Dubai has been selected as one of the world's top five shipping centers in the International Shipping Centre Development Index (ISCD).

With a number of initiatives focused on the maritime sector, innovative free zones, infrastructure and high maritime and logistics capabilities, Dubai aims to become a major global maritime destination.

“We are working hard to create a vibrant maritime center to attract industry leaders and to promote Dubai's status as a global shipping center supported by a series of leading quality initiatives,” Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) and Chairman of Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA), commented.

According to a recent report by the London-based Baltic Exchange and the Xinhua News Agency, Dubai has overtaken Hamburg, which fell from fourth to seventh place.

Reflecting on the new achievement, Bin Sulayem added, "This is in part the result of our fruitful partnership with the public and private sectors forged to enhance the confidence of regional and international investors in the competitiveness of the local maritime sector and promote its components based on the pillars of research and development, innovation, and smart transformation. The components include shipping and ports, engineering and training, maritime support services and ports, and the operation and maintenance of giant maritime vessels.”

Bin Sulayem also noted that the emirate was the first and the only Arabic city to become one of the world's five most competitive and attractive maritime clusters. Last year, Dubai ranked the fifth on the list of the world's top ten maritime capitals.

As explained, the emirate is on track to make more such achievements under the strategy envisioning a safe, integrated, and sustainable maritime sector. This is in support of the UAE's economic diversification policy in preparation for a post-oil future.

“We are working hard to create a vibrant maritime environment to attract industry leaders and to promote Dubai's status as a global shipping center supported by a series of leading quality initiatives, including the Dubai Maritime Virtual Cluster (DMVC), Dubai Maritime Cluster Office (DMCO), and Maritime Dubai. These initiatives would help pave the way for establishing Dubai and the UAE as an influential player within the global maritime economy,” Bin Sulayem concluded.

The International Shipping Centre Development Index used a methodology assessing the sector's competitiveness, ability to attract maritime businesses, development of efforts in relation to creativity and innovation, and key role in advancing growth of the global shipping sector.