Under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, UAE Minister of Facilities Development and Chairman of the Federal Transportation Authority - Land and Maritime (FTA), the Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) recently hosted a workshop themed, The Future of the Maritime Sector in Dubai which explored key potential customers for bilateral cooperation with the FTA, targeted at additional enhancing the maritime field based upon innovation, technology, sustainability and mutual cooperation.

H.E. Dr. Al Nuaimi, said: "We are keen to strengthen the collaborations in between government and local authorities to achieve a common vision to boost the UAE's management in the maritime industry and allow local authorities to meet their demands in supplying extraordinary services and maintain competitiveness in the maritime industry. The UAE's winning as member of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Executive Council under the Group 'B' requires even more collective initiatives at both the federal and local levels, and from public and private sectors to finest stand for the UAE in this essential international forum and to develop a maritime industry that mirrors the country's credibility and global leadership."

H.E. added: "I would like to say thanks to all those that are working in the maritime sector in Dubai for their constant job and success in supporting and enhancing the country's management in the global maritime field."

Senior officials and representatives from leading level elite maritime authorities including the FTA, Dubai Ports World, Drydocks World, Dubai Traditions, DMCA, and the Dubai Maritime City attended the workshop. The individuals noted that to boost the affordable benefits of local maritime markets, a unified initiative amongst maritime authorities is very important to better strengthen UAE's placement as a global maritime hub, particularly after the country has won a seat at the IMO's Executive Council under Category B.

Amer Ali, Executive Director of DMCA, said: "The workshop was a crucial strategic platform to discover the future of the maritime industry in the context of the government assimilation that paves the way for Dubai and the UAE to become a global leader in key sectors consisting of transport, trade and shipping and logistics services."

Ali added: "We are keen to construct a knowledge and experience connect with our tactical partners from both public and economic sectors in the UAE, including the FTA in line with our usual purposes to strengthen solid foundation for security and competition of the local maritime collection at the global arena, with the initiatives to impart a society of excellence within the maritime sector according to the instructions of our wise management."

The workshop assessed the present and potential challenges and assessed the future strategies, along with the expedition of key potential customers that will certainly further develop the maritime industry and trade, international shipping and transport, aquatic engineering, training and maritime support solutions. The workshop also highlighted the need for joint dedications to adopt measurable strategies in accordance with the IMO strategy, specifically the conservation and lasting use water, aquatic and sea resources, and satisfy the country's vision of a safe, modern and sustainable maritime sector.

Ali concluded: "DMCA will certainly continue to attend to challenges and optimize our toughness for even more success and accomplishments in all locations, including improving framework and legal and lawful structures, creating logistics solutions, branching out financial investment possibilities and improving the confidence of regional and global capitalists in the competition of the local maritime industry, geared in the direction of detailed and sustainable development."