Latest news with #MwaniQatar
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Qatar ports see 16% surge in container throughput in May
Doha, Qatar: Hamad, Ruwais and Doha ports witnessed a significant growth in May 2025 after registering surge in handling higher container volumes, building materials, livestock and vessels compared to same period in previous year. The ports saw a 16 percent year-on-year increase in container throughput in May this year. Building materials, livestock, and vessel arrivals rose by 106 percent, 38 percent, and 21 percent respectively compared to May 2024, Mwani Qatar stated in a post on its X platform, yesterday. The ports received 294 vessels in May 2025. The container handling through the three ports stood at 142,843 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). The general and bulk cargo, RORO, livestock, and building materials during the same period accounted for 174,398 tonnes, 6,783 units, 80,396 heads, and 82,745 tonnes respectively in May this year. Meanwhile in April this year, the ports handled 235 vessels marking a 22 percent rise compared to the same period last year. Container throughput surged by approximately 50 percent, while volumes of livestock and building materials grew by 30 percent and 141 percent respectively. Hamad Port keeps moving forward firmly towards more powerful position as one of the key ports in the Middle East and the region. It targets achieving a more efficient logistics services industry in Qatar and the transformation into a leading global trade hub, thus enhancing its economic diversification plans in step with the Qatar National Vision 2030. The state-of-the-art infrastructure and advanced technologies at Hamad Port boosts the efficiency of Qatar's maritime facilities and contributes to achieving the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. It serves as a cornerstone in strengthening Qatar's role as a vital regional logistics hub, with the capacity to handle the world's largest commercial vessels and deliver integrated maritime services that meet the highest global standards. The maritime transport sector works to build bridges of cooperation with various bodies concerned with maritime transport specialisations and involve them in international meetings and workshops. Positioned strategically and supported by a rapidly expanding shipping network, Hamad Port, Qatar's main gateway to world trade enables seamless and secure cargo flow and transshipment operations. This boosts customer experience, unlocks greater growth potential, and strengthens the country's role as a key commercial and logistics hub in the region. The 2024/2025 cruise season witnessed the arrival of 87 cruise ships, marking a 19 percent increase compared to the previous season. This included five additional ships making their first calls to Doha Port and 13 turnaround operations. The number of cruise visitors during this season exceeded 360,000. Transfer passengers — those beginning or ending their journey in Qatar — accounted for more than 10 percent of total visitors, underscoring the country's status as a key hub for cruise tourism in the region. © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
22-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Qatar Tourism and Mwani Qatar mark a successful conclusion to 2024/2025 cruise season
Qatar Tourism and Mwani Qatar hosted a closing ceremony at Old Doha Port to celebrate the achievements of the 2024/2025 cruise season, in recognition of the partners and contributors to this vital sector. The event was attended by officials from Qatar Tourism and Mwani Qatar, as well as cruise tourism partners and representatives from the media. This recognition highlights the fruitful collaboration between government entities and private sector partners, which contributed to an exceptional season that strengthened Qatar's position as a prominent destination on the regional and global cruise tourism map. The 2024/2025 cruise season witnessed the arrival of 87 cruise ships, marking a 19% increase compared to the previous season. This included five additional ships making their first calls to Doha Port and 13 turnaround operations. The number of cruise visitors during this season exceeded 360,000. Transfer passengers – those beginning or ending their journey in Qatar – accounted for more than 10% of total visitors, underscoring the country's status as a key hub for cruise tourism in the region. Mr. Omar Al Jaber, Head of Tourism Development at Qatar Tourism, said: 'During the 2024/2025 cruise season, the focus was placed on targeting full and partial turnaround calls, with Doha serving as the main departure point for cruises in the region. The number of full turnaround calls reached 13, while partial turnaround calls amounted to 43. This is only the beginning of further cooperation and strategic partnerships with international cruise operators.' He added: 'This season, we ensured a seamless experience for visitors that began even before their arrival at Doha Port, through promoting Qatar as a distinguished cruise tourism destination, and continued from the moment of reception at Doha Port until their departure. I must emphasise the vital role played by our private sector partners, including service providers, experience operators, and travel agents, who contributed to delivering a high-quality tourism experience for Qatar's guests.' Capt. Hussain Ahmad Al Maqeef, Executive Vice President of Commercial at Mwani Qatar, stated: The successful 2024/2025 cruise season represents a significant milestone in our efforts to establish Qatar as a premier regional hub for marine tourism. This accomplishment is the result of strong collaboration among key stakeholders. The state-of-the-art infrastructure of Mwani Qatar's cruise terminal (TheTerminal), combined with seamless coordination with partners across the public and private sectors, played a vital role in attracting 87 cruise ships carrying more than 360,000 visitors—a 19% increase in cruise calls. 