WAM Dubai, July 22nd, 2012 (WAM) -- Dubai Maritime City (DMC) saw an increase in business and commercial activity in 2012. The City's Industrial Precinct has tailor-made solutions for maritime industrial, commercial and trading companies and offers facilities such as large and small workshops, warehouses, ship repair plots, shops and canteens. Over 55 local and international organizations involved in the maritime sector and hospitality services have set up base here.

"We have changed the concept of business and development plans for the city to re-engineer a model of an active futuristic city. There has been large scale interest in the Dubai Maritime City, because of its' proximity to the trading and commercial hub within the Emirate of Dubai. The City is ideally located at an exceedingly busy trading route and provides innumerable opportunities for business and trade. The region has survived the economic shocks that are rattling countries elsewhere and is widely known for its' resilience and ability to overcome adversities due to strong business and economic fundamentals. This is the primary reason that there has been an ever-growing list of local and international companies lining up to set up base at the City. We have had a growing number of ship owners who are faithfully utilizing the state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities that are on offer," said Khamis Juma Buamim, Chairman of Drydocks World and Maritime World.

Among the workshops, warehouses and plots available on lease, 85 percent of Phase 1 and 2 has already been occupied over the first half of last year despite adverse global market conditions. There are over 18 potential local and international clients who have expressed a keen interest in the varied properties and this number is growing rapidly in keeping with infrastructure and technical services development at DMC. Nearly 75 percent of the investors are expected to begin construction by 2013. An academic facility and a healthcare facility are being negotiated with international investors.

The Industrial Precinct, which has ship-lifts of capacity 3000 and 6000 tonnes respectively, saw 214 ship lift operations until the end of May 2012 and 380 berthing activities. The year also saw several high value repairs such as L81, L82, PB1, Farica, Tug Tanajib, Dulcinea, My Dubawi, Delfina and Abqaiq for major repeat clients such as the UAE Navy, Van Oord, Saudi Aramco and Pacific Basin.

Jadaf Dubai, the sister facility catering to small and mid-size vessel owners also saw brisk activity and recorded a total of 638 operations.

Government agencies such as Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) are fully supportive and are actively involved in the development of services around the city. Allotment of premises has been authorized by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) the body that regulates and authorizes the real estate sector in Dubai. An Agreement between DU telecom Services and DMC for service provision within the City is under review and is expected to be implemented shortly.

WAM/ES/AM