A pioneer in the cruise business in the Kingdom, the Al Sharif Group has been instrumental in putting Bahrain on the international map.

One of the oldest shipping agents in Bahrain, the Al Sharif Group diversified into cruise shipping in 2005.

“We are operating as part of the regional network of our UAE partners,” says Ali Al Sharif, president and CEO of the Al Sharif Group.

Since then, the Group has capitalised on the growing momentum of the cruise sector in the region.

The group acts as the agents for three ships from the Italian-based Costa Cruises and the German AIDA Cruises, both of whom are subsidiaries of the Carnival Cruises, which operates the one of the biggest cruise lines in the world. In the cruise season ending on May 7, he confirms his company brought 100,000 tourists to Bahrain between November 2009 and May 2010. With the number of calls going up from 41 to 50 when the new season opens in November 2010, this is likely to go up to 130,000 visitors.

The latest ship to berth here, the Costa Deliziosa also happens to be the first passenger ship to be named in the GCC region. Costing around Euro 500 million, the liner boasts 1,130 cabins with four restaurants, 11 refreshment bars, a disco, a spa, a gaming area and gym, a multipurpose sports pitch and a 4D-cinema theatre — on three levels.