'The season also saw a notable diversification in international cruise lines, with 11 different cruise operators choosing The Terminal as a destination. Additionally, five cruise ships made their inaugural visits to Qatar, reflecting the growing confidence of global cruise companies in The Terminal's advanced facilities and integrated services', he added. 'We are committed to building on this momentum in future seasons by attracting additional international cruise lines and continuously enhancing the visitor experience. These efforts align with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 and support the broader goal of strengthening the tourism sector's role in the national economy', he concluded. The 2025/2026 cruise season is expected to witness continued growth, with around 130 cruise calls anticipated, including more than five maiden calls, and an estimated visitor count exceeding 450,000. These indicators reflect the ongoing momentum in the sector and reinforce the role of Doha Port as a major hub for cruise activity in the region. They also highlight the commitment of all concerned parties to enhancing the tourism experience, supporting investment in the sector, and expanding partnerships with the private sector to help build an integrated and sustainable tourism ecosystem. At the conclusion of the event, several partners and supporting entities were honoured for their active contribution to the success of the season. Qatar Tourism and Mwani Qatar jointly reaffirmed their commitment to continuing collaborative efforts to attract more cruise ships and visitors, in line with the State of Qatar's ambitions for the cruise tourism sector. For media-related inquiries, please contact Qatar Tourism's Press Office on: pressoffice@ About Qatar Tourism Qatar Tourism, the regulatory body of the tourism sector in Qatar. Qatar Tourism's mission is to promote and expand tourism in Qatar by cultivating its rich culture, develop thrilling attractions, and luxury experiences. With a clear vision to strengthen Qatar's position as a premier family-tourism destination distinguished by service excellence, to achieve diverse and innovative economic growth. Qatar Tourism will regulate and develop the tourism industry, encouraging investment from the private sector. It set the strategy for the tourism sector, reviewing it periodically and overseeing its implementation, with the aim of diversifying tourism offerings in the country and increasing visitor spend. Qatar Tourism is expanding Qatar's presence globally and enhancing the tourism sector.
Zawya
28-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Doha Port achieves 'remarkable' growth in 2024: Mwani Qatar
In the current season, which began in October 2024 and ended in April 2025, Doha Port welcomed 95 cruise calls, including 33 turnaround calls, 11 homeporting calls and five maiden calls, bringing over 430,000 visitors to Qatar, Mwani Qatar said in its annual report Doha Port, which is Qatar's gateway to marine tourism, continues to play a pivotal role in advancing the country's cruise tourism with it achieving remarkable annual growth of 27% in visitors and 33% in ships arrival during the previous season, which ended in April 2024, according to Mwani Qatar. In the current season, which began in October 2024 and ended in April 2025, Doha Port welcomed 95 cruise calls, including 33 turnaround calls, 11 homeporting calls and five maiden calls, bringing over 430,000 visitors to Qatar, Mwani Qatar said in its annual report. The reporting period for Doha Port spans from January to December, but the cruise season runs from September to April. The 2024 season witnessed the arrival of notable ships such as Mein Schiff 4, MSC Euribia, AIDAprima, Costa Smeralda, Norwegian Sky, and Celestyal Journey, further solidifying Qatar's growing status as a premier global cruise destination. The year saw 23 cruise calls from Florida-headquartered Carnival, 18 from MSC, 15 from Germany-based TUI, eight from Resorts World Cruises, six from Ponant Luxury Cruise, five from Celestyal Cruises, two from Norwegian Cruise Line and one from Plantours. The Doha Port witnessed the arrival of as many as 74,441 passengers and 21,278 crew in January 2024; 70,826 and 19,453 in February; 47,873 and 13,376 in March; 4,051 and 967 in April; 22,660 and 10,733 in November and 73,966 and 25,190 in December. In 2024, a total of 293,817 visitors had arrived in the port. The port received as many as 19 cruise ships in January, 14 in February, 11 in March, 1 in April, 9 in November and 25 in December. © Gulf Times Newspaper 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( Santhosh V. Perumal
Zawya
