Dubai World gives berth to a stunning city at sea

As Dubai's growth as a leisure destination is matched only by the wealth of its visitors, the

emirate is set to create 20,000 marina berths over the next five years to accommodate yachts and pleasure boats.

The figure represents a 200 per cent rise on current numbers – and leading the way is Dubai Maritime City (DMC), currently rising out of the waters of the Arabian Gulf.

Spread across 227 hectares, this manmade peninsula, near Port Rashid, will be home to more than 120,000 people, with a capacity for 1,000 leisure craft.

Part of Dubai World's portfolio, DMC claims to be the world's first purpose-built maritime centre.

It will have six areas including a Maritime Centre, Marina Centre, Dubai Maritime Campus, Harbour Residence, Harbour

Offices and an Industrial Precinct. The Industrial Precinct will house a ship-repair complex capable of serving more than 80 vessels at a time across 42 berths.

"Dubai Maritime City will be a significant contributor to the emirate's economic diversification programme," said Ali Al Daboos DMC's Chief Operating Officer.

"DMC is envisioned to be a remarkable and highly successful catalyst for achieving the ambitious socioeconomic goals of Dubai and the UAE in general."

Work on Dubai Maritime City began in 2004 with massive land reclamation and breakwater construction.

Reclamation work was completed in 2006 and has clawed back 31.2 million cubic metres of land from the sea.

To date Dh4 billion has been spent creating DMC – with the company admitting it does not know what the final bill will be.

Currently, DMC is in the third and final phase of construction, which involves the installation of infrastructure. Island Global Yachting (IGY), a New York firm which operates marinas in Dubai, including the forthcoming

Anchor Marina on The Palm Jumeirah, said the expected 200 per cent increase in berths would create 1,500 permanent jobs for IGY alone.

"Dubai has always been a city with a strong maritime heritage but with the creation of unique waterfront developments, the city now appeals to a new market – the international yachting community," said Michael Horrigan, CEO of IGY Middle East and Europe.

IGY is currently working on a number of facilities in Dubai including Dubai Waterfront. DMC recently signed a long-term agreement with

Drydocks World Dubai (CORR), to manage its Industrial Precinct. Under that agreement, Drydocks World Dubai will manage all components of the Industrial Precinct, so they are the ones responsible for initiating contact with shipbuilding companies.

"We have had a very optimistic response from industry players," said Al Daboos. "In fact, more than 1,000 companies have already pre-registered with Dubai Maritime City.

"Indeed, this is an excellent indication we are moving in the right direction.

"Maritime businesses have greatly appreciated Dubai Maritime City's fully integrated development concept, which is expected to significantly boost their growth prospects and deliver premium business value for their investments."

Other features of the Industrial District will be 19 ship-repair plots, a 3,115m quay wall, 31 small dry berths, 11 large dry berths, a rail transfer system, a 1,720m wet berthing, shops, showrooms and canteens.

"Dubai Maritime City is unique and original in its development concept as it has been specifically dedicated to serve all players of the global maritime industry within one custom-developed integrated facility," said Al Daboos.

"It has also been specially designed to leverage Dubai's natural access to the Gulf and its strategic location to facilitate shipping activities and become a focal point in the region's maritime industry."

Al Daboos said DMC was working closely with the Dubai's Road and Transport Authority to develop a world-class road network and the two organisations would also invest in water-based transportation such as ferries and water taxis.

Jutting out into the Gulf, DMC cuts an unusual shape that Al Daboos said was to enhance the accessibility and views for people living and working there.

"The development was designed in a peninsula concept that has the advantage of unobstructed open sea access for the industrial community, while optimising the maritime-themed living and working environment with breathtaking sea views amid a vibrant commercial hub," the chief operating officer told Emirates Business.

DMC is looking at a phased launch for the project which will be finished in 2012.

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