Submissions closed. Excitement just beginning!
Thanks to every marina that entered the 2025 Awards. Stay tuned — Voting opens 20 October for the Most Popular Marina.
HEADS UP!
Submission
Closed
Ceremony
to take place during the Abu Dhabi International Boat Show on 20 November
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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 Award
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
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.
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.
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.
Outstanding Emerging Marina Award
Sustainability Award
Commitment 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
Commitment 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
The 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 Award
Sustainability Project Award
Wellbeing Project Award
INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES
Outstanding Service Hero Award
Outstanding Leader Award
Rising Star Award
Most Popular Marina RECOGNITION
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
Dubai Electricity & Water Authority

Dr. Jasmina Locke
CEO
Integrated Development Solutions Group - IDSG UNWTO Expert & Auditor

Isra’a Mobideen
Middle East Regional Director
EFQM

Farrokh Golchin
Managing Director
StratConn LLC

Tony Dye
CMM
TD Marina Consultancy Limited, UK

Wyndham Tops
Senior Director of Maritime and Marina Affairs
Red Sea Global

Dr. Jasmina Locke
Dr. Jasmina Locke is a senior C-suite leader and global expert in sustainable economic development, with a track record of integrating sustainability, education, and innovation into large-scale development projects. She has held senior leadership roles for over a decade, and as a founding CEO was instrumental in conceptualising and leading SEE Institute, the GCC’s first multidisciplinary net-zero carbon education and innovation hub. In that role, she brought together ESG advisory, executive education, applied research, and public-private partnerships under one roof.
Her work spans governments, international organizations, and investment entities, shaping strategies that unite environmental performance with economic and social impact. Dr. Locke has advised on sustainable urban and destination development for high-profile projects such as EXO2020, King Abdullah Financial District and Bahrain International Circuit. She is recognized for her expertise in building institutions, structuring public-private partnerships, and delivering future-ready solutions that bridge innovation with long-term community and environmental benefits.
Holding a PhD in Sustainable Economic Development, she is frequently invited to international forums as a keynote speaker and panelist. She contributed to COP28 and conceptualised, led and chaired the Global Sustainability Summit in Dubai, placing sustainability within a broader agenda of sustainable economic growth and cross-sector impact. She is a published author whose research has been presented across the Middle East and Europe.

Ahmed Al Khayat
Ahmed Al Khayat currently serves as the Senior Vice President of the excellence management division in Abu Dhabi Ports Group. He established the quality assurance function back in 2012.r. Alkhayat is the founder of ADPorts Group Internal Excellence Award(MAFNOOD). He graduated from Crawley college in the UK and continued his studies in the United Arab Emirates. Ahmad comes with 25 years of experience out of which 21 years were in the quality assurance and excellence fields.
He is a certified EFQM assessor and a certified auditor and was one of the main drivers that helped Abu Dhabi Ports Group winning the Main Award in Abu Dhabi Award for Excellence in Government Performance in 2017.
Ahmad worked in different complex fields such as aviation, maintenance, and ports. He held several positions in huge organizations such as Dubai Airports as the Vice President – Excellence Programs & Government Relations.

Capt. Michael Fetton
Capt. Michael Fetton is from Ireland and began working in the Marine Industry over 3 decades ago.
The first few years provided him excellent training in seamanship along with the experience of traveling the world. During these years, Mike has challenged himself to learn every aspect of this industry, having worked on a wide range of boats from power to sail, high speed to displacement, and everything in between. In 2006 Mike moved to ashore and held positions of Project Manager, Business Development Manager, and Operations Manager.
Mike Fetton joined JLS Yachts in November 2015. Mike took on his current role for JLS Yachts in 2019 he become the Managing Director of JLS Yachts and its 5 divisions namely Superyacht Middle East, JLS Yacht Training Institute, The Yacht & Charter Management Company, Crew Placement Middle East and the newly opened Waypoint Trading.
Mike’s role as an MD of JLS Yachts is to control and oversee all business operations of the Company and its divisions. He provides inspiration, motivation and guidance to the managers in the company to be able to achieve its objectives effectively and efficiently.

Farrokh Golchin
Farrokh Golchin B. Eng. Civil is the Managing Director of StratConn LLC, supplier of equipment and services to marinas in the GCC and beyond.
With over 20 years of experience in the leisure marine industry, Farrokh has held senior roles in various associations and companies, gaining a deep understanding of marinas and their broader impact on the marine sector.
He is a founding member of the LMA (Leisure Marine Association) and has served as Treasurer since its inception. He also works closely with the Global Marina Institute, the Australian Marina Association, British Marine, and the Yacht Harbour Association to bring world-class best practices and educational programs to the region.

