Dubai Maritime City (DMC), the world’s first purpose-built maritime centre, has announced plans to construct and operate the UAE’s first specialised maritime museum.

The move of the DMC, a member of Dubai World Group Companies, will see the creation of one of the most comprehensive maritime exhibits in the Middle East. The museum will play a pivotal role in preserving marine heritage and culture in the Middle East.

Preliminary plans reveal that the 4,000 square metre museum will provide graphic displays, artifacts, multi-media tools and demonstrations.

It will also contain exhibits such as marine life, history of the region, boating and pearling records, Arab navigation technologies, and other major marine-related industries.

’’The museum will be a celebration, not only of the region’s rich maritime heritage, but also of the current and future technological developments related to the maritime sector in which Dubai plays such a key part. On completion, this Museum will be one of the largest Maritime Museums in the Middle East, and will become a must see attraction for anyone residing in, or visiting, Dubai and the surrounding emirates,’ said Ali Al-Daboos, Chief Operating Officer, DMC.

He added, ’’It is our goal to add more value to the global maritime community by creating a prestigious, and integrated, state-of-the-art development that will provide complete infrastructure, services and regulations for the international maritime industry.

On completion, the museum will form an essential link between the industrial, residential and commercial users of Dubai Maritime City, with the more casual visitors, whether international tourists or local residents. It is only one of the planned educational facilities to be incorporated in the City, as the dedicated Academic Quarter will also feature an academy that will provide maritime training and research. Other quarters within the Maritime City will include the Harbour Offices, Harbour Residences, the Maritime Centre, a Marina District, and the industrial quarter - operated by Jadaf Dubai.

The museum is the latest in a string of announcements for the multi-purpose maritime centre, as a number of other developments in the project progress ahead of schedule. The six-lane causeway connecting the mega project to Dubai is now fully complete, while around 50 per cent of the planned industrial precinct in the City is now complete and operational.

"We are proud to build a museum that will certainly join the ranks of distinguished maritime museums worldwide", Al-Daboos remarked.