Fate of the QE2 Cruise Ship

During the financial crisis, it was suggested its owner, Sultan bin Sulayem, who initially purchased the liner for $100,000, 5 years ago, has on several occasions contemplated selling the liner in order to deal with financial difficulties. Having lay idle for several months in the Port Rahid, it has been reported that the ship was to be sent to Africa during the 2010 World Cup as a floating hotel, to provide rooms. There were also suggested plans for the ship to provide rooms for Tsunami survivors in Japan, and then to be transformed into a floating casino.

More recently however plans have seemed to come to a final, with the idea to turn the QE2 into a hotel. It is to be completely renovated and converted and will have 300 rooms. It is to be permanently stationed in Dubai.

There is much secrecy surrounding the financing of the ships renovation but bin Sulayem comments that “ It costs money for Istithmar to keep it sitting, so what we are doing is reducing the cost for Istithmar , and eventually Istithmar will make money out or it”

The majority of the work will be in repairing present damage including leaking pipes and paint work, as bin Sulayem recognizes the fact many prefer the current historic character of the ship over a completely new design “There were many grand ideas or renovating it in such a way that it was totally different from what it used to be, but we realized that a lot of people liked the ship as it was”

It is estimated the 70,000-ton ocean liner will take around 18 months to complete and we are looking forward to the final result. Hopefully plans won't change before then!