16-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Qatar: Doha Port wraps up 2024/2025 cruise season with record numbers
DOHA: Mwani Qatar has officially wrapped up the 2024/2025 cruise season at Doha Port, Qatar's Main Gateway to Marine Tourism, marking a milestone year filled with record-breaking achievements. The port welcomed 396,265 visitors across 87 cruise calls, reflecting a 5 percent increase in passenger numbers and a 19 percent rise in ship visits compared to last season, underscoring the steady growth and rising demand for cruise tourism to Doha. The season concluded with the maiden call of Norwegian Sky, operated by Norwegian Cruise Line, to Doha Port's cruise terminal. The season saw a diverse array of international cruise lines anchoring at the port, along with a surge in luxury vessels designating Doha as a primary port of call in the Arabian Gulf. This highlights the trust of global cruise operators in the port's state-of-the-art infrastructure and seamless services. Among the notable cruise ships welcomed during the season were Mein Schiff 4, MSC Euribia, AIDAprima, Costa Smeralda, and Celestyal Journey. The season was further marked by the inaugural visits of five cruise liners to Qatar, highlighting the continued expansion of global cruise itineraries and the rising appeal of Doha as a sought-after tourist destination. In partnership with Qatar Tourism and other key stakeholders, Mwani Qatar ensured an exceptional arrival experience for passengers. This included streamlined transport services, modern reception areas, fast and efficient procedures, and multilingual information points all contributing to an elevated visitor experience. Mwani Qatar attributed the season's success to strong coordination among all involved parties, which helped maintain smooth operations and uphold the highest standards of safety and quality, a testament to the port's operational excellence and full readiness. The company extended heartfelt thanks to its partners and teams for their contributions and reaffirmed its commitment to developing the marine tourism sector and attracting more visitors, in line with Qatar's growing reputation as a world-class travel destination. It's worth noting that Doha Port's cruise terminal, managed by Mwani Qatar, is among the most modern in the region. Ideally located just minutes from key attractions like the National Museum of Qatar, Souq Waqif, and Msheireb Downtown Doha, the terminal offers cruise passengers the chance to explore Qatar's cultural landmarks even during short stays, significantly enhancing the city's value as a top-tier travel destination. © Copyright Qatar Tribune. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
16-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Doha Port wraps up cruise season, sets new milestones
Doha, Qatar: Mwani Qatar has officially wrapped up the 2024-2025 cruise season at Doha Port, Qatar's main gateway to Marine Tourism, marking a milestone year filled with record-breaking achievements. The port welcomed 396,265 visitors across 87 cruise calls, reflecting a 5 percent increase in passenger numbers and a 19 percent rise in ship visits compared to last season, underscoring the steady growth and rising demand for cruise tourism to Doha. The season concluded with the maiden call of Norwegian Sky, operated by Norwegian Cruise Line, to Doha Port's cruise terminal. The season saw a diverse array of international cruise liners anchoring at the port, along with a surge in luxury vessels designating Doha as a primary port of call in the Arabian Gulf. This highlights the trust of global cruise operators in the port's state-of-the-art infrastructure and seamless services. Among the notable cruise ships welcomed during the season were Mein Schiff 4, MSC Euribia, AIDAprima, Costa Smeralda, and Celestyal Journey. The season was further marked by the inaugural visits of five cruise liners to Qatar, highlighting the continued expansion of global cruise itineraries and the rising appeal of Doha as a sought-after tourist destination. In partnership with Qatar Tourism and other key stakeholders, Mwani Qatar ensured an exceptional arrival experience for passengers. This included streamlined transport services, modern reception areas, fast and efficient procedures, and multilingual information points all contributing to an elevated visitor experience. Mwani Qatar attributed the season's success to strong coordination among all involved parties, which helped maintain smooth operations and uphold the highest standards of safety and quality, a testament to the port's operational excellence and full readiness. The company extended heartfelt thanks to its partners and teams for their contributions and reaffirmed its commitment to developing the marine tourism sector and attracting more visitors in line with Qatar's growing reputation as a world-class travel destination. Doha Port's cruise terminal, managed by Mwani Qatar, is among the most modern in the region. Ideally located just minutes from key attractions like the National Museum of Qatar, Souq Waqif, and Msheireb Downtown Doha, the terminal offers cruise passengers the chance to explore Qatar's cultural landmarks even during short stays, significantly enhancing the city's value as a top-tier travel destination. © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( The Peninsula Newspaper
