The Ministry of Infrastructure Development in the UAE intends to pump 60 billion dirhams of investments in port infrastructure projects within 10 years, according to the Minister of Infrastructure and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Authority for Land and Maritime Transport, Abdullah Belheef Al-Nuaimi. (The dollar equals 3.67 dirhams) Al-Naimi said that the current Qatari crisis had no effect on commercial traffic in the UAE ports, and considered it a non-core issue. Al-Nuaimi explained that there are many external private companies and institutions looking to participate in this development process. The Ministry has submitted bids for street and road lighting projects and has received offers from international companies. He added that Dubai Ports is planning to invest a billion dollars in establishing an investment fund in the shipping sector, to keep pace with the strategies that the government has set to attract foreign investments in the infrastructure sector. Belheef Al-Naimi stressed that the UAE enjoys global competitive advantages that qualify it to compete with the developed countries in the marine industry and gain membership in the International Maritime Organization within the second category, which includes 10 countries with major interests in international maritime trade. Al-Nuaimi indicated that, with regard to the railway project of the Gulf Cooperation Council states, the UAE has completed the construction of a path of 266 km within the project, and discussions are currently taking place with Saudi Arabia to establish a joint cooperation between them to resume the railway installation work. He added that the marine navigation sector in the UAE manages 57 port terminals worldwide and targets more investments and strategies to develop this market. He pointed out that Abu Dhabi Ports Company is also seeking to develop its ports, including the expansion of the new Khalifa Port and the development of streets and roads, and we intend to invest about 8 billion dollars within 10 years

Reuters - Abu Dhabi