According to a number of controls and instructions without entering prohibited and private areas
DMCA allows marine and tourist excursions, recreational activities and anchoring along the coasts of Dubai
As part of its aim to enhance the distinguished position of the Emirate of Dubai as a leading global destination in the maritime sector, the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation is working to regulate and facilitate maritime activity, and to enhance Dubai’s position on the map of marine tourism, navigational activities, commercial and logistics services, through the legal and legislative frameworks issued by its competent authorities, particularly the Dubai Maritime City Authority, which concerned with developing, regulating and managing the maritime sector in Dubai in accordance with the highest international standards and best practices.
Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Executive Director of the Dubai Maritime City Authority, said that the authority has issued a circular to ease restrictions imposed on docking and the practice of marine recreational activities in the waters of the Emirate of Dubai, with the aim of strengthening the marine entertainment sector in the emirate, declaring that Dubai's waters are open to anchor marine and tourist excursion facilities and to practice recreational marine activities along its coasts.
Sheikh Saeed stressed the need to adhere to the guidelines and decisions to enhance the aspects of security and public safety when practicing marine activities, stressing the need to adhere to maritime safety guidelines and preventive measures, and maritime traffic controls, and to be fully responsible for the leadership of the maritime craft.
Regarding the details of the circular, the Executive Director of DMCA explained that marine and tourist excursions can enjoy mooring or carrying out recreational marine activities along the coasts of the Emirate of Dubai, with the need to follow the recommendations contained in the circular represented in staying away from prohibited areas and privately owned areas, and not obstructing entry lanes to ports, marinas or marine installations, in addition to ensuring that they do not impede the movement of other marine means.
The authority’s circular stipulated the importance of avoiding mooring activities in or near the water channel, and not disturbing other users in the area due to bouncing waves or noise, noting that the permissible docking period is only 24 hours as a maximum, and the marine craft should not be left during the day or night without enough crew on it to run it when needed.
The Dubai Maritime City Authority recommends, through the circular, the necessity of considering the prevailing weather conditions, following up on the weather, wind, sea, ocean currents, traffic and their density in the areas to be anchored or sailing in, choosing the appropriate times for practicing marine activities, and calling 999 in emergency cases. In addition, personnel working in navigational movement tracking systems in ports and fishing harbours should provide advice to maritime means when needed in this regard.
Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum added that the Dubai Maritime City Authority is constantly keen on developing the legal and legislative frameworks that ensure the optimal regulation of maritime traffic in Dubai, and is constantly working on developing its work mechanisms and providing the best services to enhance maritime activity to create a renewable and safe maritime sector capable of meeting the requirements of sustainable economic development in Dubai.
