QUEEN MARY 2 docks in Dubai

QUEEN MARY 2 docks in Dubai
On her world cruise she makes history as the largest ship to visit Dubai

QUEEN MARY 2, the world's largest ocean liner, arrived in Dubai for the first time on Sunday (March 11) as part of her maiden global world cruise.

As it docked at the state-of-the-art Dubai Cruise Terminal in the Port Rashid complex, the 1,132-feet-long vessel made history by becoming the largest ship ever to enter Dubai, the region's pioneering cruise hub.

A host of VIPs and government officials led by the Director General of Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Mr. Khalid A bin Sulayem, and Mr. Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, Acting Manager of DTCM-managed Dubai Cruise Terminal, joined the fanfare to welcome the passengers and crew

The cruise visitors were provided glimpses into the emirate's rich culture and heritage by the UAE nationals. There was a passenger exchange programme involving 2597 cruise tourists.

The cruise liner has arrived from the Indian port city of Kochi and is heading to Egypt. The bulk of the passengers are Australians followed by US, British and German nationals.

Operated by Cunard Line, the world's grandest ocean liner started its around the world -in-80 days journey on January 11 from Fort Lauderdale in the US and after circumnavigating the globe and covering 38,000 nautical miles, it will return to the port on April 2..

Up to 50 cruise ships are expected at the region's first and only dedicated cruise tourism facility during the cruise tourism's winter season ending April 2007.

The passenger vessels, some of which making their debut in the Middle East region, are scheduled to bring a total of 64,993 passengers and crew members said Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing

The ship-shaped terminal, opened in 2001