Dubai to host inaugural maritime finance meet this week

Organised by international maritime publisher and event organiser, Seatrade, this two-day event brings together leading international industry experts who will tackle key themes surrounding Middle East maritime development and its impact on the financial sector.

"Middle East Money & Ships, with its unrivalled speaker line-up will address major issues surrounding the intense level of maritime activity now taking place in the region," said Chris Hayman, Managing Director, Seatrade.

"The conference will probe issues such as the changing profile of the Arab-owned fleet, energy transportation, finance for shipping and Shariah compliant investment instruments for marine assets."

The first session will deliver an analysis of the state of regional maritime development and what's behind its impressive growth. It will also outline other topical issues, such as the outlook for the dry bulk sector, reconstruction in Iraq and the maritime industry and energy transportation in both oil and LNG sectors.

Middle East Money & Ships is timed to coincide with the gala presentation dinner for the second annual Dubai International Maritime Awards (DIMA). The prestigious evening event will be held on December 12 and attended by the year's top achievers in West and Central Asia.

This year, 20 candidates from nine countries across the Middle East, Europe, USA and the Subcontinent have been short-listed for DIMA.

"Response to this year's awards scheme has been even more overwhelming than in its inaugural year. The geographic spread of the short-listed candidates is extremely encouraging," added Hayman.

The awards, judged independently by an international panel of industry leaders under the chairmanship of Efthimios Mitropoulos, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), cover nine categories. Joining established awards for Safety & Quality, Innovation, Port Operations, Countering Marine & Atmospheric Pollution and Education &Training are four new awards for the Outstanding Regional Contributions in the areas of Dry Bulk, Liner, Energy and Maritime Services. Mitropoulos will be the guest of honour at the gala presentation dinner as part of his first official visit to Dubai in his new IMO role.

DIMA are sponsored by ABS, Charter Trade Global (LLC), Dubai Drydocks, DVB Bank, GAC, Lloyd's Register, Scan-Trans Middle East, Seatrade Academy and Vela International. The awards scheme is supported and endorsed by DP World and Dubai Maritime City.