Seatrade Maritime & Logistics Middle East to reinforce UAE’s position as a leading global maritime hub

Seatrade Maritime & Logistics Middle East (SMLME), part of the UAE Maritime Week 2023, is all set to take place on 16 – 18 May 2023. Marking its return to the Dubai World Trade Centre, the region’s leading maritime event is expected to welcome record-breaking number of visitors and some of the leading organisations from across the industry. 

Held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, in association with the Seatrade Maritime Club, the event will offer unmatched networking opportunities for businesses to grow; and facilitate discussions on key matters of concern in order to derive valuable solutions and reinforce the UAE’s position as a leading global maritime hub.

Catalysing progress 

The event continues to receive overwhelming support from partners such as the DMCA (Dubai Maritime City Authority), AWIMA (Arab Women in Maritime Association), AASTS (Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport, Sharjah), ABS, and WinGD.

Speaking on the significance of the event, H.E. Eng. Hessa Al Malek, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime Transport Affairs, MOEI UAE said: “The maritime sector is by far one of the most vital contributors to the UAE’s economy. In order to strengthen and catalyse the progress of the nation, it is necessary that the maritime industry in the country receives all the support it needs. As per our findings, the sector contributed over AED 90 billion to the national economy in 2020. Such a contribution is undoubtedly massive, and should be further increased by taking steps in the right direction.” 

“As of today, we stand at number three globally in terms of the bunker supply index, third worldwide in transport services trade, and fifth globally as a key competitive maritime hub. These rankings place us amongst one of the best maritime hubs across the globe. However, with events such as SMLME, we can facilitate collaboration amongst the 27,000+ maritime companies operating in the nation, and rise up the ranks to be placed at the top of all these charts,” H.E. Eng. Al Malek added.

Building partnerships

Eng. Ibrahim Behairy, Managing Director, Middle East & Africa, WinGD said, “Decarbonising the maritime sector is a responsibility on all of us. The industry needs to work together in order to achieve the targets set by the IMO for 2030 and 2050. We at WinGD have always kept net-zero emissions as our primary goal, and work around that target. With support from a reputed industry event like SMLME, we look forward to knowledge sharing about this cause in the hope that sector in the UAE and beyond achieves a greener status.” 

Chris Morley, Group Director, Seatrade Maritime said: "With the kind of response we have been receiving from the industry in the region, we are confident that the 2023 edition of the SMLME will be by far one of our best ones till date. With a good mix of port operators, shipping companies, classification societies, shipbuilders, and education institutes, to name just a few, we are very optimistic about the fact that our attendees will not only gain insightful solutions, but also witness some positive reforms in the industry, reinforcing the UAE’s status as a leading global maritime hub. The event looks forward to influencing high-value deals, and contributing to the maritime economy of the nation.”

About UAE Maritime Week

UAE Maritime Week is the essential meeting place for professionals with a vested interest in developing the maritime sector across the UAE. Taking place annually, the week-long series of events provides participants with a critical opportunity to meet, build partnerships and exchange ideas as the region continues to emerge as a prominent industry hub. Held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, UAE Maritime Week 2023 is driven by Seatrade Maritime Informa Markets and will take place from 15 – 19 May in Dubai.

About Seatrade Maritime Logistics Middle East

Seatrade Maritime Logistics Middle East is the Middle East's largest maritime trade event and conference. The event witnesses the region's largest gathering of ship owners and connects them with thousands of proactive industry professionals from both the local and international maritime markets. The highly anticipated event returns to Dubai every two years and provides an unparalleled arena for those looking to do business across the prosperous Middle East market. It provides a gateway for local businesses to meet with key international stakeholders. Now in its tenth edition, the event caters to all maritime businesses with a vested interest in the Middle East market.