Rashed Al Falasi

Maritime Enablement Manager 

Career Profile 

Highly accomplished and dedicated executive professional with over two decades of total experience in maritime matters with the UAE Navy and in government civil service. Demonstrated focus on introducing innovative processes and applying knowledge of new global norms to drive adherence of crews to best safety practices as well as design new and update existing regulations. Relationship-oriented, developing partnerships with agency leaders and other critical stakeholders to develop long-term strategies, execute complex projects, and drive enforcement of regulations. Further standout qualifications include roles as Marine Cargo and Shipment Expert at Dubai Courts and Arbitrator at Dubai International Arbitration Centre, demonstrating legal expertise in claims disputes, investigations, document control, and write consultative reports. 

Selected Highlights 

• Drove regional maritime infrastructure growth by guiding the construction of Hasyan Port, Dubai Harbor, and Marine Agency for Wooden Dhows, acting in collaboration with fellow stakeholders. 
• Introduced improvements to streamline crew licensing processes, increasing revenue by 45 percent for Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation. 
• Generated a 30 percent increase in operational efficiency by authoring Standard Operating Procedures as Regulation and Technical Standards Manager for Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation. 
• Aligned local laws with international regulatory standards by authoring a dozen new regulations as Regulation and Technical Standards Manager for Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation. 
• Secured membership for UAE in the International Maritime Organization Executive Council for Category B by executing appropriate processes alongside fellow team members. 
• Automated 40% of services at the Maritime Training Centre, including the full digitization of the annual renewal process for over 8,000 crew licenses, significantly enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and turnaround time. 

Core Competencies 

• Strategic Leadership
• Project Management
• Team Building
• Contract Draft & Management
• SOLAS/MARPOL/STCW Compliance
• International Trade Law
• Data-Driven Decision Making
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Regulatory Compliance
• Operational Efficiency
• ISM/ISPS/MLC Compliance
• International Maritime Law
• Training/Development
• Legal Drafting/Writing
• Change Management
• Policy Development
• Casualty investigation
• Marine Insurance Law

Professional Experience 

PORTS, CUSTOMS & FREE ZONE CORPORATION, DUBAI, UAE, JULY 2018 TO PRESENT MARITIME ENABLEMENT MANAGER, AUGUST 2022 TO PRESENT

• Led the automation of claims-related training and service processes, streamlining claims handling for over 8,000 crew licenses annually, resulting in a 40% reduction in manpower requirements.
   
• Supervised compliance audits for marine training centers, ensuring training standards aligned with Dubai’s maritime regulatory framework.
   
• Leverage entrepreneurial vision and leadership to architect the construction and growth of the maritime training center from the ground-up to provide over 100 training sessions and accommodate over 3000 trainees per annum with 4 trainers.
   
• Foster the growth of a workplace culture centered on knowledge-sharing and ongoing professional development by administering expert guidance to personnel.
   
• Create new industry standards for excellence in crew training and safety by designing and inaugurating advanced educational modules
   
• Collaborated with key maritime entities and regulatory agencies to promote safety awareness and enhance regulatory compliance among marine professionals.
   
• Promoted Public Safety Initiatives and Training Courses to a wider community by introducing awareness campaigns and participating in events.
   
• Maximize cost management and operational efficiency by leading an organizational transition to digital platforms
   
• Spearheaded the automation of services, training delivery, and evaluation processes, significantly reducing manpower requirements and enhancing operational efficiency.
   
• Produce a 45 percent revenue increase while adhering to regulatory standards by pioneering a novel crew licensing initiative.
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• Audited marine training centers across Dubai to ensure their training and certification processes adhered to established Dubai maritime standards and regulatory requirements.

REGULATION AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS MANAGER, JULY 2020 TO AUGUST 2022

• Oversaw the maintenance and updating of port regulations, achieving full compliance with industry norms by aligning local rules with global standards. 
  
  
• Drafted and updated 12+ maritime regulations, including guidelines and SOPs, aligning local practices with SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, ISM, ISPS, and MLC standards. 
  
  
• Partnered with key stakeholders to devise and implement strategic plan for regulatory-related activity, as well as with legal departments to enforce regulations. 
  
  
• Conducted comprehensive audits of commercial marine entities to validate regulatory compliance, influencing policy enforcement and claims procedures. 
  
  
• Managed the regulatory review processes, advising legal and finance departments on liability and risk mitigation strategies. 

NAVIGATION SERVICE MANAGER, MAY 2019 TO JULY 2020

• Employed a comprehensive licensing framework to ensure rigorous enforcement of maritime regulations.
   
• Orchestrated the execution of maritime investigations, determining root causes of accidents as well as introducing preventative safety strategies to safeguard against reoccurrence.
   
