Dubai retains spot among world’s top maritime hubs as Abu Dhabi rises to 15th

Dubai has ranked 12th among the world’s leading maritime cities, retaining its position as the Middle East’s top maritime hub, while Abu Dhabi climbed seven places to secure 15th position in the 2026 Leading Maritime Cities report.

Published by DNV and Menon Economics, the report highlights the growing competitiveness of the UAE’s maritime industry, as both emirates expand their capabilities in shipping, logistics, infrastructure, and maritime services.

Dubai also secured fifth place globally for maritime resilience, reflecting its capacity to maintain trade operations amid disruptions to regional shipping routes and supply chains.

According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the emirate’s integrated logistics infrastructure, including Jebel Ali Port, free zones, and multimodal transport networks, has helped sustain cargo movements and strengthen its position as a regional trade hub.

Dubai also made significant gains in attractiveness and competitiveness, jumping from 15th place in 2024 to sixth in 2026. It ranked second globally for human capital and shared the top position for entrepreneurship with Abu Dhabi.

The report also identified Dubai as the second most attractive city worldwide for relocating maritime headquarters, while industry experts placed it third among cities expected to shape the global maritime industry over the next five years.

Abdulla bin Damithan, Chairman of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, attributed Dubai’s performance to sustained investment in maritime infrastructure and efforts to strengthen its appeal to international shipping companies.

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi’s rise from 22nd to 15th globally marks its first appearance among the world’s top 15 maritime cities.

The emirate recorded improvements across all five assessed categories, with particularly strong performance in maritime finance and law, as well as in attractiveness and competitiveness.

Its progress comes amid continued investment in port infrastructure, digital technologies, regulatory frameworks, and sustainable maritime operations.

Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport, said the ranking reflects the emirate’s efforts to strengthen its international maritime connections while supporting economic diversification.

“Abu Dhabi’s advancement in the Leading Maritime Cities Report demonstrates the impact of long-term planning and collaborative efforts in building a maritime sector that expands the emirate’s global reach, drives economic diversification, and enhances quality of life,” he said.

Abu Dhabi Maritime, the Integrated Transport Centre, and Maritime Hub Abu Dhabi are among the entities supporting the emirate’s maritime expansion through partnerships, innovation, and industry development.

The report assessed 50 maritime cities using industry data and insights from 208 senior maritime experts. Cities were evaluated on shipping, maritime finance and law, technology, ports and logistics, and overall competitiveness.

Singapore retained the top global position, followed by Shanghai, London, Rotterdam, and Tokyo.

The findings were announced at the inaugural Seatrade Maritime UAE Summit in Dubai, which brought together industry leaders to examine emerging opportunities and challenges in international maritime trade.