- H.E. Hamad Al Mutawa: This mapping is a key milestone that aligns with our leadership’s vision of fostering a sustainable world-leading maritime capital
- The Abu Dhabi Maritime Safety Maps will be available on Abu Dhabi Maritime’s digital portal in a fully-interactive format
Abu Dhabi, UAE:: The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) has announced the first comprehensive and informative maritime safety mapping of all waterways within the emirate to ensure safe and efficient use of Abu Dhabi’s waterways.
The new milestone is part of DMT’s ongoing mission to introduce a regulatory framework to enhance navigational safety and elevate Abu Dhabi’s standing as a leading maritime hub.
The new Abu Dhabi Maritime Safety Maps identify ideal locations for anchorage and point out areas with restricted access, such as major trade corridors and environmentally sensitive locations. Areas designated for marine sports such as swimming and use by motorised and non-motorised craft are highlighted along with speed limits within each zone. It also monitors the use of private marine craft in areas reserved for them while keeping in line with global best practices and international and regional benchmarks.
The Abu Dhabi Maritime Safety Maps has been developed in close collaboration with AD Ports Group, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT), ADNOC, the Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority (CICPA) and the Abu Dhabi Police.
A consolidated map for all vessels and a dedicated map for jet skis highlights pass-through areas, connectivity routes, dedicated areas for water sports activities, and the regulations regarding jet skis in designated areas.
H.E. Hamad Al-Mutawa, Executive Director of planning and Infrastructure Sector at DMT, said: “The issuing of Abu Dhabi Maritime’s Safety Maps marks a major step in Abu Dhabi’s continued efforts to modernise its maritime sector with advanced infrastructure and integrated capabilities, powered by the latest technological innovations.”
He continued: “Invigorating and strengthening Abu Dhabi’s physical and digital marine assets while introducing new regulations to govern the use of our precious waterways aligns with our leadership’s vision of fostering a sustainable world-leading maritime hub. By working closely with our key strategic partners, DMT ensures that all citizens and residents can enjoy the safest and most efficient use of the emirate’s waterways for generations to come.”
Capt. Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, said: “It gives me great pleasure to see the launch of Abu Dhabi’s first comprehensive maritime safety maps, which herald a new era for our maritime sector. One of the major values of these safety maps is that they provide a clear demarcation between areas reserved for recreational use and areas dedicated exclusively to serve as major shipping lanes. This, in turn, will greatly elevate the level of security and safety of recreational activities on our waterways for the benefit of our leisure and recreation-minded community, while simultaneously enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of commercial shipping for years to come.”
Capt. Saif Al Mheiri, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Maritime, AD Ports Group, said: “The development of the new maritime safety maps is a great example of our continued efforts to introduce digital tools that will enhance the safe movement of marine vessels operating within the emirate of Abu Dhabi. With this new solution developed by Maqta Gateway, the digital arm of AD Ports Group, the Abu Dhabi Maritime Safety Maps will be accessible via our digital portal. They will provide commercial operators and members of the public with all the information they need to make full use of the facilities that the emirate’s maritime sector can offer without impeding vital national maritime operations. There will also be continuous revisions to the maps to add new elements as the sector progresses.”
Al Mheiri concluded by saying: ““These latest efforts to regulate the usage of Abu Dhabi’s waterways marks a significant milestone in our plans to foster a regulatory environment. It falls in line with best global practices and facilitates the efficient movement of maritime traffic in the emirate, ensuring the safety of all its users.”
Saeed Al Dhaheri, Acting Tourism Products Development Director, DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “The Abu Dhabi Maritime Safety Maps will not only act as an integrated guide to our marinas and waterfronts.Still, they will also help provide idyllic and safe experiences for the local community and tourists who wish to visit them. In Abu Dhabi, we have a well-established infrastructure of marinas and yacht service facilities, in addition to the beautiful natural environment that encompasses pristine beaches, pure turquoise seas and spectacular islands. This initiative strengthens our position as a global destination for unique marine experiences, water sport activities and nature exploration. It supports the navigation of yachts and cruise ships into our ports to ensure a smooth integration of activities on land and sea.”
The Abu Dhabi Maritime Safety Maps will provide real-time and easily accessible information for the benefit of the maritime community. Both Abu Dhabi Maritime and Maqta Gateway are working to introduce new digital solutions that will deliver an enhanced and streamlined experience for stakeholders, further supporting the leadership’s vision to position Abu Dhabi among the world’s top-five maritime centres.
The fully interactive maps will be available on Abu Dhabi Maritime’s digital portal. Developed by Maqta Gateway, the digital arm of AD Ports Group, the maps can display the users’ location in real-time and inform them of any regulations in effect within their current zone.
The maps will also be incorporated into the Navionics S.r.l. navigational software as part of a recently inked licencing agreement signed between the company and Abu Dhabi Maritime. Working closely together to improve the safety of vessels traversing Abu Dhabi’s waterways, the two organisations will gather and exchange navigational data to include insights on potential hazards.
About Department of Municipalities and Transport:
The Department of Municipalities and Transportation (DMT) was established by Law No. 30 of 2019 and is the entity responsible for managing the urban planning and transport sectors, and three regional municipalities.
As the entity responsible for supporting the growth and urban development of the Abu Dhabi Emirate, the DMT guides, regulates and monitors urban development activities. The expert authority improves municipal work to provide comprehensive services and creates higher living standards for residents through the supervision and management of the municipalities.
The DMT ensures the highest standards of safety, security, sustainability and technological developments of land, air and maritime transport networks of the Emirate, in line with the highest international standards and UAE legislation.
One of the DMT’s top priorities is to fulfil the vision of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, which draws on the vision of our UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
About AD Ports Group:
Established in 2006, AD Ports Group today serves as the region’s premier facilitator of logistics, industry, and trade, as well as a bridge linking Abu Dhabi to the world. Part of ADQ, one of the region’s largest holding companies with a broad portfolio of major enterprises spanning key sectors of Abu Dhabi’s diversified economy, AD Ports Group’s vertically integrated business approach has proven instrumental in driving the emirate’s economic development over the past decade.
Operating several clusters covering Ports, Industrial Cities & Free Zone, Maritime, Logistics, and Digital, AD Ports Group’s portfolio comprises 10 ports and terminals, and more than 550 square kilometres of industrial zones within KIZAD and ZonesCorp, the largest integrated trade, logistics, and industrial business grouping in the Middle East.
About Abu Dhabi Maritime:
Abu Dhabi Maritime was established in 2020 as the primary custodian of Abu Dhabi’s waterways and marine ecosystems.
Operating under Abu Dhabi Ports, with guidance from Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), Abu Dhabi Maritime governs and regulates Abu Dhabi’s maritime sector by providing world-leading maritime infrastructure, while ensuring the emirate implements the highest standards of health, safety, environment, and quality.
About the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi:
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors, fuels economic progress and helps achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions. By working in partnership with the organisations that define the Emirate’s position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the Emirate’s potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies and systems to support the culture and tourism industries.
DCT Abu Dhabi’s vision is defined by the Emirate’s people, heritage and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives and creative thought.
