Hamdan bin Zayed inaugurates the new cruise berth at Sir Bani Yas Beach for cruise ships

 His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, representative of the ruler in the Al Dhafra region, inaugurated the new cruise berth at Sir Bani Yas Beach for cruise ships affiliated to Abu Dhabi Ports Group.

The beach, developed by Abu Dhabi Ports Group, is the first and only one of its kind in the region dedicated to tourist cruises and offers a wide range of leisure and adventure facilities to its patrons.

The new berth will increase the number of visitors to Sir Bani Yas Island, reduce the time required to board and disembark ships, and improve the cruise passengers experience.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Ahmed Matar Al Dhaheri, Director of the Office of the Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region, Saud Abdul Aziz Al Hosani, Undersecretary of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, Adviser to H.H. President of the Emirates Red Crescent Authority Issa Hamad Bushhab, Acting Undersecretary of the Court of the Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region, Nasser Muhammad Matar Al Mansouri, Managing Director and CEO For the Abu Dhabi Ports Group, Captain Mohammed Juma Al Shamsi, Director General of Cruises Business at Abu Dhabi Ports Group, Noura Al Dhaheri, and a number of senior officials.

At the beginning of the celebration, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan heard from Captain Mohammed Juma Al Shamsi and Noura Al Dhaheri an explanation of the services provided by the new berth, which includes eight mooring berths, firefighting equipment and solar-powered lighting systems, the possibility of receiving two ships at one time, enabling more than 5,000 Passengers were able to complete the procedures for boarding and disembarking the ships quickly and smoothly, after the ships were anchored at a distance of one kilometer from Sir Bani Yas Island, so that passengers were transported by small ferries to and from the shore.

Then His Highness rang the bell to mark the official inauguration of the pier.

His Highness also inspected the ship "MCS Virtusosa" moored at Sir Bani Yas Beach for cruise ships as part of its regular tourist trips in the Arabian Gulf, during which he was briefed on the services and facilities available to travelers.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan stressed that the Al Dhafra region continues to work towards strengthening its position in the tourism sector at the state level, with the support of infrastructure and tourism projects that seek to meet the requirements of the existing development in the tourism work system in the region, which thus contributes to stimulating the tourism sectors. and entertainment.”

His Highness noted the importance of these projects and their impact on various sectors, especially the private sector, which is of great importance in supporting construction and development operations at the level of the Al Dhafra region and building new opportunities in this context.

His Highness said, "The inauguration of the new berth in Sir Bani Yas is a major achievement on the path of the ambitious plans to develop the Al Dhafra region in line with Abu Dhabi's economic vision and Al Dhafra 2030 plan. It also enhances economic diversification efforts, which is one of the main components of the long-term road map for the development of the emirate."

His Highness praised the efforts of the Abu Dhabi Ports Group in developing world-class tourism and entertainment infrastructure, which constitutes an important tributary to the tourism sector in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, and consolidates the distinguished position of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and places it among the leading global tourist destinations.

For his part, Falah Mohammed Al Ahbabi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Abu Dhabi Ports Group, said: “We are proud to honor His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the opening ceremony of the new cruise ship berth at Sir Bani Yas Beach for cruise ships, and we would like to express our great gratitude for His Highness’s continued support and great contributions to the operations of Al Dhafra region development.

He added that the tourism sector - and tourism trips in particular - constitutes a cornerstone in the process of economic diversification and the process of sustainable development because of its significant and tangible effects on local and regional economies. "There is no doubt that the establishment and development of such advanced facilities will enable us to receive more visitors at Sir Beach," he added. Bani Yas cruise ships and provide a unique and distinct experience for the guests of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi contributes to introducing visitors from different countries of the world to the Emirate and the Al Dhafra region, and we are witnessing today a major step on the way to achieving our strategy in consolidating the emirate’s position as a leading global center for tourism trips.”

In turn, Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamsi, Managing Director and CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports Group, said that Abu Dhabi Ports Group is keen to continue supporting marine, logistical and tourism development projects in the United Arab Emirates and throughout the region, based on our awareness of the importance of these strategic investments for the economy and society, and that the development of Sir Bani Beach Yas Cruises as a sustainable tourism destination enhances our efforts to support the vision of the rational leadership.”

He added, "The volume of the global tourism sector before the outbreak of the (Covid-19) pandemic in 2019 amounted to about 150 billion US dollars in direct and indirect revenues. The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is at the fore in this sector.

After the resumption of the 2021/2022 cruise season, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi opened its doors to visitors and travelers from all over the world and began to receive many ships belonging to the major international cruise companies at Abu Dhabi Cruise Ship Station, such as the German "Tioe Cruise" company, whose ship was "Main Schiff 6". The first to launch the season of tourist cruises in the emirate.

Commenting on the opening of Sir Bani Yas Beach Pier, Pierfrancesco Fago, Executive Chairman - MMC Cruises Business, said:

S.

bad.

"We are pleased with the opening of the new berth at Sir Bani Yas Beach for cruise ships, which is an important project that helps raise the efficiency of operations in this tourist destination, which is very popular for our trips in the Gulf region."

He added, "The Abu Dhabi Ports Group's commitment to establishing advanced tourism facilities contributes to supporting cruise activities and significantly advancing the growth of our sector. It is of strategic importance within the company's international expansion and growth plans."

It is worth noting that Sir Bani Yas Beach for cruise ships, located in the Al Dhafra region in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, is a gateway to one of the most beautiful nature reserves available to the public, namely Sir Bani Yas Island, which is rich in Emirati heritage sites and stunning natural wonders.

The island offers a unique experience to visitors, and that is why it has always been the focus of attention of the Abu Dhabi Ports Group, which has been keen to develop it as part of its economic and social development efforts in the Al Dhafra region, including the development of a number of ports that play a fundamental role in serving and supporting fishermen communities and providing job opportunities for the local community. In addition to its role in facilitating development projects in the surrounding islands.

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news