'As an iconic, multidimensional maritime centre, Dubai Maritime City is committed to serving the needs of the regional and global maritime community,' stated DMC project manager Amer Ali. 'By offering world-class infrastructure, services and regulations, we will create a unique specialised environment that will promote the networking and integration of maritime प्लायेर्स
With coastal land scarce in Dubai, the decision was taken to reclaim land from the sea to house Dubai Maritime City। In August 2003, dredging work began to create a 25 million square feet man-made peninsula between Dubai’s Port Rashid terminal and Dubai Drydocks - with the peninsula connected to the mainland by a causeway.
Utilising similar technology to that used to create The Palm, dredging began on a 24-hour basis, with the peninsula first breaking the surface on December 1, 2003। An estimated 30 million cubic metres of dredged seabed sand and 2.5 million cubic metres of rock are being used to create the peninsula, breakwaters and other associated infrastructure.
The development has also required the relocation of the Dubai Drydocks entrance channel and, consequently, the main breakwater at the dry docks had be extended by about 500 metres - creating a total breakwater length of about 2,140 metres।
Following the completion of the reclamation works, construction will begin on the rest of the infrastructure in phases, with the facility scheduled to open for business in 2006। Once complete, Dubai Maritime City will have four key areas – a commercial area, a leisure area, a repair area and a research and academy area.
The commercial area will include a harbour, offices for maritime-related businesses, banks, support services, restaurants and a flexible exhibition site. The leisure area will include berthing for yachts and a museum, while the repair area will comprise a dockyard, ship supply outlets, a ship repair area, a ship building area, and a maritime retail area. Key components of the repair yard will be two brand new ship lifts and state of the art equipment, with the repair and ship building side of the business to be expanded to include yacht and dhow repair, in addition to steel work.
