The Ministry of Environment and Water has planned many programs that would promote integration and cooperation with various institutions, so as to ensure the achievement of its vision to ensure a sustainable environment for life. The strategy of the Ministry included a major objective to promote environmental security.
H.E Sultan Abdullah Alwan, Assistant Undersecretary for External Audit, said that the Ministry seeks to protect the marine environment in the UAE from the dangers of incorrect maritime practices by the enforcing sea laws and other decrees issued to maintain the environment.
Therefore, for the sake of cooperation in the field of marine environment, the Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding with Dubai Maritime City Authority at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Dubai on Monday, September 10th, 2012. The MoU was signed by H.E. Sultan Alwan on behalf of the Ministry, and by H.E. Amer Ali, CEO of Dubai Maritime City Authority.
Bin Alwan pointed out that the MoU comes to complete a part of the ministry's framework to promote and strengthen cooperation with strategic partners to protect the marine environment, and on the basis of joint concern to achieve the Federal Government strategy in ensuring the implementation of laws and regulations related to the protection of the marine environment. His Excellency appreciates the various efforts by many authorities that helped in the development of regulations and legislations to promote maritime safety and praised the role played by Dubai Maritime City Authority in managing the naval operations in line with best international practices, as well as cooperation with stakeholders to enhance the UAE role as a global maritime and sustainability hub. Adding that through this agreement many benefits will be reaped from the potential exchanged experiences and practices and the exchange of the highest standards of sustainability to ensure environmental security and maritime safety.
On his part, H.E. Amer Ali, CEO of Dubai Maritime City Authority, was pleased to sign a MoU of cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Water, stressing the importance of this step in supporting efforts to achieve maritime safety and stressed on the need to build bridges for effective communication with the Ministry of Environment and Water and all stakeholders as well. He also stressed that cooperation shall be done easier by sharing experiences and discussing ways of recruiting possibilities to reach marine environment sustainability, and by Maritime Authority's commitment to provide all necessary support to reflect common goals in promoting and developing the maritime sector.
His Excellency added that "maritime safety and sustainability has become one of the most important issues of increasing concern at the moment, for its positive effects on the development process at all levels, so we look forward with great optimism at the agreement signed with the Ministry of Environment and Water to ensure the creation of a sustainable environment through the adoption of methodologies for integrated management of ecosystems and natural resources that would build a green economy for present and future generations. We look forward to our fruitful partnership to reflect the common aspirations in achieving vital interests in integration, maintaining excellence and reaching total renaissance".
In regards to the MoU, both parties will intensify joint efforts to find ways to protect the marine environment from the risks posed by incorrect marine practices and various human, industrial and servicing activities, select one framework to operationalize existing maritime aspects in the UAE including common interests. The parties also agreed to promote effective communication channels for the exchange of knowledge, information, studies, data, human resources and technical expertise to support the embodiment of aspirations for the future access to a maritime environment that is safe and free from pollution.