Qatar Cruises into the Future: Seventy-Two Ship Calls and Major Growth in 2025/2026 Tourism Season

Published on November 21, 2025

In Doha and across Qatar the mood is optimistic as the travel eyes turn to the sea. Qatar Tourism (QT) has officially launched the 2025/2026 cruise season at Doha Port Cruise Terminal with the arrival of the luxury liner MSC Euribia. The season will run from November 2025 until May 2026 and aims to deliver 72 cruise calls, including 40 transit calls, 15 turnaround calls, and three inaugural visits to Qatar. The launch underscores Qatar’s ambition to become a key cruise hub in the Gulf region.

Tourism officials emphasise that cruise tourism forms a major pillar of Qatar’s broader tourism strategy. In Madrid at the International Cruise Summit 2025, Omar Abdulrahman Al Jaber, Chief of Tourism Development at QT, told industry delegates that Qatar is deepening partnerships with international cruise lines and combining culture, entertainment, and world-class events to deliver integrated visitor experiences.

The government has already taken steps to ensure the infrastructure and service levels match that ambition. Earlier in August 2025, QT organised a joint workshop with the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau to refine the passenger journey and strengthen stakeholder readiness ahead of the season. With this preparation, Doha aims to offer seamless arrival, stay, and departure experiences for cruise-visitors.

The 2024/2025 season set a strong baseline, recording the arrival of 87 cruise ships and over 360,000 visitors, marking year-on-year growth of around 19%. The fact that new ship calls and full or partial turnarounds featured prominently suggests Doha is evolving from a simple stopover port into a more strategic cruise destination.

For travellers, this means more choice and richer experiences when they visit Qatar as part of a cruise itinerary. The combination of Doha’s modern amenities, cultural attractions, and the relative novelty of the cruise market gives the destination stand-out appeal. Qatar Tourism’s website highlights offerings from city stays to desert adventures and marine experiences.

From a tourism industry perspective, the growth of cruise calls in Qatar is beneficial in multiple ways. Turnaround calls—where passengers begin or end their cruise in Doha—typically generate higher spend on local services such as hotels, tours, and shopping. The increased international exposure also contributes to Qatar’s global tourism branding and aligns with its long-term objectives under the Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030.

Positioning Doha as a cruise hub in the Gulf region carries competitive advantages. Many cruise lines seek alternative winter-season itineraries and ports beyond the traditional Mediterranean or Caribbean circuits. Qatar’s strategic geographic location, combined with modern port infrastructure and cultural-tourism overlays, can capture this shifting demand. Qatar Tourism’s panel appearance in Madrid emphasised themes such as the “blue economy” and destination competitiveness.

Operationally, success will depend on effective port logistics, smooth passenger transfers, local experience delivery, and collaborations across government and private sectors. The earlier workshop with government development authorities underscores the importance of these enabling factors. The more seamless the guest experience, the stronger the word-of-mouth and repeat visits will be.

Looking ahead, Qatar’s tourism stakeholders are eyeing further growth in cruise calls, diversified cruise-line partnerships, and deeper integration with broader tourism offerings. The growth trajectory suggests Doha is no longer just unexpectedly welcoming cruise ships—it is actively inviting them and building for the future.

The human face of this transformation lies in the visitors arriving in Doha, stepping off a ship and experiencing Qatar firsthand: exploring the corniche, sampling local cuisine, visiting cultural sites, and taking desert excursions. For the Qatari tourism workforce and local businesses, the arrival of cruise-visitors means jobs, new services, and expanded opportunities. Qatar Tourism’s commitment to turn the vision into reality is a welcome signal for the sector.