Connections, a Jacobs Media brand, has announced the launch of the inaugural Connections Cruise Arabia Leadership Summit. The event will take place onboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 at Port Rashid, Dubai, on 18 September 2025. This invitation-only summit will bring together 120 senior travel and cruise professionals, including global executives, government stakeholders, and leading travel agents, to discuss the future of cruise tourism in the GCC region and beyond.
The summit aims to support growth in the regional cruise sector, which generated $144 million in revenue last year and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.1% between 2025 and 2030.
Panel discussions will focus on two key themes. The first, “Why a Middle East Cruise Hub Makes Sense”, will examine the region’s rising popularity as a cruise destination and the advantages that position it as a potential global hub. The second, “Inspiring Middle East Markets”, will explore strategies to encourage regional travellers to embrace cruise holidays and unlock new growth across the GCC.
Gregory Reeves, Managing Director of Connections, said: “Connections Cruise Arabia is designed to bring leaders together for meaningful dialogue at a pivotal moment for the region’s cruise industry. The strength of our speaker line-up reflects both the calibre of expertise in the sector and the importance of the Gulf as an emerging hub for cruise. Our goal is to create an environment where decision-makers can openly share insights, forge trusted partnerships and collectively shape strategies that will drive sustainable growth across inbound and outbound cruise tourism.”
Angelo Capurro, Global Executive Director of MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys, added: “The Gulf region is one of the most exciting and rapidly emerging regions for cruising. With its rich cultural heritage and strong appeal among international travellers, it has all the elements to become a leading global cruise hub. The Connections Cruise Arabia Leadership Summit is a key platform for bringing together industry leaders to harness this momentum and shape the cruise industry’s continued growth in the region.”
Confirmed speakers include Angelo Capurro (MSC Cruises & Explora Journeys), Hamza Mustafa (Port Rashid & P&O Marinas, DP World), Mohamed Saeed (Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Silversea, Azamara Cruises), Hans Rood (Transcend Cruises), Ghadah Marghalani (Aroya Cruises), and Andy Harmer (CLIA UK & Ireland). Their participation highlights the summit’s focus on high-level dialogue and collaboration across the global cruise sector.
The event will feature closed-door briefings, strategic discussions, and the launch of a bespoke Cruise Insight Report – a data-driven analysis of global cruise trends and the region’s position as an emerging cruise hub.
The summit is supported by leading cruise lines including Azamara, Celebrity Cruises, Celestyal Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Silversea, and Transcend Cruises. Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) will also participate.
