First cohort of trained maritime and nautical professionals fulfils critical need in UAE’s growing maritime and shipping sector

–       Graduation represents key milestone in development of Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy less than four years after first students enrolled

–       AD Ports Group hires majority of first graduating class to support growing international maritime and shipping presence

His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, attended a graduation ceremony of the inaugural cohort of Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy, celebrating 194 graduates.

His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan congratulated the graduates and their families on this achievement, wished them continued success in their academic and professional journeys, and reaffirmed their role in advancing the maritime transport and logistics sector in Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE.

His Highness also emphasised the pivotal role of Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy in preparing and qualifying national talent, including maritime specialists and logistics engineers, to equip the maritime transport and logistics sector with skilled human capital capable of driving sustainable growth in the industry and enhancing its regional and global competitiveness, as it represents a key pillar of the UAE’s comprehensive economic development.

The ceremony marks a landmark achievement in the development of the Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy, established by AD Ports Group in 2019, and held its first enrolment in September 2021, and has since evolved into one of the Gulf region’s leading maritime training institutions, nurturing top nautical specialists and logistics engineers for the UAE and the wider region.

H.E. Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Chairman of AD Ports Group said: “We are proud of the attendance of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed at the graduation ceremony of the inaugural cohort of Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy, which is a milestone in the development of the UAE’s maritime and shipping sector, aligning with the UAE leadership’s vision to accelerate efforts aiming to make the Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy a beacon of marine sciences.”

His Excellency added: “In just a short time, the academy has succeeded in playing a leading role in this field, graduating skilled and competent talents who are today prepared to tackle the challenges and requirements of the future. The academy has also established an advanced platform for research and development, which will play an instrumental role in sustaining growth in the maritime sector locally and globally.”

The establishment of ADMA was designed to fill a skills gap and position the UAE as a global leader in maritime knowledge, research, and innovation by providing a local pipeline of trained engineers and navigators for the maritime and logistics sector.

In less than four years since the first class was enrolled, ADMA has grown into a major contributor to maritime education and research in the Gulf. The Academy’s eight core academic programmes include 410 students, 85% of whom are Emiratis.

Dr. Yasser Al Wahedi, the President of Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy, said: “Today’s graduation ceremony is a major achievement of Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy, which is fulfilling a critical role in providing the UAE maritime and shipping industry with a steady supply of certified professionals who will take our industry to the next level.”

Dr. Al Wahedi added: “This academy, the first of its kind in the UAE, has evolved to become a proven driver of prosperous job opportunities in the maritime sector. I want to personally thank the members of this first graduating class for their commitment and enthusiasm and wish them the best of luck in their new endeavours as they serve the growing needs of the global maritime industry.”

Diplomas at the Academy cover 13 specialties, including ship chartering and tanker leasing, marine engineering technology, shipping and marine operations, a chief officer’s programme, marine supply chain management, port management, shipping law, freight forwarding, advanced tug training, and ship handling, among others.

In addition, the Academy offers accredited programmes for CFA, CMA, ACCA, and FRM finance and accounting certification, and provides technical training to the maritime and shipping industries. Since 2021, the Academy has conducted 150 training and development programmes for industry partners, providing 446,000 hours of training to 4,200 trainees. Some training is conducted in the Academy’s Simulation Centre, which has six full-mission maritime simulators and over 400 training models.

Other training is provided on-the-job, and more than 100 students having trained onboard ships worldwide since 2021.

The Academy’s professional staff have also consulted on 43 industry projects in navigation, port and ship design, and maritime piloting, and the Academy has filed 7 patents with the US Patent Office, covering diverse technologies such as earthquake prediction, drone detection, and satellite-assisted mapping of emissions intensity. In addition ADMA established the Maritime Sustainability Research Center, under the umbrella of Maritime Hub Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Maritime’s newly launched platform bridging the gap between public and private sectors with the aim of strengthening Abu Dhabi’s maritime industry.