QE2 to be Relaunched as Luxury Floating Hotel in Dubai

By Paul Joseph

The MS Queen Elizabeth 2, the iconic British cruise liner commonly known as the QE2, has been transported to Dubai ahead of it transformation into a luxury hotel.

The famous vessel was moved to Drydocks World Dubai where it underwent checks to confirm its viability ahead of the dramatic revamp. The project will be managed by Oceanic Group, a group of experienced advisers to cruise operators and managers in Asia.

Should the green light be given, it will see the QE2 turned into a lavish 500-room hotel, and along with a luxury shopping mall, three Michelin-starred restaurants, and convention and meeting facilities.

On board the QE2 will also be a maritime museum displaying memorabilia from the vessel’s rich history along with a collection of treasures of Dubai.

The historical liner was acquired by Istithmar World, the private equity unit of the government-owned conglomerate Dubai World, for $100 million in 2007.

Built in the 1960s, the QE2 has carried 2.5 million passengers, sailed nearly six million miles and completed 806 trans-Atlantic crossings.

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By Paul Joseph