Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC), the master developer of ports and industrial zones, has announced that the new cruise season 2013/2014 at Zayed Port will begin on 19 November.

With a total of 75 scheduled vessel calls and more than 100,000 passengers from all over the globe, Zayed Port looks ahead to a promising five and a half month long tourist season, demonstrating its rising status as a world class cruise destination.

With the start of the new season, the first phase of the cruise terminal's development has now been successfully completed, offering new facilities and accommodation for two large cruise ships and one small vessel.

The upcoming development phases of the cruise terminal focus on a state-of-the-art terminal building and a traditionally themed souk and heritage area, with activities for both passengers and the general public. These phases will be developed as appropriate according to market potential and demand.

Commenting on the start of the cruise season, Mohamed Al Shamisi, Acting CEO, ADPC, said: This cruise season will be exceptionally busy, and we look forward to welcoming the passengers to Zayed Port in the months ahead. We believe that our significant investment in improved facilities, additional security measures and improved direct access will enhance our visitors' experience and increase Abu Dhabi's appeal as an attractive destination.

Abu Dhabi is firmly establishing itself as a regional as well as international tourist destination and ADPC will continue to work hard to support this goal. By growing the cruise business in Zayed Port we support Abu Dhabi's Economic Vision 2030 to diversify the emirate's economy.

The increasing interest from cruise line operators demonstrates Abu Dhabi's growing profile in Arabian Gulf and around-the-world cruise markets and our flourishing leisure visitor proposition means disembarking passengers now have much more to see and do, explained Sultan Al Dhaheri, Director, Tourism Eco-Systems & Leisure, TCA Abu Dhabi.

The enhancements made to the temporary cruise terminal are a signal of more things to come in our joint and ongoing campaign to attract more cruise liners to our shores, and encourage more consumers - local, regional and international - to experience the Arabian Gulf itineraries. All relevant stakeholders in Abu Dhabi are now firmly focused on assisting the growth of this important sector which has the potential to deliver significant economic returns for our destination, added Al Dhaheri.

In this context, Abu Dhabi Ports Company and Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA) express their strong support for the upcoming Seatrade Middle East Cruise Forum Abu Dhabi which will be taking place from 9-11 December. The Forum, which is for national, regional and international maritime and tourism professionals, is a key industry event, offering an excellent platform to discuss opportunities and challenges related to the development of cruise tourism.