Framework for Improving Strategic Competitiveness of Container Ports in the UAE

Container-based shipping plays a pivotal role in the economic landscape of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a nation strategically positioned at the crossroads of major trade routes between Asia, Europe, and Africa. Improving competitiveness in container-based shipping is crucial for the UAE to maintain and enhance its position in the global market. Therefore, the main aim of this research program is to develop a framework for improving the strategic competitiveness of container ports in the UAE. An extensive literature review revealed that smart ports are the way forward for improving competitiveness. Perspectives collected via interviews and a questionnaire survey supported the view that a comprehensive and holistic approach is needed to transform UAE ports. An extended definition of the smart port paved the way for developing the Smart Port Framework Repository (SaPFaR). Using the new definition as the catalyst, this work identified eight (8) different areas for further development. Having suggested that Industry 4.0 should be at the heart of smart port technologies, a library of use cases and a detailed maturity model are presented. Then, a framework and a maturity model are offered for each of the remaining seven (7) areas. The validation of SaPFaR using a panel of domain experts led to suggestions that Capgemini’s Digital Transformation Framework be used to guide the implementation of SaPFaR. This is the first-ever study of container ports in the UAE and offers a comprehensive and holistic framework for improving their strategic competitiveness.