Dubai Maritime City Authority to Highlight Dubai’s Maritime Sector Leadership at SMM 2016 in Hamburg

29 August, 2016 – Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) will be underlining Dubai’s pioneering experience in transitioning into a leading global maritime hub during its participation in the upcoming SMM 2016 to be held in Hamburg from September 5 to 9, 2016.

With Dubai Maritime Week 2016 rapidly approaching (October 30 to November 3), DMCA will highlight the achievements of the emirate’s smart transformation initiatives, efforts to increase local maritime competitiveness, and Dubai as a maritime gateway to global trade. It will specifically focus on its Maritime Sector Strategy (MSS), the driving force behind Dubai’s strategies to promote, develop, and regulate the maritime sector to make the emirate one of the world’s best maritime capitals by 2020.

To emphasise the close ties that already exist between the maritime cities of Hamburg and Dubai, DMCA is holding a special Dubai Networking Reception in collaboration with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry during SMM, which will include participation by the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. The event will be staged at the UAE Pavilion (B3.OG.120 Hall B3) in the Hamburg Messe und Congress on Tuesday, 6th September, 2016 between 17:00 and 19:00, to provide a focus for marine and maritime opportunities in Dubai. Those present will include H.E. Hisham Al Shirawi, Vice Chairman Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Amer Ali Executive Director DMCA, and Prof. Hans-Jorg Schmidt-Trenz Chief Executive Hamburg Chamber of Commerce.

Ship owners and pioneers from the maritime sector in Germany and the rest of the world will recognize the business deliverables behind Dubai’s recognition as a top 10 global location for competitiveness and attractiveness in a recently published report from Menon Business Economics Group. Participants at SMM can find out how Dubai’s world-class maritime clustering initiatives have led to it being ranked fourth out of the five largest port operators in the world by headquarters; sixth in terms of leading centres for port and logistics services, as well as a site of world-class specialized logistics services; and 10th in the world in relation to both the size of ship owners’ fleets and size of fleets managed from the city.

Dubai’s maritime competitiveness will also be the highlight of DMCA’s participation in SMM 2016, in addition to the emirate’s strategic location between East and West, advanced legal and legislative systems and infrastructure, investment-friendly environment, world-class facilities, maritime and logistics services, modern ports, and integrated maritime safety system. These components are supported by the government’s strategy promoting innovation, creativity and excellence.

DMCA will be showcasing numerous initiatives that demonstrate the emirate’s innovative approach to sustaining its status. These include: the new Dubai Maritime Cluster Office, opened in June; Dubai Maritime Agenda; Maritime Creativity Lab; Maritime Advisory Council; Dubai Maritime Training Center; Smart Marine Services Platform; and Dubai Maritime Intelligence. All of these represent fundamental pillars to strengthen the confidence of regional and international investors in the local maritime environment and improve the sector’s performance, safety, efficiency, and competitiveness.

Amer Ali, Executive Director, DMCA, said: “SMM 2016 and other global maritime events serve as ideal platforms to exchange knowledge, experiences, and best practices with international decision makers and stakeholders. Dubai is an important gateway to maritime trade among Asian, European and MENA markets. SMM will enable investors, ship owners and stakeholders from Germany and the rest of the world to gain a deeper understanding of Dubai’s strengths, investment opportunities, and promising prospects. Such events are vital for the maritime industry.”

Ali added: “We are delighted to participate in SMM 2016 and report to the international maritime community our remarkable progress in accordance with MSS’ goals. MSS is aligned with the vision of our wise leadership in building a secure and comprehensive maritime sector, with solid foundation for innovation, creativity, excellence, human investment, and environmental security. We look forward to discussing Dubai’s competitive advantages, including its strategic location, advanced infrastructure, tax exemptions, modern maritime legislation, and robust import and export sectors.”

SMM, a biennial event, is one of the leading maritime sector events in the world, providing a platform for communication among international decision makers, government officials, experts, ship owners, investors, and representatives of major shipping companies.

About Dubai Maritime City Authority:

Founded in 2007, Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) has brought about a radical change in the local maritime sector through an extensive range of industry initiatives and regulations which support its ambitious approach to creating a safe investment environment for industry leaders from all over the world, while reaffirming Dubai’s position as a first-class international maritime hub. Established to monitor, develop and promote maritime activities, DMCA provides a platform of excellence and quality as it develops world-class regulations and guidelines to raise the bar on the maritime industry and boost its infrastructure, operations and logistics services while offering investment opportunities to boost Dubai’s competitiveness at the regional and international levels.

DMCA aims to build effective and strategic partnerships with relevant government agencies, private businesses and stakeholders in line with its vision to create a safe and vibrant maritime sector and therefore drive economic sustainability and growth in the emirate. The Authority is keen on expanding its scope of work and laying down effective policies under the highest standards of maritime safety and best environmental practices, in adherence with the local and international laws to develop a safe maritime environment for maritime operations and businesses.