Submission Period Concludes For The Third Edition Of The 2025 Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards

Abu Dhabi Maritime, a part of AD Ports Group, has concluded the submission phase for the 2025 Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards. This initiative, in partnership with the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), highlights excellence in marinas across eight countries. The awards have become a regional standard for marina excellence, attracting both established and new participants.

The awards feature 13 categories this year, with several new additions. These include Outstanding Emerging Marina, Project-based awards, and individual accolades like Outstanding Leader and Rising Star. This expansion reflects the diverse contributions shaping the regional industry and adds a personal touch by recognising individuals driving progress.

The awards continue to highlight innovation across the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye (MENAT region). They celebrate achievements in various areas such as Customer Experience, Employer Excellence, Health and Safety, Innovation, and Sustainability. The prestigious Outstanding Marina title will honour a marina excelling in all these categories.

Dr Abdulla Hamad Al Ghfeli from ITC stated that supporting these awards aligns with Abu Dhabi's goal to be a global maritime hub. He emphasised their role in promoting quality and sustainability within the marina sector. "The awards celebrate outstanding achievements," he said, highlighting innovation's role in developing an efficient maritime ecosystem.

Capt. Saif Al Mheiri of Abu Dhabi Maritime noted that the industry often lacks recognition. "The Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards give it the recognition it truly deserves," he said. By expanding award categories, they aim to spotlight individuals and teams crucial to the regional maritime sector's success.

The submission deadline was extended due to high interest from licensed marina owners or operators across MENAT. This extension underscores the awards' growing profile as a platform for regional recognition. All entries are now undergoing initial evaluation by qualified assessors before jury review.

Public Engagement and Voting

Public engagement continues to shape the Most Popular Marina special recognition through verified votes on a secure online system that opened on 20th October. This ensures transparency and fairness in determining winners based on public opinion.

Applicants for Outstanding Marina and Outstanding Emerging Marina will also be considered for organisation-based sub-categories. However, winners of these two main awards won't be eligible for additional wins in sub-categories to ensure fair competition among participants.

The winners will be announced at the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards ceremony on 20th November during the Abu Dhabi International Boat Show. This event is one of the largest gatherings for boating industry professionals, customers, and enthusiasts in the region.

With inputs from WAM