Cruise liners head for Abu Dhabi's Mina Zayed Freeport

The cruise lines which will be berthed in the UAE capital as floating hotels from January 21st until the end of February to ease heightened accommodation demand in the city emanating from major events and exhibitions.

The 401 room New Flamenco, operated by Florida's Elysian Ship Management Inc, and the 274 room Ocean Majesty, operated by Majestic International Cruises Inc based in Greece, complete with a combined crew complement of around 450, will offer convenient accommodation during their berth at the capital's Mina Zayed Free Port - just five minutes from the city centre and 15 minutes from the new Abu Dhabi New Exhibition Centre.

"Hotels in the capital are receiving peak demand for accommodation fuelled by a series of major MICE gatherings, most notably in the run-up to the staging of the International Environment Show from January 28-31 and the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) from February 18-22," said Mubarak al Muhairi, Managing Director, TDIC.

"These floating hotels will fulfill demand in the short term while within the emirate the public and private sector has embarked on a series of hospitality initiatives which will raise Abu Dhabi's hospitality stock in the long term, adding up to 4,500 new rooms within the next three years."

Investment in Abu Dhabi's hospitality sector has soared recently as the emirate ranked amongst the world's top 10 in RevPAR (revenue per available room) growth during the first half of last year, according to a study by international business consultants Deloittes.