Licensing maritime companies and establishments within the geographical boundaries of DMCA and Issuance of permits for practicing maritime activities in Dubai; including free zones and private development zones.
Through licensing maritime activities in the emirate of Dubai, DMCA aims at rationing and regulating the practice of such activities in all areas of Dubai to ensure that individuals and company owners meet all requirements related to maritime activities, regulations and laws applicable in Dubai.
Service Provision Channels |
Service Provision Timing |
Customer Happiness Centre – Dubai Maritime City Authority, Ground Floor – Maritime Business Center, Dubai Maritime City. |
From Monday to Thursday 08:00 am till 02:30 pm. |
Customer Happiness Centre -Al Shindagha area -Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority (CICPA) building. |
From Monday to Thursday 08:00 am till 12:30 pm. |
Upon receiving and reviewing required documents, the maritime activity permit shall be issued by the free zone or private development zone for one month as of date of issue.
Upon receiving and reviewing required documents, the maritime activity permit shall be issued by the free zone or private development zone for one month as of date of issue.
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DMCA shall issue annual permits to practice maritime activities in free zones or private development zones upon submittal of all documents required through one single stage.
The facility owner shall apply for maritime activity permit for a new license after obtaining the initial approval from the Free Zone Authority and reserving the trade name, or if he wishes to add a maritime activity to an existing license.
Required Documents:
Maritime Activity Permit Renewal
The facility owner shall apply for maritime activity permit renewal before the expiry of the maritime license. Once all requirement have been completed, the maritime activity permit shall be issued through one single stage.
Required Documents:
Marine Craft Inspection Facility Licensing
Through licensing marine crafts inspection facilities, DMCA aims to inspect small cargo marine crafts of no classification by international classification institutions, to measure their cargo and dimensions in accordance with the internationally adopted measurement systems, and assess its hull and motors, define safety and firefighting equipment, as well as navigational, communication and anti-pollution equipment, then issue permits to practice one or more of the following activities:
Maritime Inspection Report
The inspection report is for registration and licensing purposes and shall include, without limitation, the marine craft condition in terms of:
Stages of Permit Issuance:
Upon meeting all requirements, the permit for the marine craft inspection facility shall be issued in two stages:
First Stage: initial approval
Upon reviewing the application, the initial approval for the activity will be issued, and facility owner shall be allowed to complete licensing procedures once he presents an undertaking to refrain from actual practice of the activity until all requirements have been met.
Required Documents:
Upon reviewing all submitted documents, DMCA shall issue the initial approval for practicing the activity if all conditions have been satisfied, and allow facility owner to complete commercial licensing procedures with the competent authorities in the emirate.
Second Stage: final approval
The owner shall notify DMCA upon completion of procedures required to practice the activity in no more than one year from initial approval issuance date, in order for DMCA employees to conduct a site visit for inspection, so that they can make sure the facility is ready and competent for operation. In case all license requirements have been fully met, DMCA shall issues the final approval allowing the facility to practice the activity, as well as the license in coordination with the competent authorities.
Maritime Inspection Report Requirements:
In case the applicant fails to satisfy all requirements for practicing the activity, or has not completed the shortfalls required within the deadline stated in this Article, the initial approval shall be cancelled, and DMCA shall notify the commercial licensing authorities to cancel the commercial license issued for inspecting the facility.
Obligations of Marine Craft Inspection Facilities
Licensed facilities shall adhere to the following:
Maritime Inspectors Certification Requirements
Maritime inspectors shall be certified under the following:
Marine Craft Renting and Operating Activity Licensing
By licensing marine craft renting activity, DMCA aims to maintain safety of craft users through ensuring that rented marine crafts are safe for navigation, provided with all safety requirements and complied with DMCA approved safety requirements.
Stages of Permit Issuance:
Upon completing all requirements, the marine craft renting permit will be issued through the following two stages:
First Stage: initial approval
Upon reviewing the application, the initial approval for activity licensing will be issued, and facility owner shall be allowed to complete licensing procedures once he presents an undertaking to refrain from actual practice of the activity until all requirements have been met.