• Bolstered navigational safety across Dubai’s waters by building key strategic partnerships with leading maritime companies and local officials, as well as upholding integrity of Aids to Navigation (AtoNs).
   
• Partnered with stakeholders to introduce a strategic plan for the maritime sector including planning and executing the construction of Hasyan Port and Dubai Harbor.

CHIEF MARINE SURVEYOR, JULY 2028 TO MAY 2019

• Verified compliance of companies and vessels with safety regulations and permits as well as identified and mitigated potential safety and regulatory risks by performing comprehensive inspections and audits.
   
• Led a team of 15 marine surveyors in executing mandatory renewal surveys and non-routine inspections for non-convention vessels, ensuring compliance with local maritime regulations and operational standards.
   
• Compliance audits of commercial maritime companies conducted to verify adherence to regulatory standards required for the issuance of marine activity permits. 

FEDERAL TRANSPORT AUTHORITY-LAND & MARITIME (FTA), DUBAI, UAE, JULY 2015 TO MAY 2018 MARITIME INSPECTOR - FLAG/PORT STATE CONTROL OFFICER, JULY 2015 TO MAY 2018

• Executed rigorous inspections of six or more ships per week, guaranteeing strict compliance with global regulations including International Maritime Organization (IMO) rules and Riyadh MOU.
   
• Developed resolutions to compliance issues and maintained high maritime safety standards by nurturing collaboration with other international actors.
   
• Collaborated with other stakeholders to perform successfully IMO Member State Audit, paving the way for subsequent execution of UAE into the IMO Executive Council Category B.
   
• Performed over 150 comprehensive vessel inspections in accordance with international maritime conventions including SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, ISM, ISPS, and MLC, ensuring full regulatory compliance and operational safety.
   
• Audited leading Classification Societies including ABS, Lloyd’s Register (LR), Bureau Veritas (BV), and Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NKK) to evaluate compliance and authorize their endorsement as UAE Flag Recognized Organizations.
   
• Investigated Marine Casuality incidents, conducting root cause analysis and preparing detailed claims reports aligned with the Code for the Investigation of Marine Casualties and Incidents frameworks.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE 

UAE NAVY, ABU DHABI, UAE, SEPTEMBER 2003 TO FEBRUARY 2014 | NAVAL CAPTAIN

GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF IDENTITY AND FOREIGNERS AFFAIRS-DUBAI, DUBAI, UAE, JUNE 2002 TO SEPTEMBER 2002 | SUMMER STUDENT

Extra-Curricular Activities 

• Independent Arbitrator, Dubai International Arbitration Centre, Dubai, UAE (May 2023 to Present)
• Marine Cargo and Shipment Expert, Dubai Court, Dubai, UAE (December 2023 to Present)
• Real Estate Broker, Al Ruwad Real Estate, Dubai, UAE (February 2022 to Present) 

Education and Credentials

• BACHELOR OF LAW (LL.B.), 2026 (EXPECTED); American University of the Emirates, Dubai, UAE
  
  
• CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY IN MARITIME STUDIES, 2021; Jordan Academy for Maritime Studies, Amman, Jordan
  
  
• MASTER OF LAW (LL.M.) IN MARITIME LAW, 2020; City, University of London, London, England, UK
  
  
• CERTIFICATE IN MARITIME CODES AND CONVENTIONS,2015; Lloyd’s Maritime Academy, London, England, UK
  
  
• BACHELOR IN NAVAL STUDIES, 2007; Rashed Bin Saeed Naval College, Abu Dhabi, UAE

OTHER CERTIFICATIONS AND TRAINING 

• Officer of Navigational Watch Course and STCW required Certifications
• ISM, ISPS, MLC Auditor Course
• Port State Control Officer Course
• Non-Convention Vessels Survey
• Recognized Organizations Auditor Course
• Project Management Course
• Six Sigma: Green Belt Course
• Generative AI for Sales and Service Professionals
• Negotiation Skills Course
• Decision-Making Strategies Course
• Improving Your Judgment for Better Decision-Making Course
• Leadership: Practical Skills Course
• Solving Business Problems Course
• The Six Biases of Decision-Making Course

Professional Affiliations 

• International Nautical Institute
• Institute of Marine Engineering, Science of Technology
• Marine Technology Society
• Emirates Maritime Law Association
• Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
• Singapore Institute of Arbitrators
• Chartered Insurance Institute
• Youngship UAE 

Additional Information 

Languages: English, Arabic 

Technical Proficiencies: Windows, Mac OS, Microsoft Exchange, Active Directory, Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Project, Access, servers, routers, wireless LAN, Asana, Prompt Design 

Interests: Sports, Fishing, travelling, Real Estate, Cryptocurrencies, Gen AI