QE2 finally to be launched as a hotel in Dubai

10 July 2012
QE2 finally to be launched as a hotel in Dubai

Former cruise ship the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) looks set to become a dockside hotel in Dubai by the end of next year. Four years after her final voyage, the liner's owner, Istithmar World, has ended years of uncertainty about her future by announcing its plans to open 300 cabins as guest rooms.

The Dubai state investment company bought the QE2 from Cunard for $100m in 2007. The delay in making a decision about the future use of the ship stems from the financial crisis which has impacted Dubai in recent years.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman of Istithmar, said that he intended to preserve much of the ship's original decor, including the wood-panelled walls. "We are not making major changes," he said. "We will preserve its tradition and the way it is."

The conversion of the QE2 to a hotel is expected to take around 18 months, with an opening unlikely to take place before the end of 2013. The liner will be anchored permanently in Dubai's Port Rashid.

Launched in 1967, the 70,327-tonne QE2 carried around 1,900 passengers on each of its 26 voyages around the world, as well as making 30 Atlantic crossings every year.

Britain's QE2 to become a floating hotel in Dubai >>

Service at sea with The World floating community >>

By Francesca Cook

E-mail your comments to Caterer News here. !Tabletalk‘22387Á"'If you have something to say on this story or anything else join the debate at Table Talk - CatererÁ•s new networking forum. Go to www.catererandhotelkeeper.com/tabletalk

Catererandhotelkeeper.com jobs

Looking for a new job? Find your next job here with Catererandhotelkeeper.com jobs

Blogs on Catererandhotelkeeper.com Catch up with more news and gossip on all CatererÁ•s blogs
E-Newsletters For the latest hospitality news, sign up for our E-newsletters
Â
The Caterer Breakfast Briefing Email

Start the working day with The Caterer’s free breakfast briefing email

Sign Up and manage your preferences below

Check mark icon
Thank you

You have successfully signed up for the Caterer Breakfast Briefing Email and will hear from us soon!

Jacobs Media is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.

close

Ad Blocker detected

We have noticed you are using an adblocker and – although we support freedom of choice – we would like to ask you to enable ads on our site. They are an important revenue source which supports free access of our website's content, especially during the COVID-19 crisis.

trade tracker pixel tracking