Dubai - MENA Herald: H.E. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation and President of Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA), received Judge Zhao Hong, President of Shanghai Maritime Court, along with a delegation of senior officials from various Chinese legal institutions at the Emirates Towers in Dubai. The delegates gained insights on the Dubai Maritime Sector Strategy (MSS) and the latest marine initiatives undertaken by the emirate to boost various aspects of the maritime sector in terms of operational initiatives and maritime arbitration launched recently. The visiting delegation was accompanied by H.E. Michael Hwang, Chief Justice of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts.
H.E. Bin Sulayem said: “Hosting a high-level delegation from the Shanghai Maritime Courts comes as part of DMCA’s efforts to promote the exchange of relevant best experiences and practices related to the maritime sector. It will also help in establishing stronger bilateral maritime relations between Dubai and Shanghai, as both cities are considered among the most important international maritime clusters. We also revealed to the visiting delegates the success of MSS which embodies the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into a first-class global maritime hub.”
“Moreover, the meeting allowed us to highlight the vital role played by the DMCA in terms of improving the performance, efficiency and competitiveness of Dubai’s maritime sector through the launch of ambitious initiatives such as the MSS and the Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre (EMAC). These have had a larger impact in advancing the local maritime sector to be among the world’s most developed, positioning Dubai as one of the leading maritime centres in the world in the next five years,” H.E Bin Sulayem concluded.
During a highly engaging session, a short video was shown about Dubai’s efforts to establish a sustainable and secure maritime sector to achieve the objectives of the MSS and build a strong presence on the global maritime map. The Chinese delegation praised the successive achievements realized by the emirate in terms of improving its maritime sector. They commended the quality initiatives launched by DMCA for the development of integrated logistics programs, the construction of sophisticated maritime infrastructure, and the implementation of modern regulations and marine legislations that ensure smooth maritime operations management in accordance with the highest professional standards of safety and best environmental practices as well as local and international resolutions.
MSS drew high interest from the visitors who expressed their admiration for its positive effects, especially in terms of strengthening the confidence of regional and international investors in the competitive advantages of the local maritime sector, enabling Dubai to join the ranks of the world's most important maritime hubs.
Furthermore, DMCA elaborated on its best practices in international arbitration and the working mechanism of the EMAC, which is of strategic importance as the first centre of its kind in the Middle East to provide maritime arbitration services for the settlement of marine disputes. The authority also emphasized the significance of specialized maritime arbitration in the UAE. The delegates were informed about legal frameworks and legislations related to maritime arbitration as well as provisions and regulations of the EMAC and its mechanisms at the local, regional and international levels. DMCA officials emphasized the need for an integrated framework to resolve disputes arising from marine commercial transactions to develop a maritime environment that is able to keep up with rapid developments and emerging trends.
The Chinese delegation included Judge Guo Weiqing, Vice President of Shanghai High People’s Court; Judge Wang Guoxin, Chief Judge of the Judicial Supervision Division of Shanghai High People’s Court; Judge Zhang Xiangrong, Vice President of Shanghai Xuhui District People's Court; Judge Jin Xiaofeng, DOB, Deputy Chief Judge of Yangshan Deep-Water Port Tribunal of Shanghai Maritime Court; and Ms. Wu Yan, Member of the Judges’ Evaluation Committee of Shanghai Maritime Court. At the end of the session, both parties exchanged traditional gifts and emphasized their shared commitment to strengthen the bridges of effective communication to serve their common aspirations.