Dubai to have world's largest ship repair capacity, says Bin Sulayem

Delivering the opening address today at the Seatrade Middle East Maritime conference at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Bin Sulayem said 40% of the reclamation work for Dubai Maritime City, a 195-hectare manmade peninsula being designed as a multidimensional centre for the global maritime community, is now complete with the remainder scheduled for completion within the coming year.

"Between Dubai Maritime City and Dubai Dry Dock we will have the largest capacity for ship repair in the world. Dubai Maritime City will be able to accommodate up to 5,000 companies in offices and work shops. A range of clustered facilities which are currently scattered around Dubai and the region will be housed in one area and right in the heart of the emirate. Dubai Maritime City is re-engineering the way we offer facilities for the maritime industry - it is a dedicated facility for all sectors of the industry."

And, addressing Seatrade delegates who have numbered more than 330 from 40 countries, Bin Sulayem said though heavy investment had been ploughed into Dubai ports, terminals in other parts of the region also needed to upgrade if all are to succeed.

"If we are to continue to generate business, other ports in the region have to upgrade in new equipment and technology to give a good regionwide service. We have to be pro-active and efficient, otherwise business will always go elsewhere," he said.

The Seatrade Middle East Maritime conference is being held alongside the event's exhibition which features more than 200 companies from over 30 countries and national pavilions from Iran, Turkey, India, Pakistan and Holland. The show is three and a half times bigger than last year's event.

Seatrade Middle East Maritime 2004 is held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister.

The event is sponsored by Dubai Maritime City, Dubai Ports Authority, Government of Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing, Gulf Energy Maritime PJSC (GEM), and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL).

Other sponsors include Aalborg Industries A/S (Dubai branch), Aqua Group, Arabian Adventures, Bloomberg, British Airways, Bulk Shipping & Trading (pvt) Ltd, BP Marine, Clyde & Co, Dubai Metals & Commodities Centre; Edmiston, HSBC, Lloyd's Register, Net Cruises, Nico International, Norton Rose, Reuters, Scan-Trans Chartering LLC and Sharaf Shipping Agency LLC.

Supporters of the event include Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Dubai Shipping Agents Association, National Association of Freight Logistics, Indian National Shipowners' Association, the Nautical Institute UAE Branch and UAE National Ship Suppliers' Association.

Seatrade, the leading maritime publication, conference, exhibition and training provider, is the holder of Dubai Maritime City License 001, the first to be issued.