By
Alex Smith |
The inaugural Connections Cruise Arabia Leadership Summit is to take place onboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 at Port Rashid, Dubai, on 18 September 2025.
The invitation-only event will bring together 120 senior cruise and travel professionals, including global executives, government stakeholders and travel agents, to discuss strategies for accelerating cruise tourism in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. It is being organised by Connections, a Jacobs Media brand.
“Connections Cruise Arabia is designed to bring leaders together for meaningful dialogue at a pivotal moment for the region’s cruise industry,” said Gregory Reeves, managing director of Connections. “Our goal is to create an environment where decision-makers can openly share insights, forge trusted partnerships and collectively shape strategies that will drive sustainable growth across inbound and outbound cruise tourism.”
The programme will feature closed-door briefings and the launch of a Cruise Insight Report, providing data-led analysis of global cruise trends and the Gulf’s growing role in the sector. The Middle East and Africa cruise market generated $144 million in revenue in 2024 and is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.1 per cent between 2025 and 2030.
Two themes will frame the discussions at the event. The first, Why a Middle East Cruise Hub Makes Sense, will examine how the region’s growing popularity and track record as a cruise destination position it as a potential global hub. The second, Inspiring Middle East Markets, will focus on strategies to increase demand for cruises among regional travellers.
“The Gulf region is one of the most exciting and rapidly emerging regions for cruising,” said Angelo Capurro, executive director of global sales for MSC’s cruise division. “With its rich cultural heritage and strong appeal among international travellers, it has all the elements to become a leading global cruise hub.”
Speakers confirmed for the event include Capurro; Hamza Mustafa, chief operating officer of Port Rashid & P&O Marinas (DP World); Mohamed Saeed, managing director, Middle East for Royal Caribbean Group; Hans Rood, CEO of Transcend Cruises; Ghadah Marghalani, director of branding and communication at Aroya Cruises; and Andy Harmer, managing director of CLIA UK & Ireland.
The summit is supported by cruise lines including Azamara, Celebrity Cruises, Celestyal Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Silversea and Transcend Cruises. Cruise Lines International Association will also participate.