The Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) has announced that the originally biennial UAE Maritime Week will now become an annual event following this year’s edition, as part of its efforts to promote Dubai’s leading maritime experience at the regional and global levels.

The event is being held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and chairman of the executive council.

The UAE Maritime Week was launched to help bridge communication gaps in the global maritime industry and explore the future of the maritime sector from a perspective of innovation, knowledge, and smart transformation, said a statement.

By making the gathering an annual event, the DMCA is opening up new opportunities to enhance international cooperation in adopting innovation, research and development, and smart technology to bolster the local and international maritime clusters, it said.

As early as now, the DMCA has already begun its preparations for the 2019 edition of the UAE Maritime Week, which has been instrumental in attracting huge investments to the local maritime sector.

The maritime community today is one of the five main sectors accelerating Dubai's economic development, contributing 7 per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP) at Dh26.9 billion ($7.323 billion).

Next year’s edition is particularly important as it will take place a year before Expo 2020 Dubai. Expo 2020 is an international platform that will showcase Dubai and the UAE’s cultural heritage, economic positioning, and humanitarian aid.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman of DP World and chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation in Dubai, said: “The decision to organise the UAE Maritime Week every year instead of every two years represents an important step towards promoting Dubai and the UAE’s successful maritime experience on the global stage.”

“The decision was reached amid the demand to make it a yearly gathering given its strategic role in the global maritime industry. Thanks to the continuous support of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and chairman of the Executive Council, the first-of-its-kind regional event seeks to highlight Dubai's journey towards becoming a global influential force that it is today according to the directive of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to always be number one in the world,” he added.

Bin Sulayem noted that the annual presence of renowned maritime elite reflects the growing international interest in the event and a recognition of its role in providing an effective platform for global stakeholders to explore the sector’s future.

The UAE Maritime Week is also critical in showcasing Dubai's promising opportunities as one of the five most competitive, attractive and comprehensive maritime clusters and shipping hubs in the world supported by world-class maritime and logistics capabilities and a competitive environment that stimulates trade, business and investment.

“We look forward to hosting the UAE Maritime Week annually in a strong push towards unifying international efforts for the maritime industry’s advancement. We will base our efforts on clear mechanisms to stimulate maritime innovation, enhance human investment, develop infrastructure, strengthen legislative and legal systems, and keep up with the rapid technological developments in the 21st century,” Bin Sulayem added.
 
Amer Ali, executive director of DMCA, said: “The UAE Maritime Week is now recognised worldwide following its previous successful editions in line with the wise leadership’s vision to establish a maritime sector based on major innovation and sustainability.”

“The maritime industry is critical to the country’s economic development and transition to the post-oil period. We are confident in the success of the 2019 edition, which will come a year ahead of Expo 2020. More than ever, we are now inspired to host world-class events that will support Dubai’s capability to support major international maritime forums,” he added.

The recently concluded, highly successful UAE Maritime Week 2018 served as a key venue where stakeholders discussed ways to promote the growth and sustainability of the global maritime sector to the highest level of excellence.

On its first day, the Dubai Maritime Summit 2018 was opened by Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development and chairman of the Federal Transport Authority – Land & Maritime.

The DMCA also organized this year the Dubai Maritime Innovation Awards as well as the second edition of the first-of-its-kind UAE Maritime Future Leaders Seminar, which enabled UAE maritime leaders to explore the future of the sector based on innovation, smart transformation, and sustainability.

The Seatrade Maritime Middle East, the largest maritime exhibition in the Middle East, was also staged during the UAE Maritime Week 2018, attracting more than 8,000 visitors from the UAE, the region, and the rest of the world.

Other activities included the Maritime Arbitration Conference, the Maritime Innovation Day, and ‘Japanese Day’.

The UAE Maritime Week 2018 bolstered communication channels and international cooperation designed to develop a clear roadmap to overcome obstacles, maximise opportunities, and strengthen the maritime clusters for a secure and sustainable future, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service