passenger cruises. It serves as a port of call to many cruise liners and is also a starting port for cruises from Dubai. Dubai Cruise Terminal at Port Rashid welcomes more than 5 lakh cruise travellers and is one of the most luxurious and state-of-the-art UAE ports. Queen Elizabeth 2 – the legendary British cruise converted into a floating restaurant finds a permanent space at this port. With the accolade of “The World’s Leading Cruise Port’ in its name, Port Rashid is now one of the most popular and largest ports for cruise ships and a harbour for luxury yachts. Further, its surroundings are filled with sea-facing apartments, boutique hotels, shopping malls, retail outlets and many recreational spots. It is located just 20 minutes away from Dubai Downtown and is well-connected to ensure smooth transit to other major attractions of Dubai City.
Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal
Image Credit : dubaiharbour.com
Relatively new, sleek and contemporary among Dubai ports is the Dubai Harbour cruise terminal. Dubai Harbour is a happening spot as an opulence waterfront hub located between Palm Jumeirah and Bluewaters Island. It is a well-known address in Dubai for boating and luxury yacht experience. Additionally, the Dubai Harbour is home to massive Dubai Cruise facilities, having two fantastic double-storied terminals that cater to high-end, mega luxury cruise ships. The Dubai Harbour cruise terminal spans 1,20,000 sqm and is an advanced engineering project directed to ensure the safe and convenient passage of two large cruise ships simultaneously. It is a primary docking port for cruises like Costa Cruise, Princess Cruise, and Cunard Cruise, to name a few. The cruise terminal has the comfort of tourists as a priority all the time and provides services such as cafes, food outlets, ATMS, free WIFI, prayer rooms, lavish resting areas, currency exchange facilities, retail shops and more. As the largest marina in the UAE with world-class, exquisite cruise terminals, Dubai Harbour has branded itself as a world-class maritime destination.
Khalifa Port, Abu Dhabi
Image Credit : hasacoship.com
Moving on to Abu Dhabi, Khalifa Port, the main deepwater port in the UAE capital emirate, is strategically positioned on an extended land in the Persian Gulf near the Khalifa Industrial Zone. Inaugurated in 2012, Khalifa Port is strategically located on the Maritime Silk Road route. It sees major activity in container trade. However, the port primarily focuses on cargo operations and has minimal involvement in the tourism sector. Some luxury and leisure cruises coming to and departing from Abu Dhabi dock at Zayed Port. It is undergoing major developments to expand and enhance its capacity, facilities and connectivity by linking to the ongoing Etihad Rail network development and aims to be a game changer in sea route trade in future.
Zayed Port, Abu Dhabi
Image Credit : upload.wikimedia.org
Zayed Port, also known as Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, is one of the most prominent ports in UAE that caters to luxury cruise liners. Not only is Zayed Port a significant gateway for nautical trade, but it also garners attention as a hub for cruise tourism in the country. Most cruise liners operate their Middle Eastern holidays to include Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Port in their itineraries. It has a world-class, deep-water cruise terminal seamlessly connected by road network, offering convenient links to the emirate’s diverse attractions. Located on an independent island in the Persian Gulf, the port lies close to Saadiyat Island and is 5 minutes away from the E11 highway. Hence, it is easier to traverse through Dubai and Abu Dhabi – the two main leisure emirates of the UAE easily. It is one of the UAE ports that has played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s maritime cruise tourism and is the go-to point to embark on cruises from Abu Dhabi.
Port of Fujairah
Most major UAE cruise ports are located on the Persian Gulf coastline in the west, and emphasis is given to those in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. However, on the eastern side, the UAE sees major maritime activity at the picturesque port city of Fujairah, located along the Gulf of Oman. Boasted as the sole multi-utility sea port on UAE’s eastern shores, the Port of Fujairah has been beneficial and supportive as an advanced cargo handling port for the country’s sea trade. This UAE port primarily facilitates commercial activities, particularly oil trade and goods storage for bulk export. It has a massive capacity to accommodate 4700 ship vessels, giving it the tag of ‘one-stop-shop’ for maritime business. It has been recognised as an important economic link between Europe and Asia. Though it is extensively used for trading through sea routes, it does serve as a port of call for leisure cruise ships. This UAE port occasionally welcomes mega-sized luxury cruises from Celestyal Cruise and Regent Seven Sea cruise line. These vessels embark on voyages to explore the captivating landscapes of Arabia and Africa, offering passengers unique and unforgettable experiences in a less-crowded, picturesque port city of Fujairah that feels fascinatingly different from the ambience of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Conclusion
UAE’s vision for the future of leisure and luxury cruising is ambitious. In the coming decade, the UAE aims to become a leading cruise destination in the world. This will attract millions more visitors to the country through the sea route. The UAE is heavily investing in developing cruise terminals and port facilities and expanding its range of cruise itineraries. The major ports in the UAE – Port Rashid, Zayed Port, and Jebal Ali have pushed the wheel of transforming the country into an enthusiastic cruise destination. As the country continues to grow and evolve, it will attract larger crowds of cruise passengers, solidifying its position as a premier cruise destination in the world.
