If you want to build a career at sea from the UAE, the first document you need is a seaman book. Knowing how to get a seaman book in Dubai — the requirements, the fee, and where to apply — saves new applicants weeks of confusion. This guide explains the official UAE process step by step, written for new seafarers, maritime students, and professionals working in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and across the Emirates.
In the UAE, the seaman book is officially called the Seafarer’s Discharge Book (SDB) and is issued by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI). You apply online through the MOEI website using your UAE PASS account, upload your documents, and pay AED 300. Processing takes about 2 working days.
What Is a Seaman Book (Seafarer’s Discharge Book)?
A seaman book is an official government document that identifies you as a seafarer and records your sea service — every vessel you join, your rank, and your sign-on and sign-off dates. In the UAE it is issued as the Seafarer’s Discharge Book (SDB) for seafarers working on commercial ships. Shipping companies, manning agencies, and port authorities in Dubai use it to verify your experience before hiring you. It works together with your passport; it does not replace it.
How to Get a Seaman Book in Dubai, Requirements (Document Checklist)
According to the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, a new applicant must submit the following documents. Documents issued by approved authorities must be stamped (a digital stamp is accepted):
- Copy of your passport (residence visa is also required for the related seafarer’s license if you’ll work on ships operating in UAE territorial waters)
- Copies of your seafarer certificates, as applicable to your rank
- Medical fitness certificate from an approved medical provider
- Maritime safety certificate — your STCW Basic Safety Training from an approved maritime training center
- A letter from the operating company — the shipping or vessel-operating company employing you
- Personal photograph (passport-size, white background)
For students and first-time applicants, the two items to arrange early are the STCW Basic Safety Training and the medical fitness certificate — both are offered by approved training centers and clinics in Dubai and other emirates, and both are prerequisites everywhere in the maritime world.
How to Apply for a Seaman Book in Dubai: 5 Steps
- Log in with your UAE PASS account on the MOEI website (moei.gov.ae). UAE PASS is the national digital identity — citizens and residents can register with their Emirates ID.
- Fill in the application form and attach the required documents listed above.
- Submit the application for review.
- Pay the fee — AED 300.
- Receive your Seafarer’s Discharge Book. Expected processing time is 2 working days. You can also apply in person at MOEI Happiness Service Centers, while the website is available 24/7.
Seaman Book UAE Price and Processing Time
Item | Detail |
Official fee | AED 300 |
Processing time | ~2 working days |
Where to apply | moei.gov.ae (online, 24/7) or MOEI Happiness Service Centers |
Who can apply | UAE citizens and residents; business sector |
(Fee and timing per MOEI service page, checked July 2026 — always confirm on moei.gov.ae before applying.)
New to Seafaring? Do This First
If you’re a student or career-changer in Dubai with no sea experience, the seaman book is step three, not step one. The typical path is:
- Complete STCW Basic Safety Training (personal survival techniques, fire prevention & fire fighting, elementary first aid, personal safety and social responsibilities) at an approved maritime training center.
- Pass the seafarer’s medical fitness examination at an approved clinic.
- Secure a company letter from a vessel operator or shipping company — many new seafarers get this through a manning agency or their training center’s placement support.
- Apply for the SDB via UAE PASS as described above.
Important: if you’re an expat resident planning to sail internationally under another flag (for example on Indian, Philippine, Panama, or other flag-state vessels), you may instead need the seaman book of that flag state or your home country — such as the Indian CDC (DG Shipping) or Philippine SIRB (MARINA). Apply only through official government channels or authorized agents; avoid anyone selling “instant” seaman books online.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a seaman book cost in the UAE?
The official fee for the Seafarer’s Discharge Book issued by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure is AED 300. Payment is made online during the application. Budget separately for the STCW Basic Safety Training and the medical fitness certificate, which are priced by approved training centers and clinics.
How long does it take to get a seaman book in Dubai?
Around 2 working days after you submit a complete online application and pay the fee, according to the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. Incomplete documents are the most common cause of delay, so have your certificates stamped and scanned before you apply.
Can I get a UAE seaman book without experience?
Yes — the SDB itself doesn’t require sea service, but you do need STCW Basic Safety Training, a medical fitness certificate, and a letter from an operating company. New applicants usually complete training first, then secure employment, then apply. Your sea service is recorded