Abu Dhabi Maritime

What Abu Dhabi Maritime does

Abu Dhabi Maritime is the sole government regulatory authority and service provider for the emirate of Abu Dhabi's maritime sector, established in May 2020 through an agreement between AD Ports Group and the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT). The organization operates as a sole proprietorship LLC under the AD Ports Group portfolio, with a mandate to manage waterways, implement maritime regulations, register maritime assets, license activities, enforce compliance, investigate incidents, and develop marine infrastructure. It serves three primary segments: individual maritime users (UAE nationals and expatriates), maritime companies requiring operating permits and NOCs, and public water transport users, with horizontal segmentation across recreational and commercial use cases.

The core technology stack is built around three customer-facing digital portals: the Maqta E-Services Portal (for marine activity permits, NOCs, and licensing), the PMF Digital System (for marina, berth, and RV parking reservations), and the Water Transport Ticketing portal (for public ferry services). These are supported by GIS-based maritime safety maps, the MARSDNA ESG assessment tool for sustainability benchmarking, and the Al Nalia mobile application. Physical infrastructure under management includes 26 publicly available slipways, multiple inspection centers (Musaffah, Al Dhafrah, Zayed Port), marinas, ferry terminals, and RV parking sites. Technology delivery is enabled through partnerships with Maqta Gateway (AD Ports Group digital subsidiary) for platform infrastructure and the National Center of Meteorology for weather data integration.

Revenue is generated primarily through transaction-based fees for permits, licenses, certifications, and NOCs (e.g., 100 AED for berth lease certification, 200–300 AED for marine craft licensing), subscription-style annual berth lease certification, and pay-as-you-go fees for public marine facility services. Pricing is fully disclosed and regulated under the Maritime Safety Regulations framework. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer and direct-to-business through self-serve digital portals and physical inspection centers, with no resellers or partner channels. Growth is driven by regulatory expansion, digital product launches, and infrastructure buildout across Abu Dhabi's maritime domain, with the organization positioning Abu Dhabi as a global maritime hub through whitepapers and destination marketing.

Name

Abu Dhabi Maritime

Legal name

MARITIME AUTHORITY – SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP L.L.C

Website

https://admaritime.ae

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Abu Dhabi Maritime is the sole government regulatory authority managing all waterways in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, established in 2020 under AD Ports Group. It issues maritime licenses, permits, and NOCs, operates digital service portals for permits and bookings, and manages slipways, marinas, and ferry infrastructure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Regulatory Services

NAICS

Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Marinas (713930)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals) (BPAIALAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Passenger Catamaran Operators (TLAFALAE)

Keywords

• Maritime regulatory services
• Marine licensing permits
• Water transport services
• Maritime safety regulations
• Marine infrastructure management

Headquarters

HQ city

Abu Dhabi

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Maritime Services Fees: Fees charged for various maritime services including permits, licenses, certifications, and NOCs to ensure safe and sustainable waterways
2. Berth and Marina Rental: Revenue from berth lease certification, marina operations, and slipway services at publicly available facilities
3. Marine Craft Licensing: Fees for licensing water sports crafts, pleasure boats, and commercial maritime vessels
4. Company Operating Permits: Fees for maritime company operating permits for both high and low-risk activity classifications

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Abu Dhabi Maritime is the government-mandated custodian of all of Abu Dhabi's waterways, providing maritime regulatory services including marine activity permits, No Objection Certificates (NOCs), vessel and watercraft licensing, berth lease certifications, fuel supply permits, and mooring/anchoring permits. The organization also operates public water transport (ferry) services, a marina booking and RV parking platform (PMF Digital System), maritime safety maps, an ESG assessment tool (MARSDNA), slipway facilities, and training courses through the Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy.

