Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Renames Dubai Maritime City Authority As Dubai Maritime Authority

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the Ruler of Dubai, have issued a new law that renames the existing Dubai Maritime City Authority as Dubai Maritime Authority. Going forward, the entity will be known by its new legal name and is now also affiliated with the PCFC (Ports, Customs, and Free Zone Corporation).

The Dubai Maritime Authority (previously called the Dubai Maritime City Authority), was established back in 2007 with the aim to bring change within the maritime sector of the emirate as well as establish various initiatives and regulations across the industry which support the motivation to create an environment that investors deem safe when considering to put their money within the maritime industry of the emirate.

The authority also has the objective to maintain Dubai’s position as a first-class maritime hub internationally and also monitor, develop, and promote the activities that are conducted within its waters.

Dubai Maritime Authority Now Has Laws Defining its Authority, Responsibilities, and Organisational Structure

Dubai Maritime Authority also issues licenses required for marine transport and also looks over the safety measures that are implemented within vessels to ensure that the crew, environment, and the vessel itself are always in a safeguarded position.

The establishment of the new was officially announced to the public by the Dubai Media Office and has been also published on the official website of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

According to the official announcement within the UAE Vice President’s website, the new law outlines the responsibilities and duties of the Dubai Maritime Authority, which not only consists of regulating the maritime sector in Dubai but also includes the regulation of activities within the free zone and special development zones like the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

The publishing by the Dubai Media Office said that “The new aims at reinforcing the status of Dubai as the leading global coastal trade hub and also focuses on improving the maritime security by functioning in collaboration with other relevant authorities. The new law also adds attracting local and foreign investments, protecting the marine environment, and others as its objectives.”

According to the new law, the authority also has the power to develop and establish new marine-related plans for the emirate, which focus on the safety of maritime activities and navigation. Part of the expected changes is defining new maritime lines for navigation as well as changes with respect to the berthing of vessels and dhows within Dubai.

Environmental preservation will be among the key objectives of the authority and one of the ways they will go on achieving this is by ensuring that all the marine vessels operating within Dubai are in compliance with the required technical necessities that are of less impact to the surrounding environment.

The authority is also tasked to coordinate with other relevant authorities to make sure that the maritime activities that occur within the waters of the country are in line with the international and local laws and regulations, as well as in adherence to the international agreements that the UAE is a part of.

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The new law also establishes Dubai Maritime Authority’s organizational structure and also outlines the responsibilities that the PCFC has. There is also a mechanism laid out within the law that dictates the procedures to follow while appointing a new Chief Executive for the authority and how their responsibilities need to be defined.

The Dubai Ports, Customs, and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), of which the Dubai Maritime Authority has become a part now, also has several other authorities and entities working under its guidance, such as the Dubai Customs, Department of Planning and Development, Marine Agency for Wooden Dhows, Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA), and the Dubai Ports Authority.

Also, the Dubai Maritime Authority has the responsibilities of identifying, issuing permits, and regulating marinas operating within Dubai as well as setting up entry and exit requirements for wooden dhows and their crews while operating within the emirate. The authority also oversees the wooden dhow operations through the Marine Agency for Wooden Dhows as well.