UAE Among Top 35 Global Shipping Fleets: UNCTAD Report

The UAE has been recognized as one of the top 35 countries globally for its large shipping fleet by tonnage and capacity, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 2024 report.

The UAE’s significant presence in global shipping was highlighted alongside three other Arab nations: Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar, underscoring the region’s growing maritime influence.

Further emphasizing the strength of Gulf maritime operations, the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC-Stat) reported that 10 Gulf container ports ranked among the 70 most efficient ports worldwide in 2024, out of a total of 405 ports globally.

The Gulf commercial fleet accounted for 54.2% of the total Arab commercial fleet in 2023, with GCC countries surpassing the Arab average in the Liner Shipping Connectivity Index, which recorded 100.5 in 2023. Additionally, the region boasts more than 25 major seaports as of 2024.

GCC ports have also made strides in container productivity, with two ports exceeding 4 million containers in output, and eight others classified as medium-production ports. These achievements are supported by ongoing infrastructure development, positioning Gulf ports as global logistics hubs.

The Unified Maritime Operations Centre, a key cooperative initiative among GCC countries, has been instrumental in safeguarding territorial waters and ensuring freedom of navigation, reinforcing security and stability in the region’s maritime domain.

News Source: Emirates News Agency