The 3rd Maritime Academic Conference & Expo, MARACAD 2017, was held yesterday at the Dubai World Trade Centre, under the patronage of Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Chairman of the Federal Transport Authority – Land and Maritime.

MARACAD was held amid the UAE's comprehensive international campaign to rally support for its bid to join the Executive Council of the International Maritime Organisation, IMO. Event organisers mobilised much support to guarantee the UAE's membership of the IMO Executive Council. Key officials attended MARACAD from IMO, headed by Dr. Dorota Lost-Sieminska, Head of Legal Affairs Office.

MARACAD 2017 is a national event and a comprehensive platform that motivated the UAE maritime sector and a networking event that brought together all stakeholders in the maritime economy to contribute to the UAE's strategic vision to establish an international hub for marine economy.

Dr. Al Nuaimi said, "This event has emphasised the UAE’s unique infrastructure and marine investment environment, as well as its readiness to be a global hub for navigation and marine economy on a par with major maritime centres in Singapore, London, and other major hubs. What distinguished this year’s conference was the attendance of a high-level delegation from IMO, who reviewed the advancement of the UAE’s maritime system at the same time when we submitted our candidature for the IMO Executive Council under category B."

He added, "Such conferences and exhibitions are important networking platforms for business people, experts and decision-makers to meet and discuss developments in the maritime sector, and make business deals. Their success is an important competitive value for companies in the UAE because they have the opportunity to gain more market share and expand their business globally."