Dubai’s cruise terminal at Mina Rashid has more than doubled the number of cruise tourists it receives since it opened in four years ago.
Hamdan bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal, managed by DP World, welcomed more than 625,000 holiday-makers in 2016-17 season, up from 320,000 cruise tourists that arrived in Dubai in the 2013-14 season.
The number of cruise visitors is expected to top 700,000 in the 2018-2019 season.
Since the terminal opened in 2014, some 1.9 million cruise tourists visited Dubai on board 489 ships. Cruise ship calls have increased by 68 per cent from 93 in the 2013-2014 season to 156 in 2016-2017.
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Read more:
'Welcome home QE2': famous liner makes final voyage to Port Rashid before opening as hotel
P&O Cruises eager to tap into Dubai’s tourism potential
National Editorial: Smooth sailing for cruise tourism
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The emirate aims to draw one million cruise tourists a year from 2020 onwards.
Key to this growth is the cruise terminal that is set to be the largest terminal in the world - capable of handling 18,000 passengers a day.
Currently, the world’s largest cruise port is in Miami, which welcomed nearly 5 million cruise passengers in 2016.
"We are committed to providing facilities that are the best in the world and create a truly luxurious cruise experience catering to the tastes and sophistication of visitors," said Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, group chairman and chief executive of DP World, chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation.
Dubai’s cruise tourism market has grown rapidly over the past four seasons as the city is becoming a choice destination for cruise enthusiasts from Europe and the US.
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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The biog
Name: Fareed Lafta
Age: 40
From: Baghdad, Iraq
Mission: Promote world peace
Favourite poet: Al Mutanabbi
Role models: His parents
