The summit was described by organiser Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) as a “meeting of minds of the international maritime country” that was the first of its kind to be held in the UAE.
DMCA director of marketing and communications Nawfal Al Jourani introduced the event by reminding how Dubai’s history of involvement with the sea had been one long story of “innovative thinking” as the emirate developed the largest port and drydock in the Middle East.
That innovation contained today, he said, citing as example the team of female crane operators for Jebel Ali’s Terminal 3 who are remotely located in a central control room away from the ship berths.
Or indeed Dubai Maritime City itself, which Al Jourani described as “the world’s first purpose-built maritime cluster”. This was later augmented by establishment of the Dubai Maritime Authority in 2007, he added, in order to oversee a “competitively sustainable maritime environment for Dubai”.
Just as 100 years ago 90% of Dubai’s workforce had been involved with the sea, he recalled, today that success continues: the maritime sector accounts for some 76,000 jobs and contributes AED 26bn annually, 7% of the emirate’s GDP.
The seminar discussion on Smart Shipping would afford “a look into the future, at what the next 100 years will bring”, the DMCA official concluded.
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