World Maritime Day theme 2025

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About WMDPE 2025

In 2025, the United Arab Emirates will host the World Maritime Day Parallel Event (WMDPE) under the theme: “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity” — a powerful call to action for collective responsibility, environmental stewardship, and innovation in shaping the future of maritime transport.

This global gathering will bring together government leaders, industry experts, innovators, and environmental advocates to explore solutions for sustainable shipping, ocean protection, and digital transformation in the maritime sector. The event reflects the UAE's leadership in advancing maritime safety, green technology, and international cooperation, and marks a key moment in shaping a more resilient and inclusive maritime future.

The 2025 Parallel Event will not only celebrate the achievements of the global maritime sector but also serve as a launchpad for transformative action—where ideas turn into impact, and responsibility evolves into real-world results.

Event overview

Date: 29 September – 01 October
Time: from 09:00 AM till 05:00 PM
Venue: Dubai - Intercontinental Festival City, AlRas Ball room

Background of IMO and World Maritime Day

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating shipping on a global scale. Established in 1948 and headquartered in London, the IMO's primary mission is to ensure safe, secure, and environmentally sound international shipping.

The organization develops and maintains a comprehensive regulatory framework covering maritime safety, environmental protection, legal matters, technical cooperation, and maritime security. Its conventions—such as SOLAS, MARPOL, and STCW—are the cornerstone of international maritime law and are adopted and implemented by over 170 Member States.

Through cooperation, standard-setting, and capacity-building, the IMO plays a critical role in supporting sustainable shipping and protecting the global ocean for future generations.

The World Maritime Day Parallel Event is one of the most prestigious gatherings in the global maritime calendar, organized in collaboration with the IMO. Each year, a host country is selected to convene international stakeholders under a unifying theme that reflects the challenges and aspirations of the global maritime community.

The World Maritime Day Parallel Event was celebrated for the first time in Lisbon, Portugal in 2005, and is hosted in a different country each year.

WMDPE 2025 Host Country

The United Arab Emirates is proud to host the 2025 World Maritime Day Parallel Event, held under the inspiring theme "Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity." This globally significant occasion—organized in collaboration with the International Maritime Organization (IMO)—underscores the UAE’s growing leadership in promoting sustainable, inclusive, and forward-looking maritime practices.

Set against the backdrop of the UAE’s world-class ports and advanced maritime infrastructure, the event will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, environmental advocates, and innovators from across the globe to explore how collective action and innovation can safeguard our oceans while unlocking new economic opportunities. The theme emphasizes the shared responsibility of the global maritime community to protect marine ecosystems, uphold environmental standards, and harness the ocean's potential for inclusive growth and technological advancement.

The UAE, with its strategic location, cutting-edge logistics capabilities, and ambitious climate commitments—including its target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050—serves as the ideal host for this milestone event. Through keynote sessions, expert panels, exhibitions, and collaborative workshops, the 2025 World Maritime Day Parallel Event will serve as a platform for actionable dialogue and global cooperation to shape a resilient, sustainable, and innovative maritime future.