Dubai Maritime City (DMC) has signed 18 new leases in the first nine months of 2026, covering more than 572,000 sq. ft of industrial and commercial space and generating six times more revenue than the same period last year.
Ship repair and marine manufacturing have emerged as the fastest-growing segments. Businesses can lease under one of two structures, a one-year agreement renewable annually or a 25-year Musataha agreement that allows them to develop their own ship repair or shipbuilding workshop on site.
Companies that took prebuilt units this year are already operational, while plots secured under Musataha agreements are in the construction phase. Around 72 percent of the leases were signed after February, pointing to continued confidence in Dubai as a long-term base for regional and international markets.
Ahmed Al Hammadi, COO of DMC, said companies are choosing to build their facilities at the site, take on long-term commitments and invest in equipment and infrastructure. He said that gives shipowners and operators deeper repair capacity, shorter turnaround times and more services in one place.
Dubai ranks first in the Arab world and 11th globally in the Leading Maritime Cities Report by DNV and Menon Economics.
Earlier this year, DMC also launched its second Maritime Business Centre, an AED160 million premium commercial tower that expands Grade A office capacity within Dubai’s maritime and trade ecosystem.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
