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Ritika Sharma / Emirates Business
Abu Dhabi Ports is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year and the occasion proclaims more than the number of years of its existence. The master developer, operator and manager of ports and Khalifa Industrial Zone in the Emirate, has a long list of achievements over the last ten years.
However, for the company’s management, this milestone moment is an opportunity to define its decade-long achievements and build the stepping stones for the future.
“We have a strong conviction that our celebration should be beyond marking the number of years. As we happily look at our long list of achievements, we celebrate those that substantially contributed to the development of this great nation, and to the emirate of Abu Dhabi in particular,†said Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports.
Abu Dhabi Ports does take note of the predictions made by many analysts about a volatile shipping industry in 2016. “We are proud to state that our double-digit growth in recent years, despite many challenges in the maritime industry, gives us the confidence to look forward to continued growth this year as well,†Al Shamisi pointed out.
Maqta Gateway — the first purpose built Port Community System (PCS) in the region — developed by Abu Dhabi Ports, will be a game changer in port operations and the Emirate’s trade business. The system offers shipping lines, shipping agents, customs agents, terminal operators and other government agencies a single point-of-access and real-time information across a wide range of services and platforms.
A new dynamism witnessed in the port community in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi, since the inauguration of Al Mirfa Port in December 2015, is expected to enhance further this year with the extensive development activities of four other ports. Mugharraq Port, Sila Port and Delma Port will be upgraded to better serve the local community. Sir BaniYas Island’s beachfront will be developed as the Arabian Gulf’s first cruise beach stopover by third quarter of this year.
“The confidence to go-ahead with expansion plans and operational investments is due to our outstanding achievements over the last ten years. With the guidance of our wise leadership, the support of our stakeholders and partners, and the dedicated efforts of our employees, we are sure to accomplish many more in the years to come. We are proud that Khalifa Port has also played its role in the UAE’s recent achievement in infrastructure development,†Al Shamisi stated.
The UAE was ranked the first
regionally and third globally in terms of quality of seaports infrastructure, according to the prestigioius Global Competitiveness Index 2014-2015.