Thank you for participating in the
2025 Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards
Congratulations to our winners! See you next year!
2025 WINNERS
Organisation Categories
Outstanding Emerging Marina
Gold
D-Marin Marsa AL Arab,
Dubai, UAE
Silver
Emirates Palace Marina,
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Outstanding Marina Award
Gold
Dubai Harbour,
Dubai, UAE
Silver
D-Marin Didim,
Didim, Türkiye
Health & Safety Award
Gold
Emirates Palace Marina,
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Silver
D-Marin Turgutreis,
Turgutreis, Turkiye
Sustainability Award
Gold
D-Marin Turgutreis,
Turgutreis, Turkiye
Silver
The Pearl Island Marina,
Doha, Qatar
Customer Experience Award
Gold
D-Marin Didim,
Didim, Türkiye
Silver
D-Marin Göcek,,
Göcek, Turkiye
Innovation Award
Gold
D-Marin Göcek,,
Göcek, Turkiye
Silver
Palm Jumeirah Marina
UAE
Employer Excellence Award
Gold
Palm Jumeirah Marina
UAE
Silver
Bulgari Marina,
Dubai, UAE
Most Popular Marina Recognition
Gold
The Pearl Island Marina,
Doha, Qatar
Silver
Bulgari Marina,
Dubai, UAE
Project Categories
Innovation Project Award
Dubai Harbour,
Dubai, UAE
Sustainability Project Award
Dubai Islands Marina
Dubai, UAE
Individual Categories
Outstanding Leader Award
Gold
Wayne Shepherd,
Dubai Harbour
Silver
Adel Maani,
Ayla Marina
Rising Star Award
Gold
Hassan Ahmad,
Jeddah Yacht Club
Silver
Sherzodbek Ganiev,
Palm Jumeirah Marina
Outstanding Service Hero Award
Gold
Sara Abdelaziz
Aldar Marinas LLC
Silver
Charles Mayanja,
Emirates Palace Marina
THE Abu Dhabi MARITIME AWARDS
As stewards of Abu Dhabi’s waterways, Abu Dhabi Maritime continues to steer a vibrant maritime ecosystem anchored in safety, sustainability, and operational excellence. Under AD Ports Group, and in close alignment with the Integrated Transport Centre, we remain committed to charting the emirate’s course toward becoming a true global maritime capital.
After two successful editions that recognised exceptional marina leadership, innovation, sustainability, health & safety, and operational mastery across the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye (MENAT), the third edition in 2025 marked a defining evolution. The programme expanded to honour breakthrough projects and sustainability-driven initiatives,while also shining a spotlight on the sector’s most influential leaders and emerging experts. With this momentum, we now set our sights on an even more dynamic 2026 edition.
Riding the progress of the past three editions — and the expanded framework introduced in 2025 — the 2026 Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards will continue to celebrate the region’s standout marinas, transformative projects, and exceptional individuals shaping the sector’s future.
Get ready for a remarkable celebration in November 2026 — where the region’s most innovative, future-focused, and resilient marinas will take the helm and showcase the very best of MENAT’s maritime excellence.
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
OUR Juries
Prof. Elhadi Etigani
VP - Corporate Excellence, Business
Development & Excellence
Dr. Jasmina Locke
CEO
Farrokh Golchin
Managing Director
Tony Dye
CMM
Wyndham Tops
Senior Director Marinas and Waterways
Isra’a Mobideen
Middle East Regional Director
OUR ASSESSORS
Adrian Lipolit
Adrienne Doolan
Ali Nimer
Baha’ Mohammad
Bayan AbuShaban
Dr. Barae Dukhan
Hussam Alrazem
Mahmoud Garad
Mark Hamill
Mike Kendall
Mohammed Al Mutawa
Musa Hanhan
Santhakumaran Atmalingam
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