Dubai and Abu Dhabi feature in maritime assessment

Dubai and Abu Dhabi have registered strong performances across several maritime indicators in the 2026 Leading Maritime Cities assessment, highlighting the United Arab Emirates’ position in international shipping and logistics.
The study, prepared by maritime classification and assurance group DNV and Norwegian consultancy Menon Economics, evaluates the conditions that enable maritime businesses and professionals to establish operations, attract investment and compete internationally. Its 2026 edition was scheduled for unveiling at the Seatrade Maritime UAE Summit in Dubai on Thursday.
The assessment examines five areas: Shipping, Maritime Finance and Law, Maritime Technology, Ports and Logistics, and Attractiveness and Competitiveness. These categories cover both the physical movement of cargo and the professional services, infrastructure and commercial environment needed to support shipping companies.
The inclusion of both UAE cities among the locations attracting attention reflects the country’s two distinct maritime centres. Dubai combines international container handling, freight distribution and commercial services, while Abu Dhabi has substantial industrial, port and logistics operations serving domestic and overseas markets.
The precise overall positions of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and their individual scores under the five pillars, could not be established from the publicly accessible launch information. Consequently, the reported strength of their performance should not be interpreted as confirmation of a particular global ranking or an improvement of a specified number of places.
The report’s launch formed part of a gathering organised by Seatrade Maritime in partnership with DP World. The summit programme included a presentation on leading maritime cities by Erik W Jakobsen, partner and chairman of Menon Economics, and Benjamin Dineshkar, director of maritime advisory for the Middle East and Africa at DNV Maritime.
Organisers scheduled the report’s official launch after that presentation, with discussions examining the resilience of regional cargo networks, technological change and the implications of disruptions affecting Gulf shipping routes. More than 250 senior maritime industry representatives were expected to attend, according to the event announcement.
For Dubai, the Ports and Logistics category is particularly relevant because the emirate serves as a transhipment and distribution centre linking maritime services with regional supply chains. DP World’s Jebel Ali operations form an important part of that network, supported by associated transport and commercial infrastructure.
Abu Dhabi’s maritime activities include port facilities and industrial logistics connected to manufacturing, energy and trade. Its development model brings together cargo handling and industrial customers, making the relationship between terminal capacity and wider economic activity significant to assessments of maritime competitiveness.
The shipping pillar considers the concentration and importance of maritime businesses rather than port throughput alone. This distinction is relevant when comparing cities with large trading fleets, extensive management services or busy terminals. Their strengths can differ considerably even when each plays a role in international commerce.
The Maritime Finance and Law pillar addresses a different dimension of the industry. Shipowners, operators and service providers depend on access to financing, insurance, legal expertise and other specialist support. A city can therefore possess extensive port infrastructure without necessarily matching the strongest international centres for maritime financial services.
Maritime Technology measures capabilities beyond conventional cargo handling, including the expertise and innovation needed to modernise shipping operations. Digital systems, efficiency improvements and the transition towards lower-emission transport are increasingly important considerations for maritime companies choosing where to invest and operate.
The attractiveness category also matters because maritime clusters compete for experienced personnel, business investment and international company offices. The study’s broader approach recognises that competitive conditions depend on institutions and skilled workers as well as cranes, terminals and vessel traffic.
The previous edition, published in 2024, placed Singapore first overall, followed by Rotterdam, London, Shanghai and Oslo. That assessment combined quantitative indicators with the views of 190 maritime experts and evaluated 50 leading cities selected from a much larger international pool.
Menon Economics said its 2024 methodology drew on 45 indicators, including objective measures and expert assessments. Those figures describe the earlier edition and should not be assumed to represent the precise sample or weighting used for the 2026 rankings.
The Dubai summit also scheduled discussions involving representatives of shipping companies, port operators and maritime service providers, alongside a session focused on how Gulf logistics networks have adapted to disruption. Its programme included the launch of UAE Maritime Week 2027.