Abdulla Alhayyas, director of the Marine Transport Affairs Department under the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, speaks during an event on Thursday hosted by the China Classification Society in Dubai. Cui Haipei / China Daily
The United Arab Emirates sees China as an important partner in the maritime industry and is willing to deepen the relationship, UAE officials said on Thursday.
For the UAE, which has established itself as a global maritime hub, the industry is not just an economic driver but a reflection of the country's heritage and vision, said Abdulla Alhayyas, director of the Marine Transport Affairs Department under the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, who spoke at an event held by the China Classification Society, or CCS, in Dubai.
Alhayyas said the nation's coastline, which stretches more than 1,300 kilometers, features strategic locations, including the ports of Jebel Ali, Khalifa, and Fujairah.
"The maritime industry is evolving at a very fast pace, with emerging technologies, digital transformation, and environmental regulations reshaping the landscape," he said. "In this dynamic environment, collaboration is more important than ever."
China is the world's largest shipbuilder, commodities importer, and finished goods exporter. According to official figures, China's shipbuilding completion volume in 2024 accounted for 55.7 percent of the global total. New orders for China's shipbuilding industry accounted for 74.1 percent of the global total, and orders on hand accounted for 63.1 percent.
"The UAE Maritime Administration deeply appreciates the important role the CCS has played in supporting the classification and certification of UAE-flagged vessels. This collaboration has not only strengthened our maritime fleet but has also contributed to the UAE's position as a leading maritime hub in the region," Alhayyas said.
In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, China-UAE relations have maintained a good momentum of development, and practical cooperation has deepened in various fields, including transportation, which sets an example of desired relations between China and Arab countries in the new era, said Zhang Yiming, China's ambassador to the UAE.
Zhang Yiming, China's ambassador to the UAE, speaks during a maritime event in Dubai on Thursday. Cui Haipei / China Daily
"Currently, the global shipping industry is facing both opportunities and challenges, with green, low-carbon, digital transformation, and intelligent development becoming the latest trends. It is hoped that the CCS UAE Committee will continue to leverage its strengths to promote the development of green shipping and intelligent shipping, and make greater contributions to the shipping sector between China, the UAE, and the Middle East region," he said.
The CCS is affiliated with China's Ministry of Transport. It is a ships classification society that began in 1956 as a nonprofit body in China that performed classification surveys, certification surveys and notarial surveys of ships and maritime entities, including offshore installations, containers, and related industrial products, both at home and abroad.
Since it was founded, the CCS has been dedicated to building strong partnerships across the shipping, shipbuilding, finance, and insurance sectors, according to Zhao Yan, CCS vice-president.
During the event, the CCS UAE Committee appointed Salah Sharaf Al Hashmi as its new chairman.
Salah Sharaf Al Hashmi is appointed the new chairman of the CCS UAE Committee on Thursday. Cui Haipei / China Daily
Hashmi said the UAE government has placed a strong emphasis on sustainability and digital transformation in the maritime sector, aligning with international efforts to reduce emissions, enhance operational efficiency, and adopt cutting-edge technologies, such as AI, automation, and blockchain-based logistics systems.
"These advancements present new opportunities for collaboration between the CCS, ship owners and industry stakeholders," he said.
