The famed cruise liner Queen Elizabeth 2, which was bought by Dubai investment firm Istithmar World in 2007 for US$100 million, will be converted into a 300-room floating hotel. The hotel will be moored in the emirate’s Port Rashid facility, which will likewise undergo a massive transformation to become a seaport village complete with a maritime museum and a cruise ship terminal complex. The conversion of QE2 has already started and the floating hotel is expected to welcome guests by early 2014. Istithmar Chairman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said the company will not carry out major renovations or alterations to the vessel as they aim to preserve QE2’s tradition which will hopefully attract many visitors.
