Founded in 2004 and officially incorporated in 2005, Emirates Shipping Association was created to give maritime stakeholders in the UAE a voice on industry matters. The role of the Association remains serving the maritime industry with purpose, as well as providing a unified voice to maritime stakeholders, authorities, and decision-makers to promote the maritime cluster in the UAE.

In 2022, the Association went through a rebranding process and began trading under its new name, 7Emirates. The refreshed moniker signals the Association’s renewed focus and dedication to being a voice for the maritime industry across all seven emirates of the UAE.

No, the Association is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) governed by a Board of Directors that represents both public and private sector stakeholders across the maritime sector.

Incorporated through the Ministry of Community Development, the mandate of the Association is to follow global maritime best practices under local laws and policies as outlined by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the Dubai Maritime City Authority.

7Emirates is also a proud member of the International Chamber of Shipping and is registered under Federal Law No. 2/2008 Concerning Public Benefit Associations and Civil Society Organisations.

The Association continues to be proud of its legacy of being wholly member-owned. This unique member-led approach ensures transparency and operational integrity across a supportive and engaged membership.

7Emirates has a diverse membership pool, consisting of over 80 organisations across the maritime sector and related industries. To learn more about becoming a member and the two membership options available, please visit our membership page.

To qualify as an Operating Member, your organisation must have a local presence and be an active member of the maritime industry. The current annual fee for Operating Members is AED 20,000. 

To qualify as an Associate Member, your organisation must either be involved in the maritime industry, or from an industry that works in conjunction with the maritime value chain. The current annual fee for Associate Members is AED 10,000.

To learn more about becoming an Operating or Associate Member, please visit our membership page.

Currently, membership is only available to organisations and not individuals.

Membership supports the work of the Association to protect and promote the interest of members and provides a variety of benefits including:

• Access to exclusive events and strategic networking opportunities
• Representation across international platforms 
• Inside industry expertise and invaluable insights

7Emirates is dedicated to shaping the future of maritime and being a catalyst for growth within the industry. As such, we organise a range of events and activities aimed at encouraging knowledge sharing, strategic networking, and addressing the key issues facing the industry. Membership gains you access to our Annual General Assembly, exclusive Dialogues, Emirates Shipping Congress, and the outstanding Maritime Leadership Program.

To learn more about 7Emirates events and partner feature events, visit our News & Events section. 
You can also stay on top of the latest 7Emirates news and events by signing up to our monthly newsletter here.

Yes, as a member you can sponsor select 7Emirates events and programs, giving your organisation access to a wide range of marketing and communication opportunities. 

To learn more about our yearly sponsorship opportunities, including Pearl and Diamond tier benefits, please email info@7emirates.com.

During the General Assembly, each organisation is assigned one seat, regardless of membership category. For our community events, we reserve 1-2 spots for Associate Members and 2-4 spots for Operating Members. We always strive to achieve maximum member participation, and may consider exceptions on a case-by-case basis for community events.

Backed by a desire to drive innovation, enhance safety, and strengthen industry collaboration, 7Emirates has established three committees ready to advance the industry’s global competitiveness. 

In collaboration with members, the following committees seek to tackle challenges and define new opportunities within the sector:

• Advancing UAE Registry as a Flag State
• Leadership and Sustainability
• Standardisation of UAE Tax 

To learn more, please visit our Committees page.

Yes, as a member you will be able to sponsor selected Emirates Shipping Association events and programs. During these events, you can enjoy a wide range of marketing and communication opportunities.  Reach out to the team at info@7emirates.com to learn more about sponsoring opportunities.

You can contact us by sending an email to info@7emirates.com and a member of our team will forward your message to the relevant party.