According to the latest issue of Seatrade Cruise Review, Royal Caribbean will pull its ships out of Dubai following the 2013 cruise season.

Economic issues such as the European debt crisis and uncertainty regarding the global economic picture as a whole has the potential to affect demand for the cruise market in Dubai, and that's something Royal Caribbean is keeping an eye on.

Cruise tourism in Abu Dhabi is going to get a bump when Royal Caribbean sends its recently revamped Serenade of the Seas to the middle eastern city in 2012-2013.  Serenade of the Seas replaces Brilliance of the Seas  and will mark the first time Serenade of the Seas has served the Middle East market.

Royal Caribbean has been awarded the title of "Middle East's Leading Cruise Line" once again by the World Travel Awards.  This marks the third consecutive win for Royal Caribbean.  

Royal Caribbean's first quarter bookings in the Middle East have surged up despite some concern around the world with the state of cruise ship safety.

Helen Beck, Royal Caribbean's regional director for the Middle East, expects to more than double its business in the Middle East over the next three to five years.

The cruise business was good for Royal Caribbean in the Middle East, as the company reported a record year of business for Middle Eastern cruises in 2011.  The amount of guests Royal Caribbean saw rose 34% compared to the previous year.

Thanks to an increased demand in the Persian Gulf region, Royal Caribbean has decided to extend its third consecutive season in the Gulf to six months.  This will run from November 2011 through April 2012 and will be the longest season ever for Royal Caribbean in the region.  

Demand is so big for Royal Caribbean's cruises in the Middle East that the company has decided to extend its third consecutive season for the 2011/2012 season.

The new cruise season will include 18 round-trip seven night sailings and two Dubai to India 12 night sailings from November 2011 through to April 2012.

Royal Caribbean announced that it will expand the number of cruises to the Middle East in November thanks to increasing demand for its current itineraries.

Royal Caribbean says that its sailings for this season are nearly completely booked and it appears that wont be changing soon. Royal Caribbean Execuritve Director for the Middle East explains the increase in cruises, "Interest in our cruises has been so strong that we will be adding more sailings in our third season starting in November 2011".