Dredging for the 25 million square foot peninsula that will house Dubai Maritime City (DMC) began last week with deposition of rocks off Dubai's mainland.

The barges carried rocks and deposited them in the sea off Dubai Ports Authority's (DPA) Port Rashid Terminal and Dubai Drydocks, where the new maritime facility is being built.

Amer Ali, project manager of Dubai Maritime City, said: "The project is well underway and, once completed, Dubai Maritime City will provide the ideal focal point for all maritime activity in the region, while providing a bridge between the East and the West."

DMC is an integrated state-of-the-art development that will provide every element of infrastructure required by key marine and maritime related industries. It will be the world's largest maritime development, on a man-made peninsula.

Located between Dubai's Port Rashid terminal and Dubai Drydocks, it will be connected to the mainland by a causeway.

DMC will be the hub for maritime businesses from six large and diverse sectors — marine services; marine management, product marketing; marine research and education; recreation; ship design and manufacturing.

It will offer world-class facilities and services to maritime businesses in the region, and worldwide. DMC will be the ideal destination for several maritime management services including cargo, boats and ships, insurance agencies and legal consultancy as well as lawyers.

In addition to the above mentioned services and facilities offered by DMC, the marketing services related to maritime affairs will be another successful project to be added to Dubai's commercial infrastructure and services.

DMC will be the ideal place for organising maritime commercial exhibitions, seminars, conferences and symposia related to the maritime industry.

Once completed, the drydock at Jaddaf will be relocated at the DMC.