Dubai wins port, terminal awards

Dubai again stole the limelight at the recently concluded Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention in Miami, Florida, by winning the 'Most improved port facilities' award and 'Best new terminal building' award for the Dubai Cruise Terminal that is operated by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).

Dreamworld Cruise Destinations presented the awards following a comprehensive worldwide survey covering 11 categories in the port, terminal and destination sectors of the four major cruising regions in the world.

"We are delighted to have won these awards in the 'Rest of the World' category on behalf of Dubai and the UAE and take great pride in these achievements," said DTCM, director general, Khalid bin Sulayem, speaking to reporters at the Dubai Museum after the inauguration of the Jordanian Monu-ments Exhibition recently.

"We would also like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, UAE Minister of Defence, and Chairman of DTCM, who entrusted us with the task of developing the cruise business in Dubai," added bin Sulayem.

The international cruise line industry is segregated into four major regional sectors - the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Northern Europe and Rest of the World.

The Dubai Cruise Terminal has the distinction of being the only cruise terminal worldwide to be operated by a government tourism department and offers the very highest standards for passenger comfort and convenience.

The terminal welcomed the U.S. cruise ship Silver Shadow in October, 2001, with nearly 300 American and European passengers on board, along with six other cruise ships carrying 2,600 passengers.

"The Dubai Cruise Terminal has been created to attract more cruise lines to winter in the region, as well as to provide streamlined passenger facilities for the growing number of passenger ships using Dubai as a turnaround port," said bin Sulayem.

Bin Sulayem also thanked the Dubai Ports Authority and the administration of the Department of Naturalisation and Residency for the extensive support to the cruise industry.

The awards were presented to DTCM manager Heritage Sites and Events, Awadh Al Seghayer, (who is also in charge of cruise tourism) at the Seatrade Convention in Miami by Chris Ashcroft, Publisher and Editor of Dreamworld Cruise Destinations.