Umm Al Quwain Fishing Harbour Expansion (UAE)
- ICM Projects
- Oct 20, 2022
- 2 min read
ICM provided specialist coastal engineering design and support to upgrade and expand the Umm Al Quwain Fishing Harbour to increase berthing capacity, improve wave attenuation, and provide a safe, navigable entrance. The program delivered floating berths for ~400 commercial fishing vessels and a new UAE Coast Guard facility, supported by numerical modelling, agile design, and full-time site engineering support.
Project Details
Client: Al Manzel
Location: Umm Al Quwain, United Arab Emirates
Date: 2013
About This Project
The Challenge
Umm Al Quwain’s existing harbour was space-constrained, with many fishing vessels moored ad hoc along the estuary banks. The expansion needed to consolidate safe berthing, address wave attenuation and navigation safety while accommodating local construction methods and budget constraints.
The Solution
ICM led site investigations and a hydrographic survey to inform wave modelling and layout optimisation. The team refined harbour alignments and volumes, then developed an agile design tailored to local plant and methods, minimising crest heights and widths with wave returns and maximising reuse of existing rock as sub-layers. The final recommendations and detailed design included a 500m primary low-crested breakwater, a 250m groyne with vehicle access and parking, and a 200m revetment with a boat ramp, together with floating marina systems to berth approximately ~400 commercial fishing vessels and a UAE Coast Guard facility with reporting berths. ICM provided specialist on-site engineering support and contract administration throughout a 12-month construction stage to ensure the refined design was delivered to a high standard.
“We paired rigorous wave modelling with practical, contractor-friendly details - reuse rock where possible, keep crests efficient, and build a safer, calmer harbour.” - Aaron Salyer, ICM
Services Provided
Site investigation and hydrographic survey
Concept design and options assessment
Numerical modelling and optimisation
Detailed design
Contract technical specifications and administration
Specialist on-site engineering support
Construction inspection and certification
