DP World Mina Rashid was awarded the world's leading cruise port once again at the 2020 World Travel Awards (WTA).
This prestigious award, which is considered a noteworthy recognition in the cruise and travel industry, included nominations from cruise ports around the world.
Mina Rashid has held this title for 13 consecutive years, since 2008. Over the years, due to extensive development and improvements, the port has become a preferred cruise destination for cruise ships around the world.
The cruise port has transformed the status of Dubai to a global cruise hub for the maritime sector, and gained recognition from travelers around the world.
Mina Rashid's proximity to Dubai International Airport and the heart of the city make it an ideal choice, as passengers can easily access key locations in the city.
The port has a 2.3 km pier and can simultaneously handle seven mega ships or 25,000 passengers in a single day.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
At the center of Mina Rashid's stellar performance is its flagship Hamdan bin Mohammed cruise terminal, which is the world's largest covered cruise terminal facility.
The latest generation terminal has the capacity to receive 14,000 passengers per day. From its inauguration in 2014 to 2020, the pier witnessed 55 percent growth, receiving a high volume of cruise ships.
In 2015, the terminal received four cruise ships with approximately 20,000 passengers and crew in a single day. Five cruises with around 24,000 travelers and crew visited every weekend in 2017, during peak season. The terminal achieved the feat of receiving six ships with around 35,000 passengers and crew in a single day in the 2019/20 season.
Mohammed Al Mannaei, CEO of P&O Marinas and CEO, Mina Rashid , said that “it is an honor to receive this award, year after year. 2020 was a challenging year, despite this, it is comforting to see that Mina Rashid is still the best option. This shows that we are moving in the right direction in terms of promoting Dubai as a popular destination for international cruise tourists. As the top Middle East destination for cruise operators, Mina Rashid offers a value proposition to global luxury cruises. Every year, we have seen a steady increase in tourist traffic ”.
“It goes without saying that the cruise tourism industry has been affected by the global pandemic, but we are confident that growth can be expected in the near future. However, with that said, we are confident that Dubai will continue to be popular as a home port option among international cruise ships. We will continue our efforts and work closely with our valued partners to boost luxury cruise tourism and further strengthen Dubai's leading position, ”he added.
Expansion projects are underway at the port to enhance its capabilities and weld the city's preeminent position in the global tourism industry. The team of experts overseeing the port works tirelessly with dedication and passion to reinvent and explore new collaborations to improve the regional and global cruise industry.