Submissions are now open for the 2025 Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards!
HEADS UP!
Submission
Closing 31 August
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Ceremony
to take place during the Abu Dhabi International Boat Show in November
THE Abu Dhabi MARITIME AWARDS
As custodians of Abu Dhabi’s waterways, Abu Dhabi Maritime champions a thriving maritime domain that upholds the highest safety, health, and efficiency standards. Part of AD Ports Group and working in close cooperation with the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) – Department for Municipalities and Transport (DMT), we propel the emirate towards its ambition to become a global maritime capital.
Following the resounding success of the 2023 and 2024 Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards, which celebrated the very best in marina leadership and operations across the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye (MENAT), preparations are underway for an even bigger 2025 edition.
New this year are six project and individual-based award categories to supplement the awards programme’s six existing accolades for marina organisations. A seventh new category, “Outstanding Emerging Marina,” is designed specifically for small and medium enterprises.
Prepare yourselves for a glittering celebration at the Abu Dhabi International Boat Show in November 2025!
Outstanding Emerging Marina
Organisation Categories
The six award categories are as follows:
Outstanding Marina Award
Participating in the Outstanding Marina award automatically qualifies entrants for consideration in the five organisation-based sub-categories. The Outstanding Marina shows distinction in all five areas: building exceptional customer journeys; cultivating exceptional workplaces through a positive ethos and staff development; promoting a strong safety culture; demonstrating continuous improvement through new ideas and technology; and integrating environmental responsibility into their business strategy.Health & Safety Award
Prioritising the well-being of employees, contractors, and visitors means building a strong health and safety culture, proactive risk management systems, and a demonstrably good safety record – all hallmarks of a successful organisation.Employer Excellence Award
Providing exceptional workplaces that motivate and empower employees to reach their full potential involves fostering a positive culture, investing in talent development, and achieving solid employee-related outcomes.Sustainability Award
Commitment to sustainability involves integrating environmental responsibility into the marina’s core strategy. This includes implementing innovative programmes to reduce its ecological footprint and achieve tangible results for a healthier environment and community.Innovation Award
Fostering a culture of continuous improvement entails embracing innovation-driven approaches, leveraging cutting-edge technologies, and achieving results that enhance operations, customer experiences, or environmental impact.Customer Experience Award
Delivering an exceptional customer experience with a deep understanding of customer needs, seamless interactions across channels, and the intelligent use of technology. This entails considering customer feedback, driving continuous improvement, and fostering loyalty and advocacy.AWARD CATEGORIES
The six award categories are as follows:
Outstanding Marina Award
Outstanding Marina Award
Innovation Award
Innovation AwardFostering a culture of continuous improvement entails embracing innovation-driven approaches, leveraging cutting-edge technologies, and achieving results that enhance operations, customer experiences, or environmental impact.
Employer Excellence Award
Employer Excellence AwardProviding exceptional workplaces that motivate and empower employees to reach their full potential involves fostering a positive culture, investing in talent development, and achieving solid employee-related outcomes.
Customer Experience Award
Customer Experience AwardDelivering an exceptional customer experience with a deep understanding of customer needs, seamless interactions across channels, and the intelligent use of technology. This entails considering customer feedback, driving continuous improvement, and fostering loyalty and advocacy.
Outstanding Emerging Marina Award
Outstanding Emerging Marina Award
Sustainability Award
Sustainability AwardCommitment to sustainability involves integrating environmental responsibility into the marina’s core strategy. This includes implementing innovative programs to reduce its ecological footprint and achieve tangible results for a healthier planet.
Health & Safety Award
Health & Safety AwardCommitment to sustainability involves integrating environmental responsibility into the marina’s core strategy. This includes implementing innovative programs to reduce its ecological footprint and achieve tangible results for a healthier planet.
Most Popular Marina Award
Most Popular Marina AwardThe Most Popular Marina Award, determined solely by public vote, invites passionate marina supporters to engage. Rally your community and prepare to claim this esteemed title!
PROJECT CATEGORIES
Three new project-based categories will reward the most impactful marina “Innovation Project”,“Sustainability Project” and “Wellbeing Project” These awards give marinas a chance to showcase a single standout programme or initiative. These categories are designed to recognise targeted efforts with demonstrated success, rather than organisation-wide approaches.
Innovation Project
This award goes to the inventive project or programme that improves one aspect of marina business or operations.
Sustainability Project
Wellbeing Project
INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES
Outstanding Service Hero
This award will go to the customer-facing employee whose unwavering dedication to their work and peers has contributed to overall operational and service excellence.
Outstanding Leader
Rising Star
Most Popular Marina
Testimonials
Hear what past participants say about the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards.
Wayne Shepherd
Director – Marinas,
Dubai Harbour
Marina & Operations Manager,
Aldar Marinas
Country Manager,
D-Marin,Türkiye
FAQs
Entry Rules and Requirements
Does the submitter require permission to submit an entry on behalf of the marina?
Yes. Submissions on behalf of the marina by individual(s) requirepermission from the person(s) in charge.
Who can apply for the individual categories?
A submission to one of the Awards’ individual-based categories (Outstanding Service Hero Award, Outstanding Leader Award, Rising Star Award) must either come from marina management or have the explicit endorsement of marina management.
Individuals who self-nominate should demonstrate management endorsement and include evidence from their direct manager to support their submission.
Is it possible for a marina to apply to more than one Abu Dhabi Maritime Award?
