Open Port

What are the most important projects that the DMCA has embarked upon over the last year, and what were their impacts on the sector as a whole?

We have had several key milestones in 2014 in line with the objectives of the Dubai Maritime Sector Strategy (MSS), which was established to organize, develop, and promote the local maritime sector and strengthen the Emirate’s position as a world-class global maritime hub. DMCA made significant progress toward improving maritime infrastructure and introducing new regulations and legislations to ensure the highest levels of operational efficiency and safety within local waters in accordance with the best international practices. Last year’s achievements helped strengthen Dubai’s competitive advantage at the regional and international levels. In 2014, DMCA launched the Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre (EMAC) under the guidance of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council. EMAC is a pioneering initiative in the Middle East aimed at addressing and resolving maritime disputes via deliberations based on legal frameworks and set maritime regulatory guidelines and standards.

How will the recently established cooperation between Dubai Chamber’s DIAC and the Emirates Maritime Arbitration Center enhance dispute resolution procedures for the maritime sector in the Middle East?

The partnership between the two organizations is highly crucial. Both share a common vision of contributing to Dubai’s economic development and promoting the Emirate as one of the world’s leading investment destinations. The new agreement forms a nucleus for future cooperation between Dubai Chamber’s Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) and the Emirates Maritime Arbitration Center, a first-of-its-kind initiative that aims to settle maritime disputes in the Middle East. Disputes are resolved in accordance with independent legal and regulatory measures in line with the maritime sector’s strategic goals of improving, organizing, and enhancing Dubai’s competitiveness as a first-class global maritime hub. The maritime sector is an important pillar of Dubai’s economic growth as it directly supports the competitiveness of Dubai and its strategic location as well as its status as one of the top transshipment hubs in the world. This latest agreement will lead to a new phase of cooperation between the two parties and will take the maritime sector a step closer to making Dubai a first-class global maritime center. Under the new strategic partnership, the two sides agreed to enhance channels for transferring knowledge and exchanging information as well as beginning their bilateral cooperation in arbitration. They will also coordinate in building the maritime sector’s human resources capacity by jointly organizing interactive workshops and training courses, attending regional and international meetings, and conducting official visits. The partnership aims to contribute to enhancing Dubai’s presence on the global economic map.

How is DMCA implementing technology as part of Dubai’s smart government initiative?

We will continue to develop more creative ideas to enhance the maritime sector’s competitiveness through the Maritime Innovation Center to further support the Dubai Innovation Strategy, which aims to make the Emirate the world’s most innovative city. The Smart Marine Services Platform aims to build an informational and procedural interactive base by designing, developing, and maintaining a cutting-edge and smart system for maritime licensing and registration services. It will provide several channels offering services that meet the requirements and expectations of the government. DMCA will adopt the best international practices, the highest standards, and the latest smart technologies to ensure easy access to an integrated portfolio of high-quality services through various smart channels. This initiative represents a strong impetus toward improved performance. It will also advance DMCA’s contributions toward achieving the strategic objectives of Dubai Plan 2021 to build a proactive, innovative, and smart government that guarantees the welfare of all members of society.

How does the strategy of DMCA play into the Dubai 2021 Vision?

Our numerous consecutive achievements have complemented efforts to develop a regulatory framework to create a conducive and sustainable maritime environment that responds proactively to rapid changes, keeps pace with emerging trends, and attracts leading regional and global investors. We will continue to come up with new leading initiatives in cooperation with our strategic partners. We aspire to organize, develop, and promote the local maritime sector and strengthen Dubai’s strategic position on the global maritime map. These goals are in line with the vision of Dubai 2021 of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai.