Dubai Maritime City Leases Exceed 572,000 Square Feet Amid Robust Market Growth
Dubai Maritime City has demonstrated exceptional commercial momentum throughout 2026, securing eighteen significant new leases covering substantial industrial and commercial space whilst achieving a remarkable sixfold increase in revenue compared to the preceding year.
Dubai Maritime City has established itself as an increasingly prominent centre for maritime enterprise, signing eighteen new leases during the first nine months of 2026 that encompass more than 572,000 square feet of prime industrial and commercial space. This substantial expansion has generated revenue figures six times greater than those recorded during the equivalent period in 2025, reflecting the facility’s strengthening position within the regional maritime sector.
The leasing activity demonstrates a particularly pronounced surge in ship repair and marine manufacturing operations, which have emerged as the fastest expanding business segments within the facility. The centre offers prospective tenants a choice of flexible arrangements: conventional annual lease agreements with renewable terms, or extended Musataha agreements permitting a twenty-five year tenure during which businesses develop their own specialised ship repair or shipbuilding facilities on site.
Operators occupying prebuilt units secured during 2026 have already commenced their commercial activities, whilst those having secured plots under longer-term Musataha arrangements are progressing through construction phases of their bespoke facilities. Notably, seventy-two percent of the leases concluded since February underscore renewed confidence in Dubai’s credentials as a dependable long-term operational base for both regional and international maritime enterprises.
Ahmed Al Hammadi, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Maritime City, observed that this pattern of commitment reveals the certainty that Dubai provides for forward-looking commercial planning. For vessel owners and maritime operators, this translates into enhanced repair capacity, expedited turnaround times, and a comprehensive range of specialised services available within a single location.
Dubai’s prominence within the global maritime landscape continues to strengthen, with the city ranking first throughout the Arab world and eleventh internationally in the Leading Maritime Cities Report produced by DNV and Menon Economics. This distinction reflects the city’s sustained investment in maritime infrastructure and its cultivation as a centre of excellence for maritime services.
The trajectory of growth has been further augmented by Dubai Maritime City’s recent inauguration of its second Maritime Business Centre, a premium commercial tower representing an investment of AED160 million. This distinctive addition significantly expands Grade A office capacity within Dubai’s maritime and trade ecosystem, providing sophisticated workspace designed to accommodate the expanding professional services sector supporting the maritime industry.
Source: WAM