The transformation of Dubai from a centuries old mercantile port of call into an ultra modern maritime capital of the Gulf finds its roots in the far-sighted policies of the late Ruler of Dubai.

HISTORY

His Highness Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum in 1971, commissioned a feasibility study for the construction of an ambitious ship repair facility. Today, Dubai Drydocks is one of the leading ship repair yards in the world and the premier yard between Europe and the Far East. We are proud to say that owners from over 40 different countries have made use of our facilities.

Dubai Drydocks is dedicated to providing a ship repair service in compliance with the highest standards of quality and reliability, at internationally competitive prices. To this end, Dubai Drydocks has achieved ISO 9001-2000 Quality Management certification for its entire operations.

During 1999, the shipyard dry-docked and repaired 227 vessels. This number includes 50 U.L.C.C.s / V.L.C.C.'s, which represents a significant percentage of the total number of these large vessels annually available for dry-docking worldwide.

The aggregate deadweight of all 227 ships handled in 1999 amounts to an impressive 23.3 million tonnes.

The labour force employed at Dubai Drydocks has risen from 300 to over 3,500 during its 17 years of operation, giving an indication of the company's growth rate since its inauguration in 1983.

Shiprepair business is obtained from all of the world and Dubai Drydocks is represented by exclusive sales agents in 28 countries.

In addition, Dubai Drydocks can offer the following advantages over its competitors.

• An ideal location placed near to the world's major oil loading terminals. Shipowners face no deviation costs prior to repairing in Dubai Drydocks.
• A climate which, with more than 350 rain-free days per annum, is ideal for all repairs but particularly for hull treatment.
• A dedicated workforce drawn from the world's maritime centres. A large number of employees have been with us since the start of our operation. We provide in-house training courses for our workers to enable them to continuously upgrade their skills.
• Its own private port, protected by four kilometres of break-waters, with safe direct access from the sea.
• An abundance of land area in a yard that was designed with space in mind. The roads and jetties are wide. The storage parks are vast.
• An extensive range of modern facilities and equipment which is constantly reviewed for possible ways of improvement.

In short, we believe that we provide one of the best dry docking facilities in the world.