UAE’s new draft maritime law discussed

Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre (EMAC) has hosted the third successful seminar in the ‘Breakfast with EMAC’ series. Taking place at EMAC’s offices in DIFC on the morning of April 4, 2017, the series is accredited by Dubai Government Legal Affairs Department’s Continuing Legal Professional Development programme, and is a part of EMAC’s mandate to raise awareness in the maritime sector. With each breakfast seminar focusing on a different area of the maritime sector relevant to the Middle East’s growing maritime industry, this latest session addressed the new draft maritime law in the UAE and its potential impacts on the regional and international maritime and shipping industries.

Welcoming an audience of maritime stakeholders and legal professionals, the morning opened with an introduction by EMAC Lead Case Manager, Ms. Maali Khader. Ms. Khader was followed by guest speaker Mr. Ashraf Elswefy of Baker McKenzie Habib Al Mulla, an expert in maritime, admiralty law and commercial law who has practiced in Egypt and the UAE for more than four decades. Mr. Elswefy examined a number of discussion topics on the draft maritime law, including the drivers behind the legislation, the Federal Transport Authority’s (FTA’s) vision and mandate, the progress of phase one of the project, and key features of the new draft law, particularly in relation to dispute resolution.

“The new UAE draft maritime law is a significant milestone for the region’s maritime industry, and we welcomed the opportunity to start a discourse on the changes the new legislation may herald,” said Mr. Majid Obaid bin Bashir, Vice Chairman and Secretary General at EMAC. “As well as focusing on the most relevant topics to the region’s shipping and legal sectors, our Breakfast with EMAC sessions will also highlight the ways in which EMAC can serve the maritime community and contribute to its continued growth and success.”

Mr. Elswefy, Consultant at Baker McKenzie Habib Al Mulla, added: “The new maritime law reflects the UAE’s commitment to economic diversification, with the maritime sector identified as one with great potential. The new law should be a revolution, not just an evolution, that will put in place the framework to support the nation’s vision and help transform its economy.”

The Breakfast with EMAC series has been accredited by the Dubai Government Legal Affairs Department’s Continuing Legal Professional Development (CLPD) programme, in line with its aims to provide a world-class learning environment that enables legal consultants to meet the ever-evolving requirements within the legal profession. Each Breakfast with EMAC session is accredited independently for one credit.

The next breakfast seminar will be held on May 16, focusing on the topic of marine financing. This will be followed by a session discussing Bills of Lading disputes on September 24, with many more scheduled until the end of 2017. Legal professionals wishing to attend the EMAC breakfast seminars can register their interest online at www.emac.org.ae, or via email at info@emac.org.ae.

Impartial and transparent, EMAC works with organisations across the region, providing services for resolving maritime disputes in a timely manner, resulting in increased cost efficiency. EMAC’s rules are built on the most up-to-date, internationally-recognised arbitration and mediation standards – allowing for emergency and fast-track arbitration to meet market demand and address the sector’s need for fast, efficient and cost-effective dispute resolution.