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Dubai has launched an ambitious initiative to engage more closely with maritime businesses as it looks to consolidate its position as one of the world’s foremost shipping centres. The newly created Maritime Advisory Council (MAC), led by the Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA), will seek to foster collaboration and coordination between industry stakeholders from both the private and public sectors.
“This initiative will nurture closer collaboration and mutual understanding between all the key maritime industry stakeholders in Dubai,” comments Amer Ali, executive director, DMCA. “By engaging with businesses on this level, Dubai can achieve buy-in from industry to support its ambitious, strategic maritime objectives, while we also build our own understanding of exactly what our private partners want from a global shipping hub.”
With its business friendly environment, tax-free advantages, supportive regulations and world-class infrastructure, Dubai is proving a major draw for international maritime firms. Over the last two years alone some 75,000 new job opportunities have been created in the sector, while maritime businesses now contribute around 4.6% of Dubai’s total GDP, equivalent to AED 14.4 billion.
The Maritime Advisory Council is composed of key figures from prominent businesses operating in the sector. Current members include DP World, Dry Docks World, Emirates Classification Society -Tasneef, DIFC Courts, Clarksons, Tufton Oceanic, Gulf Energy Maritime, United Arab Shipping Company, Maersk Line, Emarat Maritime, Fichte and Co, Ince & Co, Global Marketing Systems, and Dubai Trading Agency. In addition membership embraces senior partners or executives from Clyde & Co, Emirates National Oil Company, Topaz Energy and Marine Engineering, Al Tamimi & Company, National Association of Freight and Logistics, UAE National Ship Suppliers Association, Hadef & Partners, Mubarak Marine, Baker & McKenzie Habib Al Mulla, Holman Fenwick Willan, Wilhelmsen Ships Service, DHL Express, Rais Hassan Saadi, and Aramex 3PL.
