The cruise vessel arrived to the shores of Abu Dhabi after sailing in from Singapore. The ship stopped for 14 hours in Abu Dhabi, and then continued its trip on to Rome via Muscat and several stops along the Red Sea and European coastline.

Abu Dhabi Duty Free, in coordination with Abu Dhabi Ports, set up a popup shop in the Cruise Terminal to offer the 2,500 disembarking passengers access to exciting retail and dining offers. The brands that were present included Sharaf DG Electronics, Pure Gold, several key beauty & fragrances brands, and Costa Coffee. Two rental car partners were also present, and passengers had chance to win gold instantly with Abu Dhabi Duty Free’s “Scratch & Win” promotion. Dhabian, the camel mascot for Abu Dhabi Duty Free, was on hand to welcome the younger travelers, giving them an enchanting taste of Abu Dhabi.

Dan Cappell, Acting Chief Commercial Officer, commented: “Abu Dhabi Duty Free is always eager to welcome travelers to Abu Dhabi and enhance their passenger experience by giving them access to a great range of brands at fantastic prices, along with a taste of our Arabian hospitality. We ensured that our key brands were available for passengers coming through this unique gateway, and we look forward to working with the Cruise Terminal on future collaborations.”

Noura Al Dhaheri, Cruise Terminal Manager at Abu Dhabi Ports commented: “We are happy to cooperate with Abu Dhabi Airports to enrich the passenger experience by providing travelers with excellent services while enjoying the facilities in the cruise terminal,” she added: “Abu Dhabi Ports aims to showcase the Emirates’ hospitality to an international audience and contribute to the positioning of Abu Dhabi as a tourist hub in the region.”

The Cruise Terminal was inaugurated in December 2015 by Abu Dhabi Ports, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Airports and Etihad Airways, and is expected to receive more than 250,000 Pax during the 2016/2017.