The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing,Government of Dubai has been promoting the Cruise Business since over a decade. The establishment of the first cruise terminal in Dubai in 2001 and the opening of the much more enhanced New Dubai Cruise Terminal in February 2010 with higher handling capacity had drawn the attention of many cruise liners around the world.

These milestones in the history of Cruise Tourism made it possible for Dubai to pioneer in the region and continue to serve as a home port for two leading European cruise liners Costa Crociere; Aida Cruises since 2006 and Royal Caribbean International from 2010. The TUI Cruises is the latest addition to our roster and will commence its operation from 2012 /13 season.Nevertheless, most of the world’s leading cruise liners have Dubai in their itinerary on their international and world cruise itinerary.

The Government support,International & regional strategic marketing initiatives of DTCM in conjunction with its overseas offices placed Dubai in the spotlight of the Arabian Gulf as the "Cruise Hub of the Region"