Dubai Maritime City Authority information and Location Map

News and information EAOE

Dubai Maritime City Authority- contact details

You may contact then on this number 8008855
or by email info@dmca.ae

Approved Medical Center for Dubai Marine Driving Permit:

INTERNATIONAL MODERN HOSPITAL

For appointment please call: +971 4 4063006
Port Rashid Road, Al Mankhool Area, Bur Dubai, Dubai
Opening Hours: 09:00 – 11:00 every day, except Fridays

Medical Fee:
AED 150 for recreational use
AED 600 for commercial use


Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA), the government authority charged with regulating, coordinating and supervising all aspects of Dubai’s maritime sector, has announced the implementation of mandatory marine craft driving license in Dubai effective January 2015.

Resolution No. 2 of 2013 for Marine Craft Driving License is part of the new resolution requires licensing for crew on personal, business, sports, tourism and recreational marine craft, including small and large-sized leisure craft, commercial marine vessels and traditional wooden dhows.

According to the resolution, it is prohibited to use any marine craft within Dubai’s territorial waters unless he/she holds a certified license from Dubai Maritime City Authority.

All applicants must be medically fit and have the theoretical and practical knowledge and expertise to drive light marine vessels, abras and leisure crafts. Crew members on commercial and traditional wooden dhows must be completely familiar with the marine radar and communication systems and navigation maps, in addition to being able to use the various equipments for safety, first-aid, public safety, fire fighting and water pollution.

The process and documents required

+++   Recreational pleasure boats and yachts   +++

Driving license for a Skipper- Pleasure Marine Craft length up to (12) meters

Required documents:

  • Application form – Marine Crew Licensing Application form (Ref. No. LR-FRM-004-V1)
  • One recent Personal Photograph with white colour background.
  • Passport, UAE family book or Emirates Identity card copy for UAE National, or Passport, UAE valid visa or Emirates identity card copy for expects.
  • The applicant’s age should not less than 16 years.
  • NOC from sponsor for non-UAE national.
  • National Powerboat Certificate – (RYA NPC / PB2) – date of issue within 5 years
  • Medical fitness certificate from approved medical centres. (see above)

Driving license for a Skipper- Pleasure Marine Craft length up to (24) meters

Required documents:

  • Application form – Marine Crew Licensing Application form (Ref. No. LR-FRM-004-V1)
  • One recent Personal Photograph with white colour background.
  • Passport, UAE family book or Emirates Identity card copy for UAE National, or Passport, UAE valid visa or Emirates identity card copy for expects.
  • The applicant’s age should not less than 18 years.
  • NOC from sponsor for non-UAE national.
  • Advanced Powerboat Certificate – (RYA Advanced PBA)date of issue within 5 years
  • Medical fitness certificate from approved medical centres. (see above)

+++   Commercial  boats and yachts   +++

Driving license for Master –Commercial & Traditional Wooden Marine Craft up to 12 meters
Required documents:

  • Application form – Marine Crew Licensing Application form (Ref. No. LR-FRM-004-V1)
  • One recent Personal Photograph with white colour background.
  • Passport, UAE family book or Emirates Identity card copy for UAE National, or Passport, UAE valid visa or Emirates identity card copy for expects.
  • The applicant’s age should not less than 18 years.
  • NOC from sponsor for non-UAE national.

Advanced Powerboat Certificate – (RYA NPC / PB2) – date of issue within 5 years (including using marine communications, radar and navigating on the navigational map.)

  • Medical fitness certificate from approved medical centres. (see above)
  • STCW Basic Safety Course – including the skills of using safety & rescue equipment’s, first aids and public safety, fighting fires and marine pollution.     
  • Radio Licence (RYA – SRC)
  • Certificate of good conduct issued by Dubai Police General Headquarters.

