Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) said it has launched Smart Weather - a new mobile-friendly online portal that provides vital weather information and advice.

Smart Weather displays onshore and offshore maritime weather status and forecasts for a period of nine days in advance, updates many times per day and it is easily accessible throughout the day via smart devices, said a statement from DMCA.

It provides details on wave height and direction, air temperature, wind speed and direction, and visibility, among others, in both Arabic and English.

This advanced tool forms part of the DMCA’s efforts to implement the safety dimensions of Dubai’s comprehensive maritime sector strategy, it stated.

Additionally, the portal also gives navigational warnings as needed as well as recommendations on whether sea conditions are pleasant, moderate or rough for dynamic maritime activities such as sailing, swimming and jet skiing in the coastal areas or near the beach or in the deep sea, it added.

Mahmoud Ewidah, director of information technology department, DMCA, said: “One of the major objectives of Dubai’s ambitious maritime sector strategy is to ensure the highest levels of maritime safety.”

The new portal comes in a professional and a public version. The professional model provides more advanced maritime-specific weather information and forecasts, he stated.

It generates detailed daily weather reports which are distributed under the supervision of DMCA’s Safety and Environment Department and to other local maritime stakeholders.

“Smart Weather embodies the authority’s efforts to incorporate the latest technologies and smart tools to achieve the objectives of supporting the smart transformation drive and facilitate access to government services, which leads to achieving customer happiness and ensure the welfare of the community in line with the wise guidance of the government,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service