VZCZCXRO9430
RR RUEHDE
DE RUEHDE #4122 1861448
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051448Z JUL 06
FM AMCONSUL DUBAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1931
INFO RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0004
RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 1614
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 4905

UNCLAS DUBAI 004122 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EWWT EIND ETRD AE HK
SUBJECT: EMIRATES SHIPPING LINES INFORMATION 
 
REF: A. STATE 872252, B. HONG KONG 02428 
 
1.(U) SUMMARY: Poleconoff met with Emirates Shipping Line (ESL) 
executive in Dubai on June 27, as requested in reftel A. ESL's 
attorney's will submit a formal response to the US Federal 
Maritime Commission. ESL executive was willing to describe 
ownership and functions of ESL companies and gave assurances 
that there was no government ownership, management, or control 
over any entity. ESL will open an office in Dubai in the near 
future. It leases two vessels that are registered in Liberia and 
fly the Liberian flag. End Summary. 
 
2.(U) Poleconoff met with Emirates Shipping Line (ESL) Senior 
Vice President, Middle East, Africa and Mediterranean, Mohamed 
El Alfy regarding information requested in ref A. The questions 
in reftel A had previously been transmitted by Poleconoff to El 
Alfy by e-mail, while El Alfy was traveling in Kuwait and Iran. 
El Alfy said that ESL's attorneys would submit a formal response 
to the Federal Maritime Commission in the United States. ESL 
executives discussed the same information with Consulate Hong 
Kong (ref B). 
 
Ownership 
--------- 
 
3.(SBU) El Alfy described the ownership structure of ESL. 
Emirates Shipping Lines, Free Zone Company (FZCO) is wholly 
owned by Emirates Shipping Holding (ESH), FZCO. ESH is owned 51 
percent by retired Major General Abdulaziz al-Bannai, who is a 
UAE national. 49 percent is owned by Mr. Vikas Khan, 
(nationality unknown). Emirates Shipping Lines, LLC, Free Zone 
Entity (FZE), which is the shipping agent for ESL in Dubai is 
owned 51 percent by al-Bannai, 48 percent by Khan, and 1 percent 
by El Alfy, an Egyptian national. El Alfy explained that under 
UAE law, he had to be a co-owner in order to register the 
shipping agent in Dubai. All three entities are registered in 
Dubai Maritime City, which is under the Jebel Ali Free Zone 
Authority. 
 
4.(U) El Alfy assured Poleconoff that neither the government of 
Dubai nor the UAEG had a management role, or ownership, or 
exerted any control over ESL. He commented that the name 
Emirates was chosen because it was readily recognized around the 
world. Major General al-Bannai, a recent retiree from the Dubai 
Police, claims to have no official position in the government of 
Dubai or the UAE. 
 
ESL's Address in Dubai 
----------------------- 
 
5.(U) ESL will open an office in Dubai in early July 2006. The 
office will be in Suite 1004 Al Moosa Tower, Shaikh Zayed Road, 
Dubai. ESL's postal address is P.O. Box 122115, Dubai, UAE. 
 
Vessels Under Charter 
--------------------- 
 
6.(U) ESL charters two 3000 TEU container ships, the Emirates 
Liberty and the Emirates Freedom, and plans to charter two more 
vessels. Both vessels are registered in Monrovia, Liberia and 
fly the Liberian flag. 
 
Liner Services 
-------------- 
 
7.(U) ESL plans liner service to the United States from India 
and China. The Indus Express service will provide service 
between the ports of Mundra, Tuticorn, and Nhava Sheva in India, 
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Barcelona, Spain, and the ports of New York, 
Norfolk, and Charleston, SC. The Emirates Liberty and Emirates 
Freedom will sail on the Indus Express service. 
 
8.(U) ESL's other planned liner service, the Asia Gulf Express, 
will provide service between the ports of Shanghai and Ningbo in 
China, Pusan in South Korea, and Colon, Panama, Kingston, 
Jamaica, and the US ports of Houston, Mobile, and Tampa on the 
Gulf of Mexico. ESL plans to charter two container ships for 
this service. 
 
BURNS