Speakers confirmed for Connections Cruise Arabia 2025

A lineup of high-profile cruise industry speakers has been confirmed for the Gulf’s first dedicated cruise leadership summit, taking place onboard the QE2 in Dubai on 18 September 2025.

Connections Cruise Arabia will gather 120 senior cruise and travel leaders for a one-day Leadership Summit packed with strategic panels and closed-door talks aimed at boosting the Gulf’s emergence as a global cruise hub.

The expert panels will offer valuable insights on both inbound and outbound opportunities, identify regional growth potential and support sales channels.

Taking to the stage, the speaker lineup includes international cruise leaders and regional pioneers including Chairman and Founder of Jacobs Media Clive Jacobs, dnata CEO John Bevan, CLIA UK & Ireland Managing Director Andy Harmer, and DP World COO Hamza Mustafa, alongside representatives from the industry’s leading cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Celestyal and MSC Cruises.

In an industry-first, the summit will also unveil the first edition of the Connections Cruise Arabia Report, charting global cruise trends and providing market analysis. Data insights will come from CLIA, the world’s largest cruise industry trade association.

Like the event, the report will explore both inbound and outbound market potential, highlighting the region’s cultural richness, connectivity and world-class infrastructure. It will also contain a frontline seller’s guide to help agents to understand the available products and opportunities. 

The event has the backing of industry-leading partners, including Emirates and dnata, alongside cruise line sponsors NCL, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Silversea and Crystal.