New Cruise Terminal at Abu Dhabi’s Port
The new cruise terminal at Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi, which will be capable of handling 2,500 passengers and three ships simultaneously, is set to become operational by the end of the year, according to a report in the National.
Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, the chief executive of Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) said that work was progressing in full swing and his company was aiming for an end-of-2015 finish to coincide with home porting plans of Royal Caribbean to base one of its Celebrity Cruise vessels at Zayed Port for the 2016-17 season.
The ports developer is in talks with cruise lines to use Zayed Port as their home base for the next cruise season. The next cruise season will also involve a stopover at Sir Bani Yas Island. ADPC is in the process of finalizing a dedicated beach with various facilities, he said.
Unveiled at the cruise event Seatrade Med 2014 in Barcelona, the terminal will feature traditional Arabic ornaments, colours and shapes combined with modern architecture, with a lattice-work roof taking the UAE’s national tree - the Ghaf - as inspiration.
The new building, which covers 8,000 square metres, will house all of the key passenger facilities together with souvenir shops, restaurants and office facilities on a mezzanine level.
The construction work has been split into three phases. Work on strengthening the outer steel frame and a new mezzanine floor started in January and will be completed by April, while work on the cladding and facade should be completed by the end of this month.
The third phase involving the interiors is set to begin next month and will coincide with works to build road access, car park and taxi and bus stands.
