Industry insights & trends

28-29 SEPTEMBER 2026

DUBAI

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

The Gulf Cruise Boom

Cruise Insight Report 2025 is a digital industry report published by Connecting Travel, part of Jacobs Media Group. The report explores the rapid growth of cruise tourism globally, with a strong focus on the Middle East and the Arabian Gulf, highlighting emerging destinations, infrastructure development, passenger trends and investment opportunities shaping the future of cruising.

A closer look at the numbers

280,000 cruise passengers visited Dubai in 2024
187 ship calls in one year
5 ships homeporting in Dubai for 2025/26

The cruise industry doesn’t stop at the port

60% stay 1+ night pre-cruise
54% stay 1+ night post-cruise
67% book hotels when extending

Middle Eastern countries are building scale

Saudi Arabia is expected to have 1.33 million people visit in 2027
Abu Dhabi is expanding cruise offerings, including Sir Bani Yas Island and Grand Prix-linked itineraries
Doha is currently established as a regional homeport with multi-year cruise line agreements