Manama : The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) announced the conclusion of the 2024–2025 cruise ship season, during which the Kingdom of Bahrain welcomed 140,100 tourists from around the world. This marked a 15% increase compared to the previous season, along with a notable rise in the number of visitors who chose to stay in hotels and resorts across the Kingdom.
Dana Osama Al Saad, Deputy CEO for Projects and Resources at BTEA, said the season, which ran from November 2024 to April 2025, saw the arrival of 40 cruise ships. She noted that the season contributed to economic activity and supported key sectors including retail, transportation, and services, while advancing Bahrain’s tourism strategy.
She confirmed that preparations are already underway for the 2025–2026 cruise season, with efforts focused on strengthening partnerships and enhancing marine tourism services.
Al Saad praised the effective coordination between public and private sector partners, including the Ministry of Interior and its departments, the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, APM Terminals Bahrain (operator of Khalifa Bin Salman Port), and the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities. Their collaboration was key to delivering smooth services and a variety of tourism and cultural programmes.
She added that this year’s cruise season offered a wide range of tourism experiences, many of which coincided with national events, festivals, and celebrations held over the six-month period. These contributed to a well rounded visitor experience that received strong positive feedback.
BTEA recently participated in Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami, United States, under the Cruise Arabia Alliance, which includes Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
During the exhibition, new partnerships and agreements were signed for the 2026–2027 season, including plans to extend cruise ship stopovers in Bahrain to up to three days. These are expected to boost the contribution of marine tourism to the national economy and diversify the experiences offered to visitors.
