Dubai 10X: Port, Customs & Free Zone Corporation’s ‘Dhowber’ Project Boosts Dubai’s Lead In Maritime Transport

The Port, Customs & Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) has launched its one-of-a-kind “Dhowber” project to strengthen the UAE and Dubai’s leading global position in the maritime transport industry and help shape the sector’s future.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council and Chairman of DFF’s Board of Trustees, launched the bold plan, among a bundle of avant-garde proposals for Dubai 10X at the 6^th World Government Summit, held in Dubai in February 2018.

The Dubai 10X initiative seeks to place Dubai Government entities 10 years ahead of the rest of the world in all sectors. To that end, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan approved 26 projects presented by 24 government departments. The shortlisted projects were evaluated by a panel of experts out of a total of more than 160 ideas submitted by 36 entities in less than 365 days.

His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman and CEO of DP World, Chairman of PCFC, asserted that the new project will boost Dubai’s dhow trade competitiveness by applying new tools to organize cargo transport and take it to the next level. Dhowber is a smart platform that will help in cargo activity reservation for traditional dhows on Dubai creek, H.E. explained, adding that the platform will rely on artificial intelligence (AI) to provide a dynamic pricing engine based on demand, as well as auxiliary services such as insurance of goods.