West P&I Club has officially opened its new base in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the first International Group (IG) Club to establish a presence in the Middle East.
This highlights the increasing significance of this region in the broader maritime industry as well as the emphasis the Club places on this expanding maritime hub, says West in a statement.
The Dubai office marks West’s seventh global base, adding to its offices in Hong Kong, London, Luxembourg, New York, Piraeus, and Singapore.
West’s presence in Dubai reflects the importance of its members from the Middle East, Africa and India, which currently account for 14.5% of total entered tonnage. The Club expects this figure to grow considerably over the next decade as it consolidates its position in the region.
The new office is focused on claims handling and member relations for the UAE, Gulf region and Indian subcontinent, supported by the Club’s existing claims teams in London and Piraeus, which will continue to service this market alongside the newly formed Dubai team. Captain Gagan Dhillon has joined West from another IG P&I Club to lead the regional office as CEO (Dubai).
Underwriting and business development will be managed and coordinated by joint Regional Heads, Nigel Burridge and Gary Henderson, from London.