Iconic cruise liner QE2 may be moored in Dubai if UAE wins World Expo 2020

One of the world’s most iconic ships, the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2), post its transformation into a 5-star hotel, may once again be moored on the shores of Dubai if the UAE wins its bid to host the World Expo 2020, Emirates 24|7 can reveal.

“Dubai is the base city for QE2, so everything is possible, we may even have a surprise for Dubai Expo 2020,” Khamis Juma Buamim, Chairman of Drydocks World and Maritime World said, when asked if there were any plans to bring back the ocean liner.
However, he refuted claims that UK investors were in talks with Dubai to moor QE 2 in London, emphasising that the plans unveiled in January this year were intact.

“We have announced our plans on January 2013 to convert QE2 into a luxurious floating 5-star hotel.”

In the announcement, earlier this year, it was said the cruise liner would be transformed into a 500-room luxury hotel and moved to Asia.However, no location was given.

“QE2 will become a 500-room luxury hotel after undergoing checks in Dubai,” a statement had said.

Asked if work had commenced on QE2, Buamim said that, preparatory work to overhaul the engines and turbines had started after completion of the work to bring the vessel back to class.

“At the same time design, interiors and materials are underway to ensure conversion work start once it reaches Asia,” he said, adding that ship will be converted into a luxury hotel by 2014.

The Oceanic Group, a group of experienced advisers to cruise operators and managers in Asia, are lead managing the project.

QE2’s new renovation plans include a shopping mall, a QE2 Café offering meals similar to those served during cruises, three Michelin-starred restaurants, convention and meeting facilities and an onboard maritime museum displaying QE2 and Dubai memorabilia.

It was for the first time in July 2012 that plans were announced to keep QE2 in Dubai as a hotel and part of a maritime centre.

The cruise terminal at Port Rashid was set to become the liner’s permanent home after it was to be converted into a 300-room luxury hotel, with the terminal developed to include a maritime museum.

Istithmar World, a subsidiary of Dubai World, had purchased the 293-metre long vessel from Cunard for nearly $100 million in June 2007.

Before her retirement to Dubai in November 2008, the QE2 took regular cruises around the world as well as operating a scheduled liner service across the Atlantic Ocean between Southampton in the UK and New York.

She carried 2.5 million passengers, sailed nearly six million miles and completed 806 trans-Atlantic crossings during 39 years of service for Cunard.

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