Marine facilities at Shahama Port in Abu Dhabi are to be redeveloped as part of an upgrade of the port’s leisure and recreation services. Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) made the announcement at the World Ports and Trade Summit (WPTS), which is taking place at ADNEC from 2-4 April. The agreement was signed at the WPTS by Tony Douglas, ADPC CEO, and Sami Al-Qazzaz, Halcrow’s Director for Abu Dhabi.

The agreement is intended to provide consultancy services to revive the area, adding value to the port and surrounding community. Works will involve an upgrade of the Shahama Port water basin and land site, followed by the development of sales and service facilities for small marine craft, marine and water clubhouse activities in the basin area, in addition to commercial, recreational and leisure activities.

Commenting on this occasion, Engineer Waleed Al Tamimi, VP Project Development, ADPC, said:

“The area around Shahama Port is well loved by recreational boat users and this upgrade of the port’s facilities will be of great benefit to the community and leisure sailors alike. ADPC is dedicated to ensuring the highest levels of customer satisfaction by providing quality facilities and services across its network of port facilities. While Khalifa Port will become the chief focal point of Abu Dhabi’s port activities over the coming decades, the Emirate’s smaller ports remain just as important, and we look forward to seeing the re-developed Shahama Port in use.”

Laurence Banyard, Principal Maritime Engineer from Halcrow commented:

“It is a great honour to be involved in developing Shahama Port, destined to be one of the capital’s most popular leisure ports, in partnership with ADPC. We have a wealth of experience in the development of marine and port facilities of this nature and we are committed to delivering the best in class services and experience for this project.”

Upon completion of this project, Shahama Port will become the largest one-stop shop for leisure boat users, featuring a number of facilities that ADPC will be developing including: dedicated slipways for boats and jet skies, wet and dry berthing facilities for more than 500 boats up to 100ft size, a Marina Clubhouse, picnic areas, restaurants, free car parking areas, security and lifeguard facilities, alongside many others that support the port’s community and will be developed by trusted external partners. These partners will have a unique opportunity to display their products in modern large showrooms that will have adjacent repair shops, in addition to a direct access to the sea.