Emirates Airlines and TUI Cruises Join Forces to Strengthen Dubai’s Cruise Industry

Emirates Airlines and TUI Cruises have reaffirmed their strategic alliance to enhance Dubai’s cruise tourism infrastructure. This partnership was officially established at ITB Berlin, featuring key representatives Adnan Kazim from Emirates and TUI’s CEO Wybcke Meier.

The renewed agreement includes TUI expanding its homeporting operations in Dubai with plans to introduce a second vessel for the 2025-2026 cruise season. Emirates will coordinate flight schedules with TUI’s itineraries, improving travel connectivity for passengers moving between air and sea.

To accommodate growing demand, Emirates will ensure special "cruise block" seating is available on flights, alongside better ground transport arrangements linking Dubai Airport (DXB) to Port Rashid Cruise Terminal.

Future collaborations are also being discussed for Far East itineraries, emphasizing support for the Mein Schiff 6, which is expected to embark on a 14-day journey from Singapore, hitting various spots in Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Japan.

Port Rashid’s Hamdan bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal will play a pivotal role in this partnership, having the capacity to process up to 14,000 passengers daily. Emirates will continue to provide 16 dedicated check-in counters at the terminal, allowing travelers to check in and obtain boarding passes up to four hours before departure. Enhanced check-in protocols and service improvements for cruise passengers will also be implemented.

For the upcoming season, TUI plans to homeport two vessels at Port Rashid, each capable of accommodating over 2,500 passengers. The itineraries will prominently feature Dubai as the main embarkation point, with stops planned in Abu Dhabi, Oman, and Qatar.

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