Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) will be showcasing its most advanced applications and smart e-platforms - all of which are designed to boost sustainability in the maritime sector - at the upcoming Dubai International Boat Show (DIBS) 2018 in Jumeirah.

The Mena region's number one marine luxury, leisure and lifestyle event, DIBS will kick off tomorrow (February 27) at Dubai Canal and run untill March 3.

The DMCA move comes in line with its continuous smart transformation and innovation programmes and in support of the UAE Innovation Month this year, said a statement from the Authority.

The Dubai Maritime Intelligence, an interactive information and knowledge system, is one of the initiatives to be showcased at the DMCA’s pavilion. The system promotes Dubai maritime cluster’s global competitiveness and effectiveness by collecting relevant statistical data and presenting the variables in graphs, it stated.

The DMCA-Smart Customer app is also expected to attract attention during the Middle East’s largest maritime event of its kind. The app enables direct access to the Authority’s main e-services, including e-payment, maritime weather information, self-assessment test for marine driving license, and many more, without visiting the DMCA’s office.

Maritime industry leaders, exhibitors, and visitors of the event will have an opportunity to learn more about the interactive features of the DMCA’s innovative smart applications and solutions and their role in realizing Dubai Plan 2021’s mission of building a smart, connected, and sustainable city for the emirate’s future growth, said the statement from DMCA.

Other smart applications and e-platforms to be showcased in the boat show include the Smart Weather portal, which provides comprehensive weather information and practical safety tips; the interactive Smart Navigation application, which displays and tracks the movement of marine vessels in Dubai waters; SeaDubai; and Dubai Maritime Virtual Cluster.

Mahmoud Oweida, the director of IT, said: "We are taking proactive steps to employ innovations and smart technologies for the sector’s optimum development and strength. Our initiatives support the government’s bid to reduce the numbers of visitors to Dubai Government offices by 80 per cent this year."

"We are excited to showcase our smart portfolio in the pioneering maritime leisure event, which will focus on innovation and technology within the maritime sector to make it an active contributor to Dubai’s smart city transformation by putting in place a high-quality, efficient, and reliable technology infrastructure," he added.

DMCA said it will give for free its introductory Dubai Powerboat Handbook in Arabic and English to participants visiting its pavilion. The one-of-a-kind book includes a copy in Arabic on how to use engine-powered boats.-TradeArabia News Service