The New Maritime Law is about to be endorsed. These are very exciting times for the Al Tamimi Maritime, Aviation & Insurance lawyers and indeed, many others, who have been involved with amendments to the law.

When this law is endorsed and published, the UAE shipping and associated industries will be sailing toward new, unlimited horizons.

The change starts with the name, where, as you will have noticed, I referred to the law as the “Maritime Law” instead of the original “Commercial Maritime Law”. There are a number of major amendments to the new law, which include, but are not limited to:

• Allowing complete non-UAE ownership for vessels registered in the UAE.

• Extending the State's authority to fight drug and human trafficking occurring in foreign vessels with UAE territorial waters.

• Regulating the registration and licensing of pleasure and fishing boats under 10 tons.

• Foreign Vessel operation within UAE special Economic Zones.