Dubai’s Mina Rashid welcomes MSC...

The vessel kicked off its winter season with a four-night journey from Doha to Dubai

Dubai’s Mina Rashid recently welcomed the MSC World Europa as it made its first call in the Middle East after serving as a floating hotel during the Fifa World Cup.

With the capacity to carry more than 4,500 passengers, the vessel and its crew, led by Captain Marco Massa, were welcomed by P&O Marinas senior manager – business management Esam Ahmad.

The cruise ship is scheduled to make 14 calls to Mina Rashid over the coming season, bringing in over 189,000 tourists to the Emirate and highlighting Dubai’s position as the gateway for regional and international cruise itineraries.

Powered by LNG, the MSC World Europa emits 99% less sulphur dioxide (SO2), 85% less nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and 20% less carbon dioxide (CO2), compared to non-LNG powered ships, making it one of the most futuristic vessels in the world.

Commenting on the vessel’s arrival in Dubai, Esam Ahmad said: “The arrival of the MSC World Europa at Mina Rashid is a significant milestone for the cruise terminal. It reaffirms our capabilities in accommodating vessels that are not only massive in size, but also unique in their requirements. We are proud of the fact that Mina Rashid is capable of catering to such distinctive and advanced needs, and we are ready to welcome more ships that require similar services.

“Owing to Dubai’s strengths, including investments in the tourism industry and the expansion of cruise terminals, we predict another robust winter for the 2022/2023 season. At our cruise terminal, we expect a significant rise in port calls in comparison to last year. Additionally, passenger and crew inflows are expected to rise to around 600,000, which is more than double the number recorded in the previous season.”

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Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism assistant manager, International Operations Saud Mohammed Saeed Hareb added: “As cruise tourism continues to play a pivotal role in the growth of Dubai’s tourism sector, the first call of the MSC World Europa to Mina Rashid further reinforces Dubai’s position as the cruise hub of the region.

“The arrival of this eco-friendly cruise vessel is also a fitting representation of our sustainability-oriented tourism strategy, with the most modern Mina Rashid being a reflection of the city’s rapid development and relentless drive to position itself as a global destination for cruise tourism.”

Positioned to cement Dubai as the cruise hub of the region, Mina Rashid has a berthing capacity of 454 yachts, inclusive of 19 superyachts berths and is capable of handling more than 25,000 passengers a day.

For more information, visit www.msccruises.com