Driving license for Master – Commercial & Traditional Wooden Marine Craft up to 24 meters

Required documents:

  •  Application form – Marine Crew Licensing Application form (Ref. No. LR-FRM-004-V1)
  •  One recent Personal Photograph with white colour background.
  •  Passport, UAE family book or Emirates Identity card copy for UAE National, or Passport, UAE valid visa or Emirates identity card copy for expects.
  •  The applicant’s age should not less than 18 years.
  •  NOC from sponsor for non-UAE national.  
  •  Advanced Powerboat Certificate – (RYA Advanced) – date of issue within 5 years (including using marine communications, radar and navigating on the navigational map.)
  •  Medical fitness certificate from approved medical centres. (see above)
  • STCW Basic Safety Course – including the skills of using safety & rescue equipment’s, first aids and public safety, fighting fires and marine pollution.     
  •  Radio Licence (RYA – SRC)
  •  Certificate of good conduct issued by Dubai Police General Headquarters.
  •  Certificate of attending a course in using radar and navigating on the navigational charts (RYA Dayskipper Theory & Radar)

Dubai Maritime City Authority – Location Map

Office Hours: 7.30am to 2.30pm – SUN to THUR

Dubai to implement mandatory Marine Craft Driving License from January 1, 2015

Dubai to implement mandatory Marine Craft Driving License from January 1, 2015 Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA), the government authority charged with regulating, coordinating and supervising all aspects of Dubai’s maritime sector, has announced that the mandatory regulation to get marine craft driving license will be implemented starting from January 1, 2015. The move is in line with the Authority’s efforts to organize the work of the various maritime crafts, based on a clear framework that will ensure the creation of a safe and sustainable maritime sector in the Emirate of Dubai.

Official figures indicate that the number of marine craft driving license issued by DMCA has reached 1400 license to date. This reflects the increasing confidence in maritime driving license policy of the commercial ships, conventional boats and leisure crafts as a fundamental pillar to provide an integrated regulatory framework to promote the local maritime sector and put Dubai at par with the world’s leading maritime centers.

Amer Ali, Executive Director, DMCA, said: “Regulating and developing the local maritime sector is a top priority for DMCA, which is why we regularly introduce regulations and legislations to address local requirements in line with best international practices. The application of Resolution No. 2 of 2013 for marine crew licensing reaffirms the efforts aimed at integrating all aspects of maritime safety and operational efficiency across local waters, in cooperation with the parties concerned.”

Ali added: “The DMCA remains committed in implementing the mandatory marine craft driving license service in Dubai. Having launched the resolution for marine craft licensing in 2013, we worked towards presenting this to the public in a gradual approach to achieve an increased awareness and to highlight the importance of obtaining the license.

All local marine crafts are mandated to register and license their crew to comply with DMCA’s Resolution No. 2 of 2013, which represents the DMCA’s continued commitment in promoting maritime safety across local, regional and international waters. The new regulation also falls in line with the Authority’s efforts to organize and classify UAE marine crafts and has also been designed to offer a more comprehensive regulatory platform that will help ensure maritime safety, secure navigation and operational efficiency along the UAE coastline—thereby reinforcing Dubai’s leading position as a first class international maritime hub.

Under Resolution No. 11 of 2013 to issue Implementing Regulations (IR) of Resolution No. 11 of 2010 for licensing of marine crafts in the emirate of Dubai, Resolution No. 2 of 2013 complements DMCA’s efforts to establish clear legislations and regulations in accordance with the Dubai Maritime Sector Strategy, which aims to strengthen Dubai’s leading position as a first-class international maritime hub. The application of Resolution No. 2 of 2013 requires licensing for crew on personal, business, sports, tourism and recreational marine craft, including small and large-sized leisure craft, commercial marine vessels and traditional wooden dhows.

Adel Kalantar, Director – Registration and Licensing, Dubai Maritime City Authority, said that “The application of Resolution No. 2 of 2013 requires licensing for crew on personal, business, sports, tourism and recreational marine crafts, including small and large-sized leisure craft, commercial marine vessels and traditional wooden dhows. It is prohibited to use any marine craft within Dubai’s territorial waters unless he/she holds a certified driving license from Dubai Maritime City Authority.”

All applicants must be medically fit and have the theoretical, practical knowledge and expertise to drive light marine vessels, abras and leisure crafts. Crew members on commercial and traditional wooden dhows must be completely familiar with the marine radar and communication systems and navigation maps, in addition to being able to use the various equipments for safety, first-aid, public safety, fire fighting and water pollution.

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