Product overview

Abu Dhabi Maritime operates as the maritime regulatory authority and service provider for Abu Dhabi, managing all waterways in the emirate under AD Ports Group with guidance from the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT). The organization offers a portfolio of digital and physical services centered on three main customer-facing platforms: the Public Water Transport Service (tickets.admaritime.ae) for ferry ticketing, the Public Marine Facilities (PMF) Digital System (marinabooking.admaritime.ae) for marina bookings and RV parking, and the Maqta E-Services Portal (admaritime.maqta.ae) for permits, licenses, and NOCs. These are supported by a suite of regulatory and safety services including safety maps, navigational warnings, the MARSDNA ESG assessment tool, slipway facilities, and Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy training courses. The organization also maintains 26 publicly available slipways across the emirate and provides community harbours with RV parking. The overall portfolio functions as a platform of interlinked services rather than a single unified software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Al Nalia App: Mobile application for maritime services including ticketing and bookings
• ADMobility
• Public Marine Facilities (PMF) Digital System
• MARS DNA

Products and services

• Public Water Transport Service A public water transport network offering ferry services between top destinations in Abu Dhabi, providing a convenient alternative transport option with ticketing available through an online portal.
• Public Marine Facilities (PMF) Digital System A unified digital platform that consolidates marina services, berth rental bookings, and recreational vehicle (RV) parking reservations in one seamless portal, streamlining access to Abu Dhabi's marine infrastructure.
• Maqta E-Services Portal A digital services portal providing access to marine activity permits, No Objection Certificates (NOCs), and marine craft licensing for both individual and commercial users in Abu Dhabi.
• Berth Lease Contract Certification Service for certifying berth lease contracts for marina operators who rent berths to general and commercial users, with a certified lease valid for one year renewable.
• Exemption Certificate/Letter Service issuing exemption letters from marine craft licensing requirements for a limited period for trial maneuvers, testing purposes, or government entity vessels, to maintain proper vessel registries.
• Marine Company Operating Permit Service for issuing operating permits to marine companies with commercial licenses before commencing operations, ensuring compliance with maritime safety requirements and environmental protection.
• No Objection Certificate for Marine Infrastructure Service for issuing No Objection Certificates for marine infrastructure projects, ensuring construction and maintenance comply with applicable standards and design criteria.
• Mooring or Anchoring Permit at Non-Designated Sites Permit allowing marine vessels to stop, moor, or anchor at non-designated locations to ensure navigation safety, requiring application at least 3 business days in advance.
• Annual Fuel Supply Permit for Marine Vessels via Floating Platforms Annual permit for companies to supply fuel through floating platforms to marine vessels, regulating and monitoring new marine activities related to fuel station construction on waterfronts.
• Marine Facility Operating License Service for issuing, renewing, amending, or cancelling marine facility operating licenses before use or commencement of operations, ensuring safe development, maintenance, and operation of all marine facilities.
• No Objection Certificate for Marine Projects (Wreck Removal and Navigational Aids) Service for issuing No Objection Certificates for wreck removal, marine craft or unit removal, and installation or removal of navigational aids, ensuring maritime safety and environmental protection.
• Water Sports Vessel Licensing Service for registering and licensing personal and commercial water sports vessels (jet skis, fishing jets, BBQ boats, banana boats, duck boats, small electric/petrol boats, water cars) used for water sports activities, ensuring safety and environmental compliance.
• Mooring or Anchoring Permit at Designated Areas Permit for anchoring or mooring in designated areas within Abu Dhabi waters, requiring advance application with specified duration and purpose.
• No Objection Certificate for Marine Activities/Events Service for issuing No Objection Certificates for companies planning marine activities or events in Abu Dhabi's waterways, ensuring safety and compliance with applicable standards.
• No Objection Certificate for Marine Companies (Commercial License Issuance/Renewal) Service for issuing No Objection Certificates for marine companies during the issuance, renewal, or addition of marine activities in commercial licenses, ensuring safety, social, economic, and environmental compliance.
• Maritime Safety Maps Digital and downloadable maritime safety maps for Abu Dhabi's waterways that specify speed limits and zone boundaries that users must adhere to, available in general and jet ski-specific versions.
• ESG Tool (MARSDNA) An ESG assessment tool enabling companies to evaluate their sustainability performance, receive personalized insights, and benchmark against industry leaders in environmental, social, and governance practices.
• RV Parking Sites Recreational vehicle (RV) parking sites at North Yas and Al Dhannah (Al Dhannah Community Harbour), each offering 10 dedicated RV parking bays with shared public marine facilities and access to nearby ferry terminals.
