Abu Dhabi cruise tourists soar 55o%

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Terminals Company (ADTC) announced on Tuesday that the number of cruise ship tourists increased by 550 per cent in 2007 compared to 2006.

The company, which has signed a management agreement for Port Zayed with DP World and is developing the mega Khalifa Port at Al Taweelah, hosted an event in the capital to celebrate its accomplishments in the past two years.

"We are developing port facilities to enable us to absorb and cater for the massive economic development in the emirate," ADTC's chairman Nasser Ahmad Al Suwaidi said.

"The capacity of our terminals to receive cruise ships has increased significantly in proportion with the growing tourism sector, and in the first quarter of 2008 we have received more than 43,500 tourists, clearly reflecting the trend," said executive director Mohammad Abdul Aziz Al Manaie.

The company reported a 34 per cent increase in container handling and a 17 per cent growth in the general cargo. Some 20 per cent more motor vehicles were imported through its facilities in 2007 compared to 2006.

Infrastructure

"The trade sector relies heavily on providing the marine infrastructure which represents the gateway for connecting the country to the external world," Al Suwaidi said.

With the co-operation of DP World and Abu Dhabi Ports Company, ADTC was able to exceed growth projections and expectations in two years, and it is expected to play a leading role in the country's terminals industry with the establishment of the Khalifa Port.

It is intended to be one of the largest in the world, with the aim of servicing the huge industrial facilities that will be established in the vicinity, while protecting the environment by preserving the marine life and the coral reefs.