Dubai ports: clean air strategy demands bold action

Dubai’s Air Quality Strategy 2030 presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the ports sector.

Dubai’s six ports see over 13,000 vessel visits every year, including container ships, cruise liners, bulk carriers, and other vessel types across its major ports: Jebel Ali, Port Rashid and Dubai Harbour. Dubai’s cruise sector saw close to 200 cruise vessels, carrying over 281,000 cruise passengers between January and November 2024. Jebel Ali Port, Dubai’s largest and busiest maritime hub, has an annual container capacity of over 19 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) alongside breakbulk cargo of around 5.4 million metric tonnes. This high volume of activity across Dubai’s coast affects the air, water and land environments though fuel use (resulting in air pollution and GHG emissions), marine water pollution, litter and other forms of pollution.

Ricardo has provided technical support to the Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority (DECCA) in developing its Air Quality Strategy 2030, ensuring that the strategy is balanced, equitable and cost-effective. Following the recent approval of the Dubai Air Quality strategy by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed on 26 June 2025, Mark Broomfield, Technical Director of Air Quality, Oriol Teixido, Associate Director of Air Quality, and Tim Scarbrough, Director of Maritime, consider the implications of the strategy for the ports and maritime sector.

Objectives of the Dubai Air Quality Strategy 2030

The newly approved Dubai Air Quality Strategy 2030 unfolds the UAE leadership direction set in the UAE Environmental Policy, which aims to enhance the quality of life in the UAE and identities air quality as a priority issue due to its health, economic and environmental implications. The Dubai Air Quality Strategy 2030 aims to achieve clean air standards on 90% of the days by 2030 and reduce PM2.5 to 35 µg/m3, identifying the Ports and DP World as key stakeholders, among other government and private sector entities.  It aligns with the National Air Quality Agenda 2031, which is built on three pillars: monitoring, mitigation and management of air quality. This, and similar strategies from other territories will require proactive changes to be made by ports, together with similar improvements from other sectors which contribute to air pollution, to minimise the risk of any penalties or reputational damage.

Strategies to reduce emissions

Ports can adopt several measures to ensure they are monitoring, reporting and reducing the impacts of their operations while remaining competitive commercially.

Due to the inter-connected nature of the ports and maritime sector, there will be numerous factors affecting the decision-making process – and the approach each port takes will be individual. From the choice of low-emissions fuel to integrating renewable energy infrastructure, the key consideration for each port will be achieving their sectoral objectives for cleaner operations while continuing to meet stakeholder and investor requirements.

Vessel variations

Working with ship builders and operators to minimise the impact of visiting and operational vessels may require investment. Digital navigation systems to reduce voyage times or real-time data on weather, currents and port conditions could be used to optimise routes and therefore fuel consumption. Seeking energy-efficient ship designs with optimised hull shapes that reduce drag and improve fuel economy could be considered, and trialling a ‘just in time’ arrivals process may reduce the time spent waiting at anchor for the next available berth.

Adopting onboard waste segregation, recycling and wastewater treatment systems can also support with the reduction of environmental pollutants and improve other sustainability credentials. This also contributes to compliance with MARPOL Annex V.

Port-side

Switching vessels to use shore-side electricity while docked can be a very impactful step in reducing the associated emissions from conventionally fuelled ships – even more so when the electricity is generated from renewable sources.
Meanwhile, port side operations are highly likely to electrify with any remaining fuel-powered port machinery required to run on clean fuels (e.g. hydrogen fuel cells) or biodiesel with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems to reduce the harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions which are a key component of Dubai’s Air Quality Strategy 2030.

Transitioning port side and in or near port vessels to zero-emission fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia, or electrification would deliver substantial reductions through reduced fuel emissions, but does require thorough strategic and technical consideration. This also has implications due to the high level of capital expenditure to safely embrace the change.

Alongside measures associated with cleaner energy sources, ports may also be able to implement zero- or low-cost measures to enhance management and controls on dusty materials. Such measures can be helpful in reducing emissions of dust and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) – another priority for the Air Quality Strategy with the potential to deliver substantial health and socio-economic benefits for surrounding communities.

Collaboration is key

Due to the networked environment and global nature of the ports and maritime sector, any changes to operations in one area can cause wide ripples through the value chain and stakeholder groups. Consultation and collaboration with all parties is advisable to ensure that the key role of the Dubai ports in the city’s economy continues to flourish while the enhanced environmental objectives of Dubai’s Air Quality Strategy 2030 and other policies are met. Development of roadmaps and action plans is essential to guide all parties on their shared journey.

Data driven decision making and regulatory reporting

Strong business decisions rely on accurate data. For ports, this means accurately assessing current air emissions and their impact on operations, communities, and the environment. Regulators and international conventions are placing growing emphasis on transparent and regular reporting of air pollutants and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and their effects on local environments. For example, Ricardo has supported the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) in developing an Integrated Emissions Quantification Tool (IEQT), which will cover all emission sources across in the UAE – including port operations and vessel emissions – to ensure compliance with national requirements and global commitments under the Paris Agreement.

At the same time, investors and shareholders are increasingly demanding robust environmental reporting as part of ESG commitments. Highlighting where port workers and other local communities will see health benefits from reduced pollution could be significant when seeking investment. By proactively gathering and reporting emissions data, ports can not only strengthen regulatory compliance but also improve decision-making, enhance sustainability performance and attract greater investor confidence.

Conclusion

Dubai’s Air Quality Strategy 2030 presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the ports sector. While compliance demands investment and operational change, it also opens doors to innovation, efficiency, and global leadership in sustainable shipping. Stakeholder collaboration is essential to maintain networks and commercial viability. Accurate emissions data underpins smarter decisions, smoother operations, and stronger reputations. Organisations which act early and decisively will be best positioned to thrive in this evolving regulatory and environmental landscape. 

Sustainable ports Ricardo has been working with port, marina and shipyard owners and operators for decades to help them understand their environmental impacts. Through our work, we have developed an in-depth understanding of the unique challenges that ports face and are ideally placed to help them manage these. Read more

Unique offer of air pollution mitigation solutions Ricardo has the longest-established specialist air quality team in the world and, with over 150 experts and developers, one of the largest. Our unique expertise in working with governments (regional, national and international), NGOs, international funders and private companies for over 60 years helps our clients around the world to understand, manage and improve air quality.  Read more