Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards Attracts 120 Submissions From Marinas Across Eight Countries

Abu Dhabi Maritime, a division of AD Ports Group, in collaboration with the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, has received 120 entries from marinas across eight countries for the second Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards (Marina Edition). These awards recognise significant achievements in the maritime industry across six categories: ‘Sustainability’, ‘Employer Excellence’, ‘Health and Safety’, ‘Customer Experience’, ‘Innovation’, and ‘Outstanding Marina’.

The deadline for submissions was extended due to overwhelming interest from potential participants. This high number of entries indicates the marine sector's enthusiasm and growing confidence in this awards programme. The submissions are currently being reviewed by a team of assessors who will score them based on specific criteria for each category.

Submissions were open to any licensed marina operator or owner within the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye (MENAT). Assessors will evaluate each entry based on criteria such as marina direction, operational excellence, customer experience, health and safety, people management, sustainability, and innovation. The results will be presented to a jury of maritime industry leaders who will consider both scores and qualitative evaluations to select winners.

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony during the Abu Dhabi International Boat Show (ADIBS) on 23rd November 2024. This event is one of the world's largest boat shows and offers a valuable platform for recognition and networking within the maritime community.

In addition to the main awards, marinas can also compete for a special recognition titled 'Most Popular Marina'. This award is determined entirely by public votes through a secure online system. Only verified votes will be counted to ensure fairness in determining this accolade.

A key figure in this initiative is Abdulla Al Marzouqi, Director-General of the Integrated Transport Centre. He expressed his satisfaction with the partnership with Abu Dhabi Maritime for this edition of the awards. Al Marzouqi highlighted that this collaboration underscores their commitment to developing Abu Dhabi's maritime sector.

Commitment to Sector Development

Al Marzouqi stated that "Abu Dhabi Mobility plays a pivotal role in managing and organising the waterways." He reaffirmed their continuous efforts to develop maritime transport facilities according to international standards. This aims at ensuring marine operations' safety while enhancing user experience.

Captain Saif Al Mheiri, CEO of Abu Dhabi Maritime and Chief Sustainability Officer at AD Ports Group, remarked on the significance of these awards. He said they serve as a platform for recognising excellence in marina operations and sustainability. "Our awards are becoming a leading platform for celebrating trailblazers in marina operations," he noted.

Future Prospects

The second edition follows a successful debut in 2023. These awards aim to shape an advanced maritime sector by showcasing excellence in safety, service, and sustainability. Abu Dhabi Maritime operates under AD Ports Group alongside the Department of Municipalities and Transport. It is responsible for safeguarding Abu Dhabi’s waterways while fostering development within its maritime sector.

This initiative reflects ongoing efforts to establish modern maritime infrastructure in Abu Dhabi. It contributes significantly towards economic growth by addressing local and regional needs within this vital industry.

With inputs from WAM