UAE to be first country globally in infra for ports, roads: Belhaif Al Nuaimi

ABU DHABI / WAM

Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Chairman of the Federal Transport Authority -Land and Maritime, has praised the UAE leadership for extending support to the maritime transport sector which he said fills a key role in the nation’s economy.
In a statement on Saturday, he said the UAE has one of the world’s fastest growing economies thanks to the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Their Highnesses, Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the Emirates, who continue the journey of generous giving and development established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE and its modernity.
Al Nuaimi stated that the UAE’s 2021 national agenda aims to achieve a sustainable environment for quality of air, protection of water resources, increase clean energy and implement green development.
For the infrastructure sector, the national agenda aims to establish the UAE as the first country globally in terms quality of infrastructure of airports, seaports, and roads. The agenda will seek to improve the quality of electricity consumption and telecommunications to make the UAE amongst the best countries in the e-service sector.
He added that the UAE is ranked first regionally and third globally in terms of quality of seaports infrastructure, and is ranked sixth globally in terms of seaports structure according to the Global Competitiveness Index 2014-2015. This demonstrates the large effort and achievements made in the seaports sector in the recent years.
The minister assured that the maritime transport sector in the UAE has witnessed remarkable improvements in terms of seaports, and operating, maintenance and construction of ships and dry docks, as well as finance and insurance according to the global principles of maritime safety, protection of marine environment and preserving maritime security. The UAE has been ranked for several consecutive years as the first regionally and tenth globally in the field of cross-border commerce.
He added that the present expansions of Jebel Ali Port and Khalifa Port, the development of ports in Sharjah, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah has contributed towards achieving a high global ranking in the seaport sector.
“The UAE’s reliance on development of various types of transport terminals assists in making the nation an international player in global and regional trade. Continuing the development and improvements in infrastructure and services of the UAE’s ports aim to achieving the government’s vision to make the UAE a global pioneer.”
The Minister explained that the continuous investment strategy in the development of port infrastructure enabled DP World to provide through Jebel Ali Port a pivotal gateway to local and regional trade.
The UAE seeks to have largest cruise ports in the region, thanks to its infrastructure that is capable to receive cruise ships and the volume of tourists heading to the emirate through the port, as well as the development of bulk and break bulk cargo management systems.
He noted that the UAE’s ports are amongst the world’s largest ports as they include the latest equipment and capabilities for shipping and unloading. UAE ports account for 60% of GCC total containerisation after becoming a global maritime trade hub.
Al Nuaimi said, “We must continue to develop and improve the infrastructure and services of UAE ports to achieve the government’s vision of the UAE as a pioneer nation.
Seaports are the nation’s gateway to the world. They are the points where transportation departures and arrives to commute passengers and global trade. With the exception of oil ports, the UAE features 12 active commercial ports, which are: Al Ruwais, Mina Zayed, Jebel Ali, Mina Rashid, Khor Dubai, Al Hamriya, Ajman, Um Al Quwain, Saqr, and Fujairah. They contain more than 310 berths with a total length of 45 kilometers and gross capacity of 80 million tons.”
Modern management of these ports essentially contributes towards improving their ranking as critical infrastructure, a key role in the development and prosperity of economic and commercial traffic in the UAE.
These ports, the minister said, undergo continuous development projects to cope with the economic growth in the UAE.