The Directive

As trade grows, infrastructure is developed, and there is a growing need for ocean logistics in Dubai, the marine industry plays a significant and vital part in the business and economic life of the Emirate of Dubai. In order to build a robust marine community, DMA strives to develop positive business practices and adhere to best practices internationally. A key component to delivering on that goal is to create transparency and visibility on the costs of doing business, such as importing and exporting goods within the maritime community of the Emirate of Dubai.

The current maritime landscape offers little visibility due to the complexity of charges between Service Providers in the industry and the wide variations in names and descriptions of comparable types of charges. This makes it challenging for all stakeholders to explore and comprehend what influences the underlying expenses.

As part of the initiative to increase transparency on doing business within Dubai, DMA is introducing Directive No.1, which aims to:

Promote best commercial practices and fair competition in the Emirate of Dubai’s Maritime Sector by requiring Service Providers to file all their Sea Container Charges and by issuing a freeze of charges.
Improve transparency in the implementation of sea container fees by standardizing the most important sea container fees. To guarantee standardized understanding of important costs among stakeholders in the maritime sector, the Regulation will require Service Providers to adopt standardized wording for the commonly applied Sea Container Charges in future billings to customers.

Under the new Directive, Service Providers in the Emirate of Dubai are required to:

Provide details of all their local Sea Container Charges, alongside associated Sea Container Charge terminology. This applies to all Service Providers who, at the Effective Date of the Directive (1 May 2023), are already licensed by any licensing authority in the Emirate including the Department of Economy and Tourism, or any special development zone and free zones such as Dubai International Financial Center authority.
Upload Sea Containers Charges via Dubai Trade Single Window portal within 30 days from the Effective Date.

All Existing Sea Container Charges disclosed and filed pursuant to this Directive will continue to be effective and applicable to Users without interruption while the DMA undertakes a full analysis of the data provided.

As of the effective date of this Directive (1 May 2023), all Service Providers are prohibited from increasing their Existing Sea Container Charges in any way, whether directly or indirectly, and whether by increasing the amount thereof, or by applying new Sea Container Charges. A Service Provider may increase their Sea Container Charges strictly to the extent necessary to reflect new or increased Authority, Port Operator, or government charges or fees, and without any additional markup, fees or charges being applied by the Service Provider. The freeze on Service Charges under this Article will apply until further notice by the Authority.