Yes. Marinas may apply to multiple Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards. “Outstanding Marina” and “Outstanding Emerging Marina” applicants are automatically entered into the five organisation-based sub-categories (Customer Service, Employer Excellence, Health & Safety, Innovation, and Sustainability).
How many awards can one marina win?
Marinas can win any of the organisation, project, or individual-based awards. However, to ensure equitable opportunity for all participants, winners of the top two awards (Outstanding Marina and Outstanding Emerging Marina) will be excluded from wins in any of the five organisation-based sub-categories. Their projects and employees will still be eligible for the project and individual-based award categories.
How is the Most Popular Marina Award determined?
The Most Popular Marina Award is determined through a vote-based system and does not require any submission documents.
Would a newly established marina with only one year of operation be eligible to submit to the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards?
A new marina is eligible to enter organisation-based categories if it has been operating or conducting live projects for at least 12 months.
Marinas that have been operating for fewer than 12 months may apply to the project-based categories (Innovation Project Award, Sustainability Project Award, Wellbeing Project Award).
Who can apply for the Outstanding Emerging Marina Award?
New this year, the Outstanding Emerging Marina Award gives smaller marinas a dedicated opportunity to earn recognition and stand out from larger enterprises.
Limited to marinas with 200 or fewer berths, Outstanding Emerging Marina is designed to highlight smaller operations whose innovations or exceptional performance merit industry attention.
This accolade has the same criteria as the existing Outstanding Marina Award. Berth quantity is the only additional eligibility factor.
What is the different between the organisation-based and project-based categories?
The organisation-based categories are bigger picture, encompassing the entire marina system. To win an organisation-based award, a marina must demonstrate an extensive commitment to the award theme, with multiple examples of how the marina supports sustainability, innovation, employees, health and safety, and/or an exceptional customer experience.
The project-based awards are more focused in scope. They reward individual projects or programmes that have had a measurable positive impact.
For example, a marina may apply for the organisation-based Innovation Award if it can demonstrate an overall commitment to innovation with several examples of innovative approaches to operations or management. The marina may also apply to the Innovation Project Award if it believes one of its innovative initiatives deserves particular recognition.
More specific breakdowns are below.
What is the difference between the Sustainability Award in the organisation-based categories and the Sustainability Project Award in the project-based categories?
The Sustainability Award recognises marinas that have integrated environmental responsibility into their core strategy, with several examples of how sustainability considerations have influenced decision-making or operations.
The Sustainability Project Award recognises a single project that has had a measurable positive impact on the environment or community,
What is the difference between the organisation-based Innovation Award and the Innovation Project Award?
To win the organisation-based Innovation Award, a marina must demonstrate continuous improvement, embracing innovation-driven approaches, leveraging cutting-edge technologies, and achieving results that enhance operations, customer experiences, or environmental impact. The Innovation Project Award rewards a single inventive project or programme that has improved one aspect of marina business or operations.
What is the difference between the organisation-based Employer Excellence Award and the Wellbeing Project Award?
The organisation-based Employer Excellence Award goes to the marina that provides an exceptional workplace that motivates and empowers employees while supporting their skill or career development.
The Wellbeing Project Award recognises an individual project or programme that meaningfully invests in employee happiness, health, or development.
What is the difference between the Outstanding Service Hero Award & Rising Star Award?
The Rising Star Award goes to the up-and-coming marina employee whose talent, ideas, and enthusiasm have positioned them for a successful and impactful career in the regional marina industry.
The Outstanding Service Hero Award is for a customer-facing employee whose unwavering dedication to their work has impressed their colleagues and elevated the marina’s overall customer experience.
Assessment Process & Methodology
What are the entry assessment and judging processes?
The Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards submissions assessment process is twofold. First, a qualified team of assessors will thoroughly review the submissions and assign a score based on the criteria specific to each award category. Next, assessors will present the results of their analysis to the members of the Awards jury panel, who will determine winners. Assessors’ scores will assist members of the jury in their deliberations but will not be the only factor they consider as they choose award winners. The jury will conduct a careful, qualitative evaluation of the submissions in each category before finalising the winners list.
How do entry assessors determine entry scores?
Assessors assign a numerical score for every criterion in each award category. The sum of these scores determines an entry’s performance in its category. These final category scores fall on a tiered scale between 0 and 100:
- 80 – 100: Beacon (Outstanding/Exemplar)
- 60 – 80: Navigator (Excellent)
- 40 – 60: Sailing (Competent)
- 20 – 40: Ascendant (Emerging)
- 0 – 20: Harbour (Foundational)
How many winners will there be in each category?
There is a gold award and a silver award in each award category. While previous years included a third-place bronze award, there will be no bronze awards at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards. Instead, Marinas who achieve a score of “Sailing” or above in the assessment processes will receive a certificate indicating their tier.
How does the Most Popular Marina Recognition work?
Marinas participating in the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards are eligible for an additional recognition, “Most Popular Marina,” determined entirely by public vote. Members of the public will be invited to cast their vote through a tamper-resistant online system. Voters must complete security measures to prevent interference by bots and artificial intelligence programmes. Only verified votes will be counted. The Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards encourage marinas to rally their fans to participate in the vote. Winners will be announced during the awards ceremony at the Abu Dhabi International Boat Show in November.
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VENUE DETAILS
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre
ADNEC Group
Khaleej Al Arabi Street
P.O. Box 5546
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates