Bahrain Wraps Up Cruise Season with Over 140,000 Tourists and 15% Growth
The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) has officially announced the successful conclusion of the 2024–2025 cruise season, welcoming a total of 140,100 tourists from across the globe. This marks a 15% increase in arrivals compared to the previous season, alongside a noticeable rise in the number of visitors opting to stay in Bahrain's hotels and resorts.
The season, which ran from November 2024 to April 2025, saw 40 cruise ships docking in Bahrain, significantly boosting economic activity and supporting key sectors such as retail, transportation, and hospitality, according to Ms. Dana Osama Al Saad, Deputy CEO of Resources and Projects at BTEA.
Ms. Al Saad highlighted the season's success as part of the Authority's broader strategic goals for the tourism sector. She also confirmed that early preparations are already underway for the 2025–2026 season, with a focus on strengthening partnerships and enhancing maritime tourism services.
She praised the fruitful coordination between public and private sector partners—including the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, APM Terminals Bahrain (operator of Khalifa Bin Salman Port), and the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities. Their joint efforts played a vital role in ensuring the smooth facilitation of services and the organization of diverse cultural and tourism programs for cruise visitors.
This year's cruise season stood out for its variety of offerings, coinciding with numerous festivals and events held across the six-month period. The vibrant calendar helped provide a well-rounded and engaging experience that received high praise from tourists and cruise operators alike.
In a related development, BTEA recently participated in Seatrade Cruise Global, a major industry exhibition held in Miami, USA, as part of the Cruise Arabia Alliance —a regional partnership including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
During the exhibition, new agreements were signed in preparation for the 2026–2027 cruise season, including plans to extend cruise ship stopovers in Bahrain to up to three days. This move is expected to further boost Bahrain's position in the regional cruise tourism market and enhance its economic contribution through a more diversified and immersive visitor experience.
The BTEA reaffirmed its commitment to developing Bahrain into a premier cruise destination in the region, while continuing to support the Kingdom's broader vision for sustainable economic growth through tourism.
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