Kanoo Shipping recognised by Department of Tourism

Dubai, UAE: Kanoo Shipping, a member of The Kanoo Group was awarded with a trophy by Dubai Cruise Tourism (DCT), an entity of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) as recognition for its crucial role in Dubai’s emergence as one of the world’s most attractive cruise destinations for 2013-2013 held on 28^th October 2013 at DTCM premises.

Picture from Left to Right: Mr. Shihabdin Gulabdin, Service Manager – UAE (Kanoo Shipping) receives appreciation award from Mr. Helal AlMarri (Director General - Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing), Mr. Hamad M Bin Mejren (Executive Director, Business Tourism) and Mr. Jamal Humaid Al Falasi (Director, Cruise Tourism)

The Appreciation Award was also presented to other partners and stakeholders like DP World, Dubai Immigration, Dubai Customs, Dubai Police, Dubai Maritime City Authority, Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation – Security Department (PCFC-SD), the Roads & Transport Authority, the Department of Environment Health and Safety, Dubai Culture and various cruise ship agencies such as Gulf Agency Co., Inchcape Shipping, Khimji Ramdass, Rais Hassan Saadi, Seamaster Maritime, and Wilhelmsen as well as  tour operators such as Arabian Adventures, Gulf Ventures, Orient Tours, Sharaf Tours, SNTTA, and Travco, who  all shared invaluable contributions to Dubai with the strongest cruise season ever.

Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), said: “The 2012-2013 cruise season reached new heights. We are proud to announce 93 confirmed ship calls this season, which include 63 home porting ship calls: 27 from Costa, 17 from Aida, and 19 from MSC ships. We’re also delighted to welcome seven maiden ship calls, a reflection of Dubai’s burgeoning appeal as a cruise hub.”

The burgeoning reputation of Dubai as an international hub for cruise tourism is set to be bolstered by an eventful 2013-2014 season, with more than 20 leading global cruise lines anticipated to bring in as many as 300,000 tourists to the Emirate, according to Dubai Cruise Tourism (DCT), an entity of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).

From tours of the Arabian Gulf – taking in the region’s most majestic cities – to longer voyages to the Far East, India and the Mediterranean, cruises from Dubai will continue to offer a diverse selection of destinations for holidaymakers seeking adventure and relaxation alike over the coming season. By selecting the Emirate as a home port, tourists will be able to take advantage of its spectacular attractions – from world-renowned skyscrapers and shopping malls to beaches and leisure venues – at both the beginning and end of their expedition.

Among the upcoming cruises with Dubai as its home port are Cruise Ship Costa Fortuna and Cost Neo Riviera travelling to two of Oman’s major cities, Muscat and Khasab, as well as Abu Dhabi. Others include the Aida Diva – which visits Muscat, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain – and the MSC Lirica – stopping at Abu Dhabi, Khor Fakkan, Muscat and Khasab.

A planned expansion, which will endow Dubai Cruise Terminals with an additional facility spanning over 27,000 square meters to cater to cruise lines and visitors from 2014, is currently underway. Consequently, Dubai Cruise Terminals will be able to comfortably handle complete passenger turnaround of five cruise ships simultaneously.

Management representatives of the Department of Tourism and Commerce (DTC) and Government of Dubai pose during the award ceremony

Dubai is currently the home port for five of the world’s leading cruise lines - Costa, Aida, Royal Caribbean, TUI and MSC. Three of these lines – Costa and MSC Cruises from Italy and Aida cruises from Germany – will be operating Gulf Cruise itineraries out of Dubai this season, representing a total deployment of four ships. TUI Cruises from Germany will resume their operations from the 2014/2015 season and the Emirate is looking forward to welcoming USA based Royal Caribbean again in the 2015/2016 season.

Correspondingly, Kanoo Shipping will be having the first port call for the season, MV Seven Seas Voyager on 2nd December and MV Nautica on 7^th December 2013.

About Kanoo Shipping

Kanoo Shipping is one of the founders of S5 Agency World. Being the first Arab shipping agency in the Region in 1890, Kanoo Shipping has grown to be the largest regional shipping service provider in the Middle East. It covers an extensive area including Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and Indian Sub-continent and handles 15,000 port calls every year, with offices in 20 countries.

About The Kanoo Group

‘The Kanoo Group’ is one of the largest, independent, family-owned groups of companies in the Gulf region established in 1890. It has diversified business industries in shipping, travel, machinery, engineering, logistics, property, oil & gas, power, industrial chemicals, training, joint ventures, retail and commercial activities, among others, and operates extensively throughout Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen and Qatar.

Our Vision 
The Leading Family Business in the Region and Beyond

Our Mission 
Delivering Sustainable Excellence

Our Values 
Customer Focused, Ethical, Innovative, Agile, Competent & Intelligent, Collaborative, Accountable 

P.O. Box 290, Dubai, UAE. Toll Free: 800 KANOO, Fax: 04-3933636, Websites: www.kanoo.com / www.kanoogroup.com 

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Michelle Laylo Verzola
PR Executive
The Kanoo Group