A top UAE official won a special award for key contribution to Dubai’s growing maritime sector by Seatrade Communications recently.

The Personal Contribution Award recognises Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman of the Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation and president of the Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA), the government authority charged with regulating, coordinating and supervising all aspects of Dubai’s maritime sector, for his continued strategic efforts to develop, regulate and promote the local maritime industry.

All his efforts are in line with the Dubai Government’s grand vision to reinforce the emirate’s position as a premiere global maritime hub, said a statement.

Under his leadership, the sector has made huge strides in generating diverse economic opportunities, it said.

According to DMCA’s 2014 market research, the local maritime sector contributed Dh14.4 billion ($3.9 billion) to Dubai’s gross domestic product (GDP) and supported over 75,000 job opportunities across the UAE. These achievements were attributed to integrated infrastructure and world- class maritime regulations and services in the emirate.

Under Sulayem’s leadership, DP World has become the world’s third largest port operator, said the statement.

It currently operates more than 65 marine terminals across six continents, building on the model of its flagship port Jebel Ali, the premier gateway port serving the Middle East, Africa and Indian subcontinent region, it said.

At DMCA, Sulayem led the establishment and implementation of the Dubai Maritime Strategy. He was also been involved in the launching of the Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre, a first-of-its-kind initiative in the Middle East aimed at addressing and resolving maritime disputes, it added. - TradeArabia News Service