The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) has announced the launch of a new Marine Trade Centre aimed at strengthening Dubai’s position as a global hub for maritime shipping, trade, and finance. This new initiative is built on a solid foundation that includes over 150 companies engaged in the maritime sector, operating within the region across shipping, logistics, marine services, and trade support.
Developing the Ecosystem
Ahmad Bin Sulayem, the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC, stated, “Shipping today is no longer limited to the transport of goods; it is also closely tied to how this activity is financed, structured, and managed. Through the Marine Trade Centre, we aim to create an integrated ecosystem that reflects this reality. We are bringing together companies, capital, and services related to maritime trade, fostering conditions that attract a larger share of this value to Dubai.”
The centre serves as a commercial platform that connects various components related to shipping activities, including marine finance, insurance, legal services, digital documentation, risk management, and trade information. The design of the centre ensures that more of the value generated by the global shipping sector is structured, financed, and retained within Dubai. This includes enhancing connectivity between shipowners, operators, financiers, insurance firms, legal advisors, and technology providers within a cohesive environment.
The establishment of this new centre reflects a broader transformation in the global shipping industry, as companies increasingly gravitate towards environments that combine trade flows, access to capital, and a wide array of supporting services.
In collaboration with the FinEx Centre and the Wealth Centre of DMCC, the Marine Trade Centre will link maritime trade with access to capital, finance, and risk management, while also supporting the structuring and preservation of wealth associated with shipping and trade assets. This represents a natural extension of our business model and reflects the next phase of growth for both DMCC and the wider trade landscape.
The Marine Trade Centre will operate in close synergy with the broader frameworks of DMCC, particularly the FinEx Centre and the Wealth Centre, contributing to a more integrated platform focused on maritime trade. Through the FinEx Centre, maritime companies will have access to capital, funding solutions, and risk management tools directly related to the actual shipping activity—from vessel financing to receivables associated with shipping. Meanwhile, the Wealth Centre will support shipowners, business leaders, and entrepreneurs in the maritime sector in structuring and managing wealth related to shipping operations. This comprehensive integration creates a more inclusive environment where real trade, financial structuring, and capital preservation coexist within a cohesive system.
The new institutional character of the Marine Trade Centre marks an evolution from the former Dubai Maritime Club, which was established in 2016 as a platform for dialogue and interaction with the sector. The new centre transcends mere communication and relationship building to establish a comprehensive economic hub that emphasizes execution, services, and value creation.