Required Documents:
Upon reviewing all submitted documents, DMCA shall issue the initial approval for practicing the activity if all conditions have been satisfied, and allow facility owner to complete commercial licensing procedures with the competent authorities in the emirate.
Second Stage: final approval
The owner shall notify DMCA upon completion of procedures required to practice the activity in no more than one year from initial approval issuance date, in order for DMCA employees to conduct a site visit for inspection, so that they can make sure the facility is ready and competent for operation. In case all license requirements have been fully met, DMCA shall issues the final approval for the facility to practice the activity.
Required Documents:
In case the applicant fails to complete all requirements for practicing the activity, or does not complete the shortfalls required within the deadline stated in this Article, the initial approval shall be cancelled, and DMCA shall notify the commercial licensing authority to cancel the commercial license issued for the renting facility.
Obligations of Tourism Marine Craft Renting and Operating Facilities
Owners of tourism marine craft renting and operating facilities shall comply with the following requirements:
Obligations of Jet Ski and Water Sport-Related Equipment Renting Centres
Water sports equipment and jet ski renting companies shall abide by the following:
Through licensing maritime training centres, DMCA aims to verify their compliance with local requirements and international standards with regards to trainers’ qualifications, classroom requirements, training equipment availability and training marine craft specifications.
Stages of Maritime Training Center Licensing:
After completing all requirements, the maritime training center permit will be issued in the following two stages.
First Stage: initial approval issuance
Required Documents:
Upon receiving and reviewing the required documents, the initial approval shall be issued to complete procedures of the maritime license issuance through DED system. Maritime facility owner shall complete all DMCA requirements and apply for final inspection before practicing his activity.
Stage Two: issuance of final approval
Upon ensuring completion of all DMCA requirements, the facility owner shall apply for the final approval which also includes site visit of maritime activity location. Additionally, DMCA, in cooperation with the licensing authority, shall have the right to cancel the training centre license in case of failing to meet all requirements for practicing activity, or has not completed the required shortfalls within the deadline.
Through licensing maritime training centres, DMCA aims to verify their compliance with local requirements and international standards with regards to trainers’ qualifications, classroom requirements, training equipment availability and training marine craft specifications.
Stages of Licensing Diving Training Centres:
After completing all requirements, the maritime training center permit will be issued through the following two stages.
First Stage: initial approval issuance
Required Documents:
Stage Two: issuance of final approval
Upon receiving and reviewing the required documents, the initial approval shall be issued to complete procedures of the maritime license issuance through DED system. Maritime facility owner shall complete all DMCA requirements and apply for final inspection before practicing his activity.
Training Center Requirments:
The following shall be available in the training center:
Diving Training Equipment Requirments:
The trainnig center shall provide the following diving training equipment providing that they arewith its name affixed on them, to suit the number of trainees:
Diving Training Centre Obligations:
The Training Centre Management shall comply with the following:
14. Provide and maintain records for not less than (3) years to include, without limitations:
Certification of trainers and guides working in the centre:
Temporary Maritime Event Permits
Permits include maritime exhibitions and conferences which are held temporarily by companies licensed to operate in the emirate, and specialized in organising and coordinating exhibitions and conferences. Such permits shall be issued through one single stage.
Required Documents:
Fees |
Service |
AED 5,020 |
Issuance of annual permit for maritime activity by the free zone or private development zone |
Fees |
Service |
AED 5,020 |
Issuance of annual permit for maritime activity by the free zone or private development zone |
Payment can be made in cash to the Customer Service Centers of Dubai Maritime City Authority or through portal electronic payment gateway.
From Sunday to Thursday 08:00 am till 01:00 pm
The service is not available during official holidays determined by the country.
Processing time varies depending on the procedure and type of submitted application.
All our customers’ inquiries shall be handled at the same time, or within a period that does not exceed (48) hours in case the request is needed to be addressed to another division.
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Customer shall contact DMCA call center through:
Customer shall apply for any suggestion or complain through: