World’s first online information platform collective ‘Dubai Maritime Virtual

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of the Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation in Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA), has formally launched the Dubai Maritime Virtual Cluster (DMVC) initiative on the website www.dmvc.ae, aimed at providing smart and interactive platforms for knowledge-sharing and research to further attract growth and promote competitiveness within the sector. Local and international maritime industry players have hailed the move as a positive move towards strengthening cooperation in the maritime sector with strategic partners, especially in the move to implement various maritime related activities.

The Dubai Maritime Virtual Cluster is an innovative concept that promotes ease, efficiency, and quality for a broad and integrated range of maritime services provided by the Dubai Maritime Sector to all marine investors from around the world while also helping bolster more cooperation and engagement between industry leaders through a virtual platform that the cluster provides.

Bin Sulayem said that DMVC will provide a solid foundation for ensuring Dubai’s position as a major global competitor to the world’s leading maritime centers. He further added that DMVC is part of the continuous efforts to modernise the sector into a competitive, inclusive, and attractive area for investments, with the ability to effectively implement UAE’s post-oil strategies, in line with the UAE’s vision as a leading model for transforming into a diversified and sustainable economy based on knowledge and innovation; and establish a safer future for current and future generations.

The DMCA Chairman noted: "The launch of the Dubai Maritime Virtual Cluster comes at a very important stage, particularly as Dubai takes its first steps towards international leadership after being ranked as fifth among the world’s most competitive and attractive maritime centers. The new initiative stems from its much anticipated role in enhancing the capability of the maritime sector for attracting foreign investments by providing a smart and integrated platform for the world’s maritime best practices, as well as facilitating the accessibility of maritime leaders to the best services available in Dubai. This will ultimately serve the goals of the emirate’s ‘Dubai Plan 2021’, positioning it as one of the most important global hubs for business and investments."

Amer Ali, Executive Director of DMCA, said: "Launching the Dubai Maritime Virtual Cluster represents a turning point in strengthening the channels of communication between maritime stakeholders and engaging the world maritime community in Dubai’s maritime activities in line with the four pillars we follow to achieve our goals, which include developing the maritime center, empowering the sector, spreading awareness, and encouraging participation. The Virtual Cluster provides advanced interactive advantages that make it an ideal platform for promoting R&D and maritime innovation, particularly an inclusive information and knowledge portal; a virtual hub for these purposes including training; as well as the maritime sector index. We are fully confident that the new initiative will be an important addition to our endeavors aimed at meeting the diverse needs of regional and international maritime players, as we fulfill our commitment to promote Dubai as a leading world-class maritime hub."

The Dubai Maritime Virtual Cluster facilitates access and engagement of businesses to an integrated portfolio of smart maritime services by providing reliable and comprehensive information on key initiatives under the DMCA umbrella, including the ‘Maritime Sector Strategy’ which aims to strengthen Dubai's leading position as a global maritime center