The UAE submits a file for re-nomination for membership in the IMO Council, Category “B”

The UAE has submitted its re-nomination file for membership in the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) under Category B, in confirmation of its firm commitment to supporting the global maritime navigation system, enhancing the safety and security of the seas, and actively participating in formulating international policies regulating the maritime transport industry.

This nomination is the culmination of a career full of achievements, and an embodiment of the UAE’s position as a global maritime power that possesses advanced infrastructure, flexible legislation, and strategic investments that have made it a role model in the areas of maritime sustainability, innovation, and good governance.

The nomination represents a continuation of the country’s influential role in the organization since its accession in 1980, and its active participation in supporting international initiatives aimed at reducing emissions and enhancing multilateral cooperation to ensure safer and more sustainable seas.

Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, stressed in this regard that re-nomination for membership in the International Maritime Organization Council embodies the proactive vision of the wise leadership in enhancing the country’s presence in international forums and organizations, and actively contributing to shaping the future of the global maritime transport industry.

He said that the UAE today represents a global maritime platform that combines economic growth, protection of the marine environment, and commitment to the highest standards of innovation and sustainability, in light of an advanced infrastructure that is considered one of the best in the world, and that the UAE maritime sector constitutes one of the vital engines of the national economy, with its contribution exceeding 135 billion dirhams to the gross domestic product.

He pointed out that 27,000 maritime companies operate in the UAE, and its national companies operate 106 ports in 78 countries, which strengthens its position as a major hub for global trade and logistics services. UAE ports also account for about 60% of handling traffic in the Arabian Gulf region, and handle more than 21 million containers annually, making it a competitive maritime center with a global economic and strategic impact.

He stressed that the state has invested in developing a smart port system that is among the most advanced in the world, such as Jebel Ali Port, Khalifa Port, and Fujairah Port, which have become major centers for supply chains and maritime trade, and laboratories for applying the latest digital transformation and artificial intelligence technologies.

He pointed out that maritime sustainability represents the core of the UAE’s vision of developing a balanced and environmentally friendly maritime sector. Based on this commitment, the state launched the Green Oasis Jallafah Project, the first regionally to recycle ships off shore in safe and environmentally friendly ways, and approved regulations for safely cutting up ships and supplying them with low-sulfur fuel, as part of its commitment to implementing the standards of the MARPOL agreement. The state also included reducing marine emissions within the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 and the National Hydrogen Strategy 2050, which aim to achieve Carbon neutrality by 2050.

The Minister of Energy and Infrastructure explained that maritime safety represents a top priority for the UAE, as it established the National Maritime Navigation Center to monitor ship movement around the clock, and launched the unified national maritime window to facilitate procedures digitally, which contributed to raising the efficiency of operations and reducing waiting time in ports.

He pointed out that the country is one of the founding members of the Riyadh Memorandum of Understanding for the inspection and control of ships, and applies the unified system of control measures in the port state, in addition to its commitment to the SOLAS, STCW, OPRC and other international agreements that enhance the security and safety of maritime navigation.

He added that this integrated system has made the UAE a reliable maritime environment, attracting investors and supporting its position as a global center for maritime trade and services.

He stressed that innovation represents the basic foundation for the development of the UAE maritime sector, as the country has adopted autonomous ship technologies, digital certificate systems and blockchain in port management, and has also introduced artificial intelligence solutions to analyze maritime data, improve operating efficiency and reduce emissions.

He pointed out that the UAE’s presence in the International Maritime Organization is effective and influential, as it regularly participates in the work of the Council and the technical committees, and contributes to the development of global standards for safe and sustainable navigation. The country has also put forward prominent strategic proposals, the most prominent of which is expanding the membership of the Organization’s Council from 40 to 52 members, and including the Arabic language among the official languages ​​of the Organization, in a step that enhances cultural diversity and fair participation in international decision-making.

His Excellency stressed that the UAE is moving confidently on its journey to become a global maritime power that leads the future of navigation, and connects the world with responsibility, sustainability and innovation, based on its strategic vision, its national competencies, and its advanced infrastructure that represents a model to be emulated globally.