Prestigious Patronage Elevates the 2025 Maritime Awards
The 2025 Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards, held under the esteemed patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region, marked a milestone moment for the marina and broader maritime industry across the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye (MENAT). Hosted during the Abu Dhabi International Boat Show on 20 November, this year’s edition brought together high-ranking officials, industry leaders, innovators, and representatives from world-class marinas across the region.
The distinguished ceremony was attended by Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, President of the UAE Sailing and Rowing Federation. Organized in collaboration with the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC)—an affiliate of the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport—the event was spearheaded by Abu Dhabi Maritime, a key entity within AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS). Together, these organizations underscored the UAE’s commitment to elevating global standards in the maritime sector and solidifying Abu Dhabi’s role as a regional maritime hub.
A Growing Platform for Maritime Excellence
Now in its third edition, the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards have rapidly become a benchmark for excellence in the marina sector, celebrating innovation, operational quality, sustainable development, and customer experience. The Awards were initially conceived to highlight outstanding contributions within the marina ecosystem. However, in response to the industry’s rapid evolution, the 2025 edition widened its scope significantly.
This year’s Awards recognized performance across organization-wide practices, individual leadership excellence, and impactful project-based initiatives. By expanding the categories, the organizers aimed to more accurately reflect the range of skills, strategies, and transformative ideas shaping the maritime industry today.
Beyond recognition, the Awards also seek to encourage continuous improvement, stimulate competition, and nurture an environment where marinas across the MENAT region strive toward world-class standards. By promoting transparency, consistency, and international best practices, the program supports the broader UAE vision of becoming a global maritime capital.
Celebrating the Region’s Top Performers
A total of 22 winners were honored across a diverse set of award categories. Each award reflects a core pillar of marina excellence, from customer experience and safety to innovation and sustainability.
Organization-Based Awards
These awards recognize outstanding marinas demonstrating operational excellence, customer satisfaction, employee engagement, and a commitment to innovation and sustainability.
Outstanding Marina Award
- Gold: Dubai Harbour – UAE
Dubai Harbour secured the highest honor for its exceptional infrastructure, high service standards, and ability to welcome a broad range of vessels while maintaining a seamless customer experience. - Silver: D-Marin Didim – Türkiye
Recognized for its comprehensive facilities and strong customer satisfaction ratings, D-Marin Didim continued to demonstrate operational excellence.
Outstanding Emerging Marina Award
- Gold: D-Marin Marsa Al Arab – UAE
As a new entrant making an immediate impact, Marsa Al Arab impressed assessors with its modern facilities and performance in a competitive market. - Silver: Emirates Palace Marina – UAE
This luxury marina was honored for its rapid emergence as a premier docking location with superior customer amenities.
Customer Experience Award
- Gold: D-Marin Didim – Türkiye
D-Marin Didim earned another accolade for its strong focus on customer service, ensuring smooth operations and a welcoming environment. - Silver: D-Marin Göcek – Türkiye
Göcek’s high-touch service and commitment to personalized experiences were recognized by both guests and the Awards jury.
Employer Excellence Award
- Gold: Palm Jumeirah Marina – UAE
Celebrated for fostering an empowering and supportive workplace culture, Palm Jumeirah Marina demonstrated excellence in employee development. - Silver: Bulgari Marina – UAE
Bulgari Marina earned recognition for its strong HR practices and dedication to staff engagement.
Health & Safety Award
- Gold: Emirates Palace Marina – UAE
This award highlights Emirates Palace Marina’s meticulous approach to ensuring a safe, secure, and well-managed environment. - Silver: D-Marin Turgutreis – Türkiye
Turgutreis was acknowledged for its commitment to safety protocols and operational risk management.
Innovation Award
- Gold: D-Marin Göcek – Türkiye
Göcek was honored for integrating innovative technologies and solutions into marina management. - Silver: Palm Jumeirah Marina – UAE
Receiving its second recognition, Palm Jumeirah Marina was commended for adopting forward-thinking approaches to enhance operations.
Sustainability Award
- Gold: D-Marin Turgutreis – Türkiye
Turgutreis earned the top sustainability accolade for implementing environmentally responsible practices. - Silver: The Pearl Island Marina – Qatar
Celebrated for its eco-friendly initiatives and commitment to marine conservation.
Individual-Based Awards
These awards highlight personal contributions that go beyond organizational responsibilities and reflect dedication, leadership, and excellence in service.
Outstanding Leader Award
- Gold: Wayne Shepherd – Dubai Harbour
Shepherd was recognized for his Abu visionary leadership and role in positioning Dubai Harbour as a leading regional marina. - Silver: Adel Maani – Ayla Marina
Maani was honored for his strong strategic oversight and contributions to marina development.
Outstanding Service Hero Award
- Gold: Sara Abdelaziz – Aldar Marinas
Abdelaziz’s dedication to customer service and exceptional performance earned her top recognition. - Silver: Charles Mayanja – Emirates Palace Marina
Mayanja was acknowledged for outstanding day-to-day service delivery and operational support.
Rising Star Award
- Gold: Hassan Ahmad – Jeddah Yacht Club
Ahmad stood out for his potential as a future industry leader through his professional growth and performance. - Silver: Sherzodbek Ganiev – Palm Jumeirah Marina
Ganiev’s rapid development and commitment earned him recognition as an Abu emerging talent.
Project-Based Awards
These awards celebrate innovative and sustainable projects that have produced measurable impact within the marina sector.
Sustainability Project Award
- Winner: Dubai Islands Marina
Awarded for a project that prioritizes environmental stewardship and long-term marine sustainability.
Innovation Project Award
- Winner: Dubai Harbour
Recognized for implementing impactful innovations that enhance marina efficiency and visitor experience.
Special Recognition: Most Popular Marina
- Winner: The Pearl Island Marina
Selected through a public voting process, this award reflects strong community support and customer loyalty.
A Rigorous Evaluation Process
As with previous editions, the judging process followed a multi-stage evaluation to ensure fairness and transparency. First, qualified assessors reviewed and scored submissions against detailed criteria tailored to each category. Their assessments were then forwarded to the Awards jury, composed of maritime industry experts. The Abu jury conducted its own qualitative examinations before selecting the final winners.
This rigorous methodology reinforces the Awards’ credibility and contributes to setting new industry benchmarks across the MENAT region.
The success of the Abu 2025 ceremony underscores the growing importance of the marina sector as a strategic contributor to the UAE’s maritime ambitions. With expanding infrastructure, rising yacht tourism, and increasing investments in marina development, the region is experiencing significant growth.
Reflecting this momentum, the fourth edition of the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards is scheduled for fall 2026, with expectations of even broader participation, more category submissions, and continued alignment with global best practices.
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