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.

• Individuals practicing marine sports or driving marine crafts.
• Company owners operating maritime activities in Dubai.

• Customer Happiness Centre – Dubai Maritime City Authority building “B”.
• Customer Happiness Centre – Al Shindagha area – Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority (CICPA) building

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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:

1. Submittal of all required documents for initial approval.
2. Booking an appointment for site visit and paying the set fees for license issuance.

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:

1. Copy of Emirates ID card and passport for UAE nationals, and copy of Emirates ID card, passport and valid residence visa for expatriates.
2. Copy of initial approval from Department of Economic Development or Free Zone Authorities to practice the activity in the emirate.
3. Location plan of marine craft renting site including, operation and anchoring areas.
4. Copy of signed contract with marine club or marina allowing anchorage.
5. List of marine crafts, including types, specifications and number to be used in the activity practice.

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:

1. Statement with names, qualifications and experience of all employees and manager to be submitted by companies.
2. DMCA licenses of marine crafts and crew that will be used in practicing the activity.
3. Complaints and suggestion box provided that the forms to be used shall be in both Arabic and English.
4. Directional signage with service offering timings, and maritime crafts rental charges for public.

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:

1. Develop emergency response plan and regularly train employees on the same, keeping training records to be presented to DMCA upon request.
2. Maintain maritime crafts in accordance with recommendations of manufacturer and keep copy of maintenance records.
3. Prepare a record for cruise schedules and destinations along with names and numbers of rented maritime crafts, cruise organisers’ names, nationalities and their addresses in the emirate, and shall maintain the same for not less than three years to be submitted to DMCA upon request.
4. Marine craft crews to be DMCA licensed, and safe manning requirements shall be complied with before sailing.
5. Marine crafts shall not carry more individuals than the number permitted in license.
6. Maintain the environment and not allow waste disposal or any pollutants in sea waters.
7. Maritime crafts shall not exceed speed limits determined by competent authorities of the emirate.
8. Marine crafts shall not enter restricted areas determined by DMCA and competent authorities.
9. Adhere to safe navigation rules and cause no damage to navigational signs.
10. Shall not create noise or disturb others and endanger their lives.
11. Anchor maritime crafts in designated anchoring areas.
12. Marine crafts shall not be allowed to participate in maritime processions or rallies, or used for advertisement purposes or any other event unless authorized by DMCA.
13. Marine craft comprehensive maintenance shall not be carried out in anchoring areas.
14. Marine crafts shall not be refuelled in sea, except in emergencies.
15. Provide suitable communication means between facilities and rented marine crafts.
16. Maritime crafts shall not be rented for commercial fishing.

Obligations of Jet Ski and Water Sport-Related Equipment Renting Centres

Water sports equipment and jet ski renting companies shall abide by the following:

1. Develop emergency response plan and regularly train employees on the same, keeping training records to be presented to DMCA upon request.
2. Maintain jet skis in accordance with recommendations of manufacturer and keep copy of maintenance records.
3. Prepare a record for schedules and destinations along with names and numbers of rented maritime crafts, cruise organisers’ names, nationalities and their addresses in the emirate, and shall maintain the same for not less than three years to be submitted to DMCA upon request.
4. No trainer shall be hired unless qualified and DMCA authorised.
5. No jet skis shall be rented to those who are less than sixteen years old.
6. Check medical fitness of renters and their competency to drive jet skis.
7. Provide explanation for each renter by a qualified trainer on how to use jet skis, safety equipment and practicing defined areas.
8. Jet skis shall not be used after sunset.
9. Jet ski drivers shall wear life vests and other safety equipment during practicing.
10. Jet skis driver shall be stopped immediately if they drive recklessly or enter any restricted area.
11. Jet skis shall be checked before they are handed over to renters, to ensure their safety and suitability for use.
12. Jet skis shall not carry more than what is permitted in the license.
13. Maintain environment and not allow disposal of wastes or any items to pollute sea waters.
14. Jet skis shall not exceed the speed limits stated by the competent authorities of the emirate.
15. Jet skis shall not enter restricted areas determined by DMCA.
16. Jet skis shall adhere to safe navigation rules and cause no damage to navigational signs.
17. Shall not create noise or disturb others and endanger their lives.
18. Jet skis shall anchor in defined anchoring areas.
19. Jet skis shall not be allowed to participate in maritime processions or rallies, or used for advertisement purposes or any other event unless authorized by DMCA.
20. Jet ski comprehensive maintenance shall not be carried out in anchoring areas.
21. Jet skis shall not be refueled in the sea, except in emergencies.
22. Provide safe passages on swimming beaches if jet skis starting point is from a hotel.
23. Provide constant supervision over the activity practice in order to extend help and rescue users in case of emergency.
24. Provide suitable communication means between the renting facility and trainer on activity practice site.

• Department of Economic Development
• Free Zone Authorities and Private Development Zones

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.