Today Owners of QE2, Istithmar World announced that they will convert the famous 45-year-old ocean liner in to hotel.
After state owned company bought QE2 back in 2007 for $100 million from Cunard, ship faced years of speculation regarding her future. There where suggestions for the ship to be moved in South Africa for the 2010 World Cup or sold for scrap.
At a news conference the chairman of Istithmar World, Sultan bin Sulayem said "The ship is in immaculate condition and it's going to enhance the tourism sector in Dubai."
The Sultan didn’t comment on finance aspect of this project, he only that " funds will be there" to convert the ship and broader development of Port Rashid whre ship will be located.
After Istithmar World bought the ship, original plans where to convert the ship in floating hotel stationed at one of Dubai's palm-shaped artificial islands, Palm Jumeirah. However financial crises prevented this plans and numerous times company considered to sale the ship.
On Monday, Sultan. bin Sulayem denied that the QE2 was ever offered for sale, "We never offered it for sale," he said. "There were people coming to us with numbers, [saying] let's sell it, let's do that."
