Dubai, UAE – Nasser Al Neyadi, CEO of Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, confirmed that the corporation is steadily moving to make Dubai the first global center for port development and smart maritime trade management.
He pointed out that Dubai today operates operations in more than 146 ports around the world, covering 76 countries.
It is also based on a huge human network of 155,000 employees.
Al Neyadi said that “JAFZA” has become an integrated economic system that includes more than 12,000 global and regional companies, and provides more than half a million direct and indirect jobs.
He pointed out that the plan to restructure the free zone in Jebel Ali will open the way for new expansions extending over huge areas equipped with modern infrastructure.
exceptional performance
In detail.. The CEO of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation in Dubai, Nasser Al Neyadi, revealed exceptional performance during 2024.
This represented a qualitative leap in the size and impact of the institution’s achievements.
This is a new confirmation of the accelerating momentum witnessed by Dubai in its journey towards consolidating its position as a global economic and maritime hub.
He stressed that the directives and vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, formed the basis from which development plans were launched, which enabled the Foundation to enhance its role as one of the engines of the economy in Dubai and a major supporter of the emirate’s economy.
This allowed the institution to facilitate commercial operations amounting to 708 billion dirhams during 2024.
In addition to enhancing its role as a financial and strategic tributary to the general budget, and a pivotal pillar in Dubai’s continued progress and leadership in global indicators of growth, sustainability and competitiveness.
Main supporter
Al Neyadi stressed that the Foundation has now become a major supporter of Dubai’s economy.
Not only for overseeing JAFZA as the world’s largest free zone.
Rather, it constitutes an integrated economic system that includes more than 12,000 global and regional companies, and provides more than half a million direct and indirect jobs.
He pointed out that there is a plan to restructure the free zone in Jebel Ali, which will open the way for new expansions extending over huge areas equipped with modern infrastructure.
This doubles the ability to attract companies and reshapes Dubai’s investment map for the next 50 years.
projects and initiatives
Al Neyadi pointed to a number of projects and initiatives launched by the Foundation during 2025 in support of the goals of Dubai’s D33 economic agenda by developing a competitive business environment that confirms Dubai’s unique position as a pivotal waterway on the global navigation map.
At the forefront of these is the Dubai Ports Code project, the first of its kind in the world.
To be a specialized guide and reference for developing the infrastructure of ports, marinas and maritime businesses in Dubai and the world.
By providing a comprehensive and integrated framework of technical specifications and requirements for the development and management of ports, marinas and related marine activities.
The project will include best practices and approved technical specifications for the maritime sector’s infrastructure.
149% growth in foreign yachts arriving in Dubai
The CEO of the Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, Nasser Al Neyadi, said that the foreign yacht sector arriving in Dubai recorded a record growth of 149% during the first half of this year, after receiving 97 yachts compared to 39 yachts in the same period in 2024.
He pointed out that this growth reflects the growing international confidence in Dubai as a major stop in luxury marine tourism, supported by advanced infrastructure, global services and tourist attractions, placing the emirate at the top of the list of the most prominent yacht destinations around the world.