Captain Saif Al Mheiri
Captain Saif Al Mheiri is the CEO of Abu Dhabi Maritime, the primary custodian of Abu Dhabi’s waterways, tasked with helping position Abu Dhabi as a leading global maritime capital. He is also the Acting Chief Sustainability Officer at AD Ports Group responsible for ensuring the execution of the Group’s Environment, Social and Governance Strategy and compliance to sustainability best practices.
Captain Al Mheiri brings over 20 years of professional experience, which includes multiple senior positions at the Department of Municipalities & Transport, ADNOC Logistics & Services, ADNATCO and NGSCO. His experience spans different industries and covers a variety of areas including strategy, planning, business development, mergers and acquisitions, and transformation.
His work portfolio includes project management relating to ship operations, digitalisation and innovation, oil and gas, and industrial sectors. Furthermore, he served with distinction in his role as one of the leaders that assisted in developing the Abu Dhabi Plan Maritime, which serves as the main strategy for the development of Abu Dhabi’s maritime sector.
Captain Al Mheiri holds an Executive MBA Degree in Strategic Management, Certificates of Competency (CoC) in Master Mariners, CoC Chief Mate, an Advanced Diploma of Applied Nautical Science, CoC Second Mate, and Diploma of Applied Nautical Science.

Tony Dye
Tony has been involved in the marina industry for over 22 years, and set up his own consultancy in 2012, having previously been Operations Manager for an independent group operating 7 marinas, both coastal and inland in the UK with over 1700 wet berths and moorings and a boatyard.
He has extensive coastal and inland marina management and operations, and marketing knowledge together with developing marina strategies and implementation.
He was a TYHA (The Yacht Harbour Association) in the UK for 12 years as Consultant assessing marinas and boatyards travelling extensively across the Mid-East conduction both Gold Anchor and International Clean Marina accreditations. He now mainly acts as Consultant to assorted marine related projects.
Tony is the former Chair of the Global Marina Institute, UK, Europe, and Mid-East for 5 years, having delivered the range of IMM & AMM marina manager courses in conjunction with British Marine and the MIA over the past 8 years.

Prof. Elhadi Mohamed Ahmed Etigani
Professor Hadi Eltigani is A full fledged academician as well as all round practitioner in the field of Quality Management and Business Excellence for more than 30 years in UK, Europe , GCC as well as the Middle East.
As an Academic he was and still is a Professor of Business Development at key European Centres such as Hertfordshire University as well as a member of the International Academy for Quality IAQ established by the original Quality Gurus such as Dr. Deming, Joe Juran and Val Feigenbaum in the early 1950s.
As a Practioner in the Quality and Excellence Awards industry in the UAE and the region, he established the Dubai Quality Award DQA in its new Criteria back in 1997, the Dubai Government Excellence Program where he was a member of the technical committee which established its new criteria in 1998 . Moreover , he also established the Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award in 1999, the Abu Dhabi Government Excellence Award -ADAEP in 2006 , Sheikha Fatima Excellence Award for Arab Youth in 2011, in addition, he helped established the Sharjah Excellence Award, RAK Government Excellence Award, Ajman Government Excellence Award and Fujairah’s Chamber Excellence Award for the private sector.
In terms of Jury role, he worked as a Jury Chairman or member in almost All Local Awards in Dubai , Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman and RAK. In KSA he worked as Jury Chairman for King Abdalaziz Quality Award for more than 5 cycles running as well as many internal awards in the UAE with notable organisations both in Government as well as the private sector.

Isra'a Mobideen
With over 20 years of diversified experience in the public and private sectors, a senior executive and a quality and excellence expert passionate about improving organizational performance and achieving a sustainable future. As the EFQM Middle East Regional Director, Ms. Isra’a led the company's market development and value proposition in the Middle East and beyond.
She has a strong track record of spearheading major initiatives in quality management, business excellence, performance management, and service improvement, using the EFQM and other Excellence models.
Under her leadership, EFQM worked with industry experts to develop various models and awards such as Hamdan- EFQM Global Education Award and Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Environmental Award in Abu Dhabi.

Wyndham Tops
Wyndham Tops, the Senior Director of Marine and Marina at Red Sea Global, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role. His journey in the maritime industry began at a young age, teaching at a sailing school and delivering yachts worldwide. His time at the prestigious Italian Ferretti Yacht Group solidified his passion for project management, complex construction, high-value sales, and multidimensional luxury. From 2008 to 2016, Wyndham served as the Group Operations & Facilities Manager at RDK Commercial Investments, overseeing a diverse portfolio of Residential & Commercial Buildings, Private Family Palaces, multiple Embassies, and luxury Super Yacht & Super Car fleets. With over 20 years of successful management experience under his belt, Wyndham then took on the role of Director of Leisure at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, before moving on to build the Marinas portfolio at Abu Dhabi Maritime, where he managed 29 marine facilities.
Red Sea Global, where Wyndham is currently based, is at the forefront of luxury, sustainability, and innovation in development. Spearheading new tourism models, Red Sea Global prioritizes the well-being of customers, communities, and environments in its projects. As part of Saudi Vision 2030, Red Sea Global is owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia and chaired by HRH Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. The organization is committed to transforming the nation, creating economic opportunities for the people of Saudi Arabia, and enhancing the Kingdom's environmental and cultural heritage. With a diverse portfolio of world-leading destinations along Saudi Arabia's west coast, Red Sea Global is set to redefine luxury tourism and sustainability offerings, while actively protecting and enhancing the natural environment for future generations. Stay tuned for more exciting developments along the coastline as Red Sea Global continues to push the boundaries of responsible tourism.
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