THE first signs of life in the former QE2 have been seen a decade on from her final voyage to the Clyde.

News reports from Dubai, where she has sat with plans to be turned into a floating hotel, confirmed a sign has gone up at Dubai Cruise Terminal 1 in Port Rashid for visitors to the “Queen Elizabeth II Hotel”.

Owners DP World have not made an official announcement but a new website, qe2.com suggests the hotel is “coming soon” and invites prospective employees to submit applications.

DP World chairman Sultan Bin Sulayem insisted in 2015 the QE2 would not be scrapped and insisted there were plans for her.

The Mina Rashid Marina project was announced not long after with the QE2 a prominent fixture in the model of the development.

And in December, Huawei said they won a contract to install wifi on the QE2.

Rob Lightbody, of the QE2 Story internet forum, told the Post: “We have watched progress being made on QE2 over the past couple of years, and had heard rumours she was to open as a hotel soon, but nothing official had been said. so we remained understandably doubtful.

“The new website provides concrete evidence that our wait is nearly over. After nearly 10 years of watching and waiting, we now expect that she will open as a hotel this year, and some of our members will definitely make a visit a top priority.

“She is in a great spot in Dubai, and hard to miss when all floodlit at night. Not to be missed by any Bankie visiting Dubai.”

MP Martin Docherty-Hughes added: “Like many in Clydebank and across Scotland I’m deeply saddened that the QE2 has been languishing in dock in Dubai for the past decade.

"It’s criminal for such an important part of our heritage to lie unused and neglected.

"The refurbishment and restoration of the QE2 is long overdue and must be done to the same high standard as that expected of a Clyde-built vessel.”