Maritime

Despite slowing global economic growth and geopolitical tensions placing renewed pressure on international shipping, Dubai’s maritime sector has continued to strengthen. In 2019 the emirate moved up in the ranking of the world’s top-10 maritime capitals, securing the ninth spot, compared to its position of 10th in 2017. Today, the emirate is the leading maritime centre in the Middle East, India and Africa. Its rapid rise from a quiet fishing port in the 1970s to a regional and global shipping centre handling $354bn in non-oil trade comes down to careful planning, government investment and an attractive regulatory framework that is straightforward for logistics firms. This chapter contains an interview with Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World; Chairman, Dubai Maritime City Authority; and Chairman, Virgin Hyperloop One.