The next big cruise ship destination is the desert

The crystal ball of cruising is always unclear, but few would gamble on the Middle East becoming the next cruise hotspot. Indeed, you might have predicted its abandonment from the time Houthi rebels started attacking Red Sea shipping in 2023.

But the Persian Gulf isn’t the Red Sea, and I’d stake money on the Gulf seeing many more cruise ships soon.

Gulf states are scrambling to diversify from fossil fuels and looking to tourism. Several nations have invested in cruise infrastructure and created the Cruise Arabia Alliance to promote cruising.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

The last decade has seen ultramodern cruise terminals mushroom in Bahrain, Kuwait, Muscat in Oman, Doha in Qatar, and Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the Emirates.

Dubai is the major hub with capacity for 14,000 cruise passengers a day and new dry docks for cruise-ship refits.

Saudi Arabia is developing its shipbuilding capacity. Italian company Fincantieri, which builds many cruise ships, opened a Saudi subsidiary in early 2024.

Saudi-owned Aroya Cruises launched its first ship last December and has plans to add two more. By 2030 Saudi Arabia aims to have 10 ports with cruise terminals and attract 1.3 million cruise passengers a year.

For now, Aroya Cruises is focused on the Middle Eastern market, while most passengers on international cruise lines are Europeans fleeing the winter. But given our good flight connections to Gulf cities, we have every reason to join them.

Cruising is an attractive option because accommodation and transportation is expensive in the Gulf, particularly on multi-country tours. The weather is very reliable and the Persian Gulf placid.

MSC Cruises is a big player, operating regular cruises on MSC Euribia from seasonal homeport in Dubai to destinations in the Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar.

Excursion at Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi … Celestyal Cruises’ Persian Gulf voyages.Credit: Celestyal Cruises

Athens-based Celestyal Cruises has rolled out additional Persian Gulf voyages this year on the back of stiff demand, and has added emirate Ras Al Khaimah as a new destination. By the end of 2025 it will have two ships sailing over the December-March season.

Celestyal Cruises’ Desert Days itinerary from either Dubai or Doha visits Bahrain, Khasab in Oman, Abu Dhabi and Sir Bani Yas Island.

Meanwhile, Explora Journey’s luxury ship Explora II is launching into the region on several itineraries over the 2026-27 season. Crystal Cruises has an unusual itinerary from Mumbai to Jeddah in April 2026.

Other companies, from Norwegian Cruise Line to expedition line Ponant, offer occasional Persian Gulf itineraries, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see more soon. Gulf cities are otherwise included on world and trans-Asia voyages.

Australians are chiefly familiar with Dubai, so a week-long cruise is an opportunity to discover other Gulf cities in a quick and hassle-free way.

The main ports of call are low-key, cultured Abu Dhabi; Muscat for history and traditional architecture; Bahrain for its (relatively) freewheeling lifestyle and shopping; and Doha for the excellent Museum of Islamic Art. Some itineraries also call at Dammam in Saudi Arabia.