Dubai, UAE–The Marine Agency for Wooden Dhows has facilitated the entry of more than 6,000 wooden dhows during H1, reflecting a 21 percent year-on-year growth.
Since its establishment in July 2020 by Dubai’s Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), the emirate has witness a robust growth in dhow trade, PCFC said.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of the PCFC, said the Agency supervised the movement of 6,052 wooden dhows during the first half of 2022, which ferried 1 million metric tons of merchandise from countries across the MENA region and beyond.
He said the agency is keen to keep pace with the UAE’s vision to rejuvenate the use of dhows and consolidate Dubai’s position as a regional hub on the dhow trade map.
Bin Sulayem said that Dubai’s three wharfages – Dubai Creek, Deira Harbour and Al Hamriyah Port – play a key role in making the emirate a regional hub for dhows.
He said the Marine Agency for Wooden Dhows, which is exclusively responsible for regulating the activity of wooden dhow ships in Dubai waters, has simplified and expedited procedures related to the docking, departure, and clearance of merchandise of the vessels in Dubai.
Bin Sulayem said the Agency aims to streamline the procedures further to boost commercial dhow traffic and facilitate local and foreign merchants’ direct access to the local market.