Dubai Maritime City (DMC) has completed significant infrastructure upgrades, enhancing its ship handling capacity and reinforcing Dubai’s status as a leading global maritime hub.
The upgrades include modernising DMC’s ship lifts, introducing new ship cradles, and activating advanced substations and shore power supplies, positioning the city for long-term growth in maritime services.
Doubling ship handling capacity
DMC’s revamped 6,000-tonne and 3,000-tonne ship lifts, coupled with the installation of new ship cradles, have more than doubled its annual vessel handling capacity from 400 to 1,000 vessels.
These improvements enable DMC to support more complex shipbuilding and repair projects , boosting its ability to serve both luxury yachts and commercial ships.
The new infrastructure aligns with the strategic objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and strengthens the city’s position in key global maritime rankings.
Located on a 249-hectare waterfront, DMC is a central hub for the maritime industry in the region, delivering world-class shipbuilding and repair services.
DMC has already serviced 296 vessels in 2024, marking a 16% increase in dry berth occupancy compared to the same period last year.
Infrastructure development driving growth
Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World GCC, highlighted the importance of the upgrades.
He stated, “By significantly increasing vessel handling capacity, these infrastructure improvements will attract international shipbuilding and repair companies, drive growth in the maritime sector, and reinforce Dubai’s position as a global leader in maritime excellence .”
Syncrolift COO Nils Rolland echoed the sentiment, emphasising the partnership’s role in advancing maritime infrastructure.
He said, “These enhancements will give DMC a competitive edge, enabling it to handle a larger volume of vessels more efficiently.”
Further developments include an agreement for the engineering, procurement, and construction of four ship cradles, two sets of which have already been completed. These cradles are designed to accommodate vessels up to 6,000 tonnes and 140 metres long, further boosting DMC’s docking capacity by an additional 100 vessels annually.