Following many years of diligent work by a group of dedicated marine industry professionals, the Leisure Marine Association Middle East North Africa has now been established to represent and support the maritime industry in the region

The Leisure Marine Association MENA, a first of its kind in the region, will focus exclusively on supporting marine industry businesses such as marina operators, boat builders, equipment suppliers, and service companies and establish a supportive network for all its members. The main objective of LMA is to increase recreational boat ownership and use in the region, in addition to promoting and protecting the interests of its members and the marine industry and boating community as a whole.

Commenting on the launch, His Excellency Sheikh Saeed Bin Ahmed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, the Executive Director of the ’’Dubai Maritime City Authority’’ at the Ports, Customs, and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), announced that: “The association is a welcome addition to Dubai’s proactive leisure marine community, and we are excited to the potentials and key prospects it is keen on bringing to the marine sector. The Dubai Maritime City Authority is ready to support its initiatives and plans that would further boost the development of leisure marine in Dubai and the region. I am confident that the establishment of a regional organization for the leisure marine sector is the way forward to grow sustainably.”

H.E. Eng. Hessa Ahmed Al Malek. Executive Director Federal Transport Authority for Land & Maritime (UAE) said: “The UAE and the MENA region have a rich maritime history in terms of both commercial business and leisure activities. The industry is changing rapidly, so much so that it is projected that the number of boat owners by 2025 will increase to around 20,000. Associations like The Leisure Marine Association MENA are integral to promote the growth of this promising industry. We are confident that LMA will act as a catalyst for the development of the leisure marine industry in the MENA region.”

John W.R. Paul, Chairman of The Leisure Marine Association MENA said: “It is a proud moment that we finally are able to launch the LMA. Our goal has always been to bring together the industry under one umbrella in order to support each other and promote leisure boating in our region. Ultimately, we want the boating public to have an enjoyable boating experience which will in turn benefit the industry. We will work hard to support all the various stakeholders.”

“With the support of our members, we are confident that we will reach our objectives of developing a healthy regional maritime community that will positively impact the area as a world-class marine destination,” he further added.

Also, the Secretary General of the International Council of Marine Industry Associations – ICOMIA Udo Kleinitz expressed his support: “The benefits of players coming together in one association are enormous. Our small and fragmented marine leisure sector heavily relies on the recognition it receives from the government in order to coordinate growth and improve the economic benefits related to boating. As such, the formation of LMA MENA is a remarkable achievement. As the body representing the international community in the marine leisure sector, ICOMIA congratulates all those behind the years of effort it took to create LMA MENA and looks forward to a fruitful collaboration.”

Members of LMA will be able to benefit from a host of services, events, industry news, and workshops, as well as have an impact on the maritime developments. Members will also enjoy exclusive offers at international conferences and boat shows, in addition to having direct access to reports and documents within LMA’s database such as governance, environment, training, management, risk management, emergency procedures, and a multitude of other resources.