[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
- Dubai Maritime City Authority is at the forefront of promoting emirate’s maritime sector competitiveness with strategic initiatives
- Dubai Maritime Virtual Cluster key to making Dubai one of most important maritime hubs in support of post-oil future
- Dubai ranked 1st in Middle East and 5th among the world’s most competitive and attractive maritime clusters
- Maritime sector’s contribution to Dubai GDP at AED 26.9 billion
- Over 5,500 companies operating in Dubai maritime sector with at least 13,000 maritime and investment activities
- Maritime sector generates 76,000 jobs
- 25 per cent growth in maritime sector’s contribution to Dubai economy between 2011 and 2015
- Innovation Quay initiative to enhance industry’s sustainability and promote innovation
The 2nd Dubai Maritime Agenda, one of the world’s leading gatherings of elite maritime industry leaders, kicks off today under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council. The summit will serve as a global platform for maritime stakeholders to explore opportunities, challenges, and the future of the global industry. The discussions will focus on the current and future status of the local and global maritime clusters, as well as the latest industry developments in terms of innovation and technology.
H.E. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of the Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation in Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) said: “Dubai is making a major stride in its quest to become an outstanding global maritime hub by 2020 backed by the unwavering support of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who envisioned a country with robust and diverse industries and a competitive and sustainable economy thriving in a post-oil stage. The DMCA is honored to be one of the leading contributors to the development of a competitive, inclusive, and attractive maritime cluster with the ability to advance ambitious and comprehensive economic and cultural development. With our continuous achievements, we are more determined to promote innovation, knowledge enrichment, and smart transformation within the industry. Our strategic initiatives will consistently focus on infrastructure modernization, policy development, integration of regulatory frameworks, and maritime capacity building to attract international industry leaders and investors as well as place Dubai on the global maritime industry map.”
Through its major initiatives, the DMCA is at the forefront of enhancing Dubai’s competitiveness, attractiveness and inclusiveness to catapult the emirate into the ranks of the world’s best maritime clusters. The continued efforts to organize, promote and develop the components of the local maritime sector come amid the growing ship, port, engineering, and maritime support sectors. Their growth is in line with the objective of the Dubai Maritime Sector Strategy (MSS) to build a safe, sustainable, and inclusive maritime sector capable of supporting the country’s economic diversification plan designed in preparation for a post-oil economy.
The local maritime industry is one of the five main contributors to the emirate’s economic diversification policy, with its share of Dubai’s gross domestic product (GDP) now stands at AED 26.9 billion. It has also been achieving an unprecedented growth of over 25 per cent since 2011, helping boost the UAE’s 60 per cent share of the overall maritime activities in the Gulf. To date, the country provides a business-friendly environment to more than 5,500 companies and supports at least 13,000 maritime and investment activities, leading to the generation of 76,000 jobs.
Dubai, which has been included to ‘The Leading Maritime Capitals of the World 2017,’ to be the first in the Middle East and 5th in the world’s most competitive and attractive maritime clusters, as per the report of Menon Business Economics Group. The report ranked it 5th on its Competitiveness and Attractiveness Index; 6th in the list of the future leading maritime capitals; and 10th in the world’s largest shipping centers for 2017. The latest results confirm Dubai’s competitive advantages and significant progress in its vision to be among the world’s top maritime centers.
Amer Ali, Executive Director of DMCA, reiterated the DMCA’s commitment to continuously strengthen Dubai’s international status as one of the world’s best maritime clusters, while underscoring its unwavering determination to promote the best-in-class components of the local industry, one of the most attractive business environments for maritime business. The DMCA will also continuously enhance the industry’s infrastructure, legislation, and maritime and logistics capabilities according to the objectives of MSS and in line with the global standards.
Ali said: “We will capitalize on the promising opportunities to help drive Dubai’s excellence, competitiveness, and attractiveness; improve maritime services; enhance legal expertise; and strengthen the maritime insurance and finance — taking into account our position as a true partner and an active participant in the development process. We will remain steadfast in our commitment to launch and implement innovative initiatives to enhance the maritime sector, explore promising opportunities, and create a better future under the guidance of our wise leadership and in line with Dubai Plan 2021.”
Dubai Maritime Virtual Cluster: Attracting global stakeholders
The DMCA’s recently launched Dubai Maritime Virtual Cluster (DMVC) initiative is in line with its efforts to enhance the competitiveness and attractiveness of the local maritime sector. Accessible via www.dmvc.ae, the initiative seeks to attract the global maritime community to Dubai according to its four main pillars of maritime clustering development, empowering the sector, spreading awareness, and encouraging participation.
The DMVC has been rolled out to enhance Dubai’s competitiveness, inclusiveness, and excellence, as well as attract foreign investments to increase the industry’s economic share in support of Dubai’s transformation into a pivotal global economic hub. Adopting an innovative method, it aims to promote research and development (R&D), innovation, training, and best international maritime practices, in addition to facilitating the international maritime players’ access to the world-class local maritime services. Additionally, it seeks to enhance investor confidence in Dubai at the regional and global levels, as well as strengthen the maritime sector’s role as a vital economic contributor in Dubai’s economic diversification plan in preparation for a post-oil future.
Innovation Quay: Dubai an incubator and innovation leader
The DMCA has made a positive impact on Dubai’s drive for innovation through the launch of Innovation Quay, a new ambitious initiative designed to take advantage of technological innovations in support of the efforts to promote development in all aspects of the maritime sector. The new initiative complements the achievements of the DMCA’s ‘Maritime Creativity and Innovation Lab’ in fostering a culture of creativity in the sector and furthering the maritime clustering in line with the demands of the 21st century.
The Innovation Quay embodies the vision of the UAE’s wise leadership to make innovation a crucial part of work and lifestyle culture in the country. It encourages leading manufacturers and research institutions to conduct field studies and create new experiences using the latest innovative technologies such as drones, 3D technology, and smart and self-driving ships, among others.
Dubai Maritime Cluster Office: Enhancing Dubai’s competitiveness
Promoting creativity, innovation, excellence, and technology, the Dubai Maritime Cluster Office has made great strides in building the local sector to make it one of the world’s most developed and attractive maritime clusters and a leading global maritime hub. It is in charge of supervising a number of maritime initiatives launched according to the objectives of MSS. The initiatives include the Maritime Advisory Council; Dubai Maritime Intelligence; Maritime Creativity Lab; the UAE Maritime Week; Dubai Maritime Summit; and Dubai Maritime Agenda.
The Office facilitates fruitful cooperation and close coordination among relevant government and private agencies as well as local, regional, and international maritime organizations. Additionally, it promotes knowledge and expertise sharing and exchange of best practices to make the local maritime cluster an exemplary model of maritime excellence at the regional and international levels.
‘Sea Dubai:’ Dubai a global destination for marine leisure activities
The ‘Sea Dubai’ initiative aims to position Dubai as a global destination for marine leisure activities and as one of the world’s most advanced and competitive maritime hubs. It seeks to improve the infrastructure for marine leisure activities in the emirate by establishing full coordination among all government and private stakeholders, as well as attracting regional and global investors to the integrated and safe local maritime sector.
Moreover, the initiative is designed to accelerate and facilitate the registration and licensing processes for marine crafts; determine the speed limit in Dubai waters; identify the tourist spots where vessels could sail; regulate rest houses and floating restaurants; monitor all types of yachts as well as the berths and mooring facilities in Dubai; and coordinate with private companies concerning boat rentals.
‘Maritime Dubai:’ The center of excellence for the maritime sector
Under the supervision of Dubai Maritime Cluster Office, the DMCA’s one-of-its-kind ‘Maritime Dubai’ initiative is part of the efforts to develop an inclusive maritime sector identity. It is a proactive step towards sustaining DMCA’s exceptional achievements and paving the way for a new era of excellence to boost Dubai’s competitiveness and make it a prominent global hub for world trade.
The initiative has laid down a comprehensive maritime policy framework to activate coordination among public bodies, relevant local, regional, and international organizations, and free zones to promote the industry’s contribution to the economic diversification process.
The ‘Maritime Dubai’ initiative is the first step towards developing an independent and unique identity for the local maritime sector by including under one umbrella all key maritime clusters such as shipping; harbors; berths; logistics; maritime arbitration; maritime classification; maritime licensing, financing, and training; and policymaking. It also aims to establish coordination among government entities, local, regional and international stakeholders, free zones, and organizations involved in maritime-related activities.
Shorkum: Bringing customer happiness
Shorkum reflects the DMCA’s commitment to bring customer happiness and ensure their well-being by using interactive and smart platforms to determine the current and future needs of its customers.
With a slogan ‘Think With Us,’ the initiative encourages the active participation of stakeholders in the decision-making process and improvement of customer experience. It seeks to build an integrated active response mechanism in line with the highest standards of excellence, quality, and innovation. Additionally, it urges the members of the maritime community to share their opinions and creative ideas to help build a safe and sustainable maritime sector to make Dubai one of the most competitive maritime clusters in the world.
Maritime Advisory Council: Promoting transparency, governance, and dialogue
The Maritime Advisory Council is working towards building a partnership between the public and private sectors based on the pillars of transparency, good governance, and constructive dialogue. Such a move is seen to promote the sector’s competitiveness and put Dubai on the global maritime map.
The Council is at the forefront of addressing emerging challenges and leveraging the industry’s strengths according to the goals of MSS. In particular, it aims to modernize infrastructure, formulate legislative and legal frameworks, improve logistics, diversify investment opportunities, and enhance the confidence of regional and international investors to boost Dubai’s socio-economic development.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
