Dubai Maritime City (DMC), an integrated maritime services and ship repair hub, recorded 52 vessels in its dry berths on 28 July 2026, its highest number in a single day, as demand for vessel servicing continues to grow alongside increased regional oil and gas production.
Dry-berth occupancy, where vessels are lifted out of the water for inspection, maintenance and repair, increased 22% year-on-year in July, while the total number of vessels accommodated during the month rose 7%, from 188 to 202. Offshore vessels of up to 150 metres in length accounted for much of the increase as operators prioritised servicing fleets to ensure operational readiness.
Demand from yachts and pleasure craft also increased sharply, with the dry-berth occupancy up 88% year-on-year in July and 110% year-to-date.
“Growing demand at DMC reflects the continued expansion of the region’s maritime industries and the need for specialised infrastructure to support them. Our investment in DMC is helping build that capacity while strengthening Dubai’s position as a hub for maritime services and supporting the wider ecosystem that connects industry, trade and logistics.”
Abdulla Al Hashmi, Global COO, Parks & Economic Zones, DP World
“July’s strong performance reflects the confidence shipowners place in Dubai Maritime City. Our priority is to make sure DMC has the capacity and capability to respond to customers when they need us most, and that is why we continue to invest in the facilities, technology and equipment that the maritime industry depends on.”
Ahmed Alhammadi, COO, DMC
DMC is also expanding capacity for smaller vessels, acquiring and retrofitting more than 500 ship cradle units, which can accommodate up to 60 small craft boats, allowing the facility to handle a wide range of vessels from yachts, leisure craft and traditional wooden dhows to commercial and offshore vessels.
Alongside expanding capacity, DMC is increasing automation across its operations. Three vehicle gates have been automated, digitising 16,000 vehicle movements each week; AI-based safety systems have been introduced and berth booking and reservations systems are being automated.
Together, these investments are expanding DMC’s capacity to serve a broader range of vessels while improving the speed, safety and efficiency of its services, strengthening its position as one of the region’s leading ship repair and maritime services hubs.
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