• Yas Slipway and Al Sadr Slipway Abu Dhabi Maritime manages slipway facilities — Yas Slipway (20m x 6m, 11 dry berths, 12 car parking bays) and Al Sadr Slipway (25m x 10m, 30m pontoon, 15 dry berths, 21 car parking bays) — providing marine infrastructure access across the emirate.
• Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy Training and educational courses in partnership with Abu Dhabi Maritime, offering short courses including pleasure boat courses, elementary first aid courses, and sailing boat courses to enable safe enjoyment of Abu Dhabi's maritime environment.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• AD Ports GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2020Abu Dhabi Maritime operates under AD Ports Group, which is a premier enabler of trade, industrialization, and economic diversification. AD Ports Group provides world-class ports, economic cities, industrial zones, maritime, logistics, and digital businesses. Abu Dhabi Maritime collaborates across AD Ports Group's portfolio to provide world-class maritime facilities and infrastructure.
• Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2020DMT was established by Law No. 30 of 2019 and is the entity responsible for managing urban planning and transport sectors. DMT provides guidance and regulatory oversight for Abu Dhabi Maritime, ensuring the highest standards of safety, security, sustainability, and technological developments of land, air, and maritime transport networks.
• Maqta GatewaycoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital services platform subsidiary of AD Ports Group providing the technology infrastructure for Abu Dhabi Maritime's e-services portal, enabling marine permits, NOCs, and licensing services.
• National Center of Meteorology (NCM)supportingTechnology or IntegrationProvides detailed maritime weather forecasts and tidal information to support safe navigation and planning for maritime activities in Abu Dhabi waters.
• Maritime AcademysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbu Dhabi Maritime Academy provides short educational and training courses in partnership with Abu Dhabi Maritime to enable individuals to safely enjoy Abu Dhabi's marine environment. Courses include pleasure boat courses, first aid, and sailing vessel training.
• Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection AgencysupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGovernment agency involved in the marine craft exemption certificate process, ensuring compliance with coastal protection requirements.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hong Kong Marine Department: Hong Kong government department responsible for port operations, vessel traffic services, licensing and maritime safety in Hong Kong waters. Comparable as a regulator managing a major regional port and waterway system.
• Norwegian Maritime Authority: Norway's maritime regulator with responsibility for vessel registration, seafarer certification, port state control and maritime safety. Comparable as a digitally mature maritime regulator for a small advanced economy.
• Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA): Australian federal agency responsible for maritime safety, vessel regulation, marine environmental protection and navigational services. Comparable scope: licensing, navigation aids, recreational boating rules and digital service delivery.
• Transport Malta: Malta's transport regulator with flagship maritime and shipping directorate handling ship registry, licensing and port state control. Comparable as a small-jurisdiction government authority combining maritime regulation with commercial shipping oversight.
• Panama Maritime Authority: National maritime regulator handling vessel registration, licensing and port coordination for one of the world's largest ship registries. Comparable as a government authority monetizing maritime regulation at scale.
• Dubai Maritime City Authority: UAE counterpart regulating Dubai's maritime domain, including licensing, NOCs and marina oversight. Closest geographic peer competing for the same regional maritime traffic and superyacht business.
• Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA): National maritime and port authority that regulates, licenses and develops Singapore's maritime sector. Most directly comparable as a government regulator combining port oversight, vessel licensing, navigational safety and digital service portals.
• UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency: UK government agency responsible for maritime safety, vessel registration, seafarer certification and port regulatory functions. Comparable as a comprehensive national maritime regulator with digital licensing services.

Broad incumbents

• AD Ports Group: Parent group and Abu Dhabi's premier integrated ports, maritime and logistics platform. Comparable as the broader entity of which Abu Dhabi Maritime is the regulatory/inland-waterways arm; relevant for benchmarking digital and infrastructure strategy.
• Port of Rotterdam Authority: Publicly governed port authority managing Europe's largest port, combining port operations with sustainability and digital innovation programs. Comparable as a publicly overseen maritime/port authority but operating at significantly larger scale across multiple business lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/admaritime
• Facebookfacebook.com/admaritime
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/admaritime

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Abu Dhabi Maritime