Guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56) wrapped up its four-day port visit to Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates, Sept. 26.

San Jacinto Sailors participated in several Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) tours, experiencing local customs and sightseeing, as well as took time to play basketball at a local school while visiting UAE.

"Our visit to Jebel Ali provided a great opportunity for the crew to see the rich culture UAE has to offer," said Capt. Dennis Velez, commanding officer of San Jacinto. "This was San Jacinto's first visit to the Emirates this deployment. The crew was excited to visit the amazing city of Dubai, experience some of its culture, and take some time to explore some of the world-class shops available throughout. I know that my crew will cherish this visit forever."

Some Sailors visited the American School of Dubai Athletic Facility and played a friendly basketball game with the school's faculty.

"Overall, it was a really good time and a little bit of competition," said Damage Controlman 3rd Class Alexis Means. "It gave you the feeling of being back at home, surrounded by others."

Sailors also attended various MWR tours including a sunset safari, a dhow dinner cruise, and a modern Dubai city tour.

"There did not seem to be much of a cultural difference," Means said. "Everyone was friendly, and there was not a real language barrier."

San Jacinto, assigned to the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (Ike CSG), is deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, maritime security operations and theater security operation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

Ike CSG, the centerpiece of the Great Green Fleet initiative, is comprised of aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10 staff, squadrons and staff of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26 staff, guided-missile cruisers San Jacinto and USS Monterey (CG 61), and guided-missile destroyers USS Stout (DDG 55), USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), USS Mason (DDG 87), and USS Nitze (DDG 94).

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