Msc Cruises Joins Aroya Cruises, Explora Journeys, Celestyal Cruises Set Sail From Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dammam, Muscat, Khasab, Bahrain, And Fujairah, Surging Gcc Tourism

Published on September 3, 2025

In 2026, nan Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will witnesser an breathtaking surge successful cruise tourism, pinch starring cruise lines for illustration Aroya Cruises, Explora Journeys, Celestyal Cruises, and MSC Cruises launching caller itineraries from iconic destinations specified arsenic Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dammam, Muscat, Khasab, Bahrain, and Fujairah. These caller routes are group to connection travelers a unsocial blend of luxury, taste exploration, and scenic voyages crossed nan Arabian Gulf, boosting tourism and enhancing nan region’s increasing estimation arsenic a premier cruise destination.

The Rise of Cruise Tourism successful nan GCC

In caller years, nan GCC countries person invested heavy successful boosting their tourism infrastructure, and cruise tourism is nary exception. The region’s strategical position betwixt Europe, Africa, and Asia makes it an charismatic destination for world travelers. The improvement of state-of-the-art cruise terminals, specified arsenic nan Dubai Cruise Terminal and nan Doha Port Terminal, paired pinch nan unsocial attractions and taste value of nan region, has led to a surge successful liking from awesome cruise lines.

With 2026 successful sight, respective starring cruise lines person unveiled plans for caller itineraries, offering unprecedented opportunities for exploration. These caller cruise routes will not only service to further nan GCC’s tourism goals but besides connection travelers a chance to observe nan divers offerings of this move region.

Aroya Cruises: Luxury Sailings successful nan Gulf

One of nan astir anticipated caller players successful nan cruise manufacture is Aroya Cruises. Set to debut successful 2026, this cruise statement will connection luxury voyages from Dubai (UAE) and Dammam (Saudi Arabia). The itineraries will return passengers to various GCC destinations, including Muscat (Oman), Khasab (Oman), Doha (Qatar), and Abu Dhabi (UAE), blending nan region’s rich | history pinch modern luxury.

Aroya’s attraction will beryllium connected offering an all-inclusive luxury experience, combining good dining, personalized excursions, and world-class intermezo onboard. The institution intends to pat into nan increasing request for high-end travel, targeting able travelers seeking to research nan taste wonders of nan Arabian Gulf while enjoying world-class amenities. As 1 of nan region’s caller cruise lines, Aroya Cruises promises to bring a fresh, opulent return connected cruising successful nan Gulf.

Explora Journeys: A Grand Tour of nan Arabian Gulf

Explora Journeys, renowned for its luxurious voyages, will grow its offerings successful nan Arabian Gulf pinch 2 of its ships—Explora II and Explora III. These ships will embark connected 8-day voyages from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha, taking passengers connected a travel done nan Arabian Peninsula. The cruises will characteristic stops successful Khasab (Oman), Fujairah (UAE), and Muscat (Oman), offering travelers a unsocial position of nan Gulf’s rich | history, culture, and earthy beauty.

These luxury cruises will tally from December 2026 to March 2027, providing a lukewarm wintertime getaway for travelers from Europe, North America, and beyond. Explora’s committedness to delivering refined experiences will beryllium evident passim nan journey, pinch curated statement excursions, friendly onboard experiences, and an exceptional level of service.

Celestyal Cruises: Desert Days successful nan Gulf

Celestyal Cruises, known for its immersive Mediterranean voyages, will bring its unsocial marque of exploration to nan Arabian Gulf pinch nan “Desert Days” itinerary. Scheduled for motorboat successful precocious 2025 to early 2026, Celestyal will connection an 8-day cruise from Doha, taking passengers to Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, and Bahrain. The attraction of this way will beryllium connected taste exploration, pinch passengers getting a chance to acquisition nan Gulf’s fascinating history, ancient traditions, and modern marvels.

Known for their all-inclusive experience, Celestyal Cruises will connection a operation of excursions successful bustling markets, serene godforsaken landscapes, and expansive mosques. With an accent connected enriching taste experiences, this cruise way will cater to travelers looking for some escapade and luxury.

MSC Cruises: Expanding into nan Arabian Gulf

MSC Cruises, 1 of nan world’s largest cruise lines, is group to astir double its beingness successful nan Arabian Gulf pinch a assortment of caller routes departing from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha. These 8-day itineraries will sojourn cardinal ports specified arsenic Bahrain, Fujairah (UAE), and Muscat (Oman), giving travelers ample opportunities to research nan Gulf’s blend of ancient cultures and modern developments.

MSC Cruises has been a awesome subordinate successful nan Gulf for respective years and continues to turn its footprint successful nan region. With nan preamble of MSC Euribia and MSC World Europa successful precocious 2025, nan institution will cater to a wide scope of travelers, from luxury seekers to those looking for family-friendly experiences. MSC’s committedness to sustainability besides intends that these cruises will characteristic eco-friendly practices, making it a preferred prime for environmentally conscious travelers.

A New Era of Cruise Travel successful nan GCC

These caller cruise routes are portion of a broader effort by nan GCC countries to diversify their economies and trim reliance connected lipid revenues. Tourism, including cruise tourism, has go a captious constituent of this strategy. As cruise lines proceed to put successful nan region, much ports will beryllium developed to accommodate these increasing fleets, and much world visitors will beryllium drawn to nan region.

The benefits of these cruises are manifold, not only for nan tourism manufacture but for nan economies of nan GCC countries arsenic well. Increased tourism revenue, occupation creation successful nan hospitality and cruise sectors, and world nickname arsenic a top-tier cruise destination will each lend to nan region’s semipermanent prosperity.

The Future of GCC Cruise Tourism

Looking up to 2026 and beyond, nan imaginable for further maturation successful cruise tourism successful nan GCC is immense. With nan region’s world-class infrastructure, unsocial taste offerings, and beardown tourism policies, nan Gulf is group to go 1 of nan astir celebrated cruising destinations globally. As these caller routes summation traction, nan GCC countries will proceed to innovate, providing exceptional experiences for travelers while bolstering nan region’s position arsenic a cruise tourism leader.

As nan 2026 play approaches, these caller cruise offerings are expected to pull a divers operation of travelers, including those from nan GCC region, Europe, North America, and Asia. With truthful overmuch to offer, from luxury experiences to taste explorations, nan GCC countries are good connected their measurement to becoming nan adjacent premier cruise tourism hub successful nan world.

Sources:

• Aroya Cruises
• Explora Journeys
• Celestyal Cruises
• MSC Cruises
• Global Journeys