By
Alex Smith |
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler’s representative in the Al Dhafra region, has inaugurated AD Ports Group’s new cruise jetty at Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
“Inspired by the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision and Plan Al Dhafra 2030, the opening of this new jetty is a milestone in Al Dhafra’s ambitious development plans,” said Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. “We applaud AD Ports Group’s efforts in fostering this growth through world-class leisure and tourism infrastructure that will not only strengthen tourism across the Gulf Cooperation Council region but will also further reinforce Abu Dhabi’s position as a premier global tourism destination.”
The new jetty is equipped with eight mooring dolphins, firefighting equipment and solar lighting, and will allow two vessels to dock at Sir Bani Yas Cruise Island at the same time. Previously, cruise ships anchored around one kilometre offshore from the island and guests were ferried to and from the beach via tender craft.
“The tourism sector, and cruise tourism in particular, plays a key role in driving economic diversification and sustainable development, with a significant impact on local, regional and national economies,” said His Excellency Mohammed Al Ahbabi, chairman of AD Ports Group. “With the creation of these enhanced facilities, we will be able to welcome more visitors to Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach than ever before and offer a superior disembarkation experience for passengers, raising the profile of Abu Dhabi and the Al Dhafra region in particular for global travellers.”
The inauguration took place with MSC Cruises’ MSC Virtuosa berthed at Sir Bani Yas Island as part of the ship’s seven-night cruises in the Arabian Gulf.
“We welcome the unveiling of a new jetty at Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach, a key development that will aid operational efficiency at an increasingly popular stop on our Gulf itinerary,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of the cruise division of MSC Group. “The commitment by AD Ports Group to spearhead the development of industry-leading facilities supporting cruise activities will undoubtedly contribute to the advancement of our highly popular and fast-growing industry as we at MSC Cruises look to strengthen our own position as the sector’s market leader in the Gulf by deploying the most modern ships to what is a key region for us in our ambitious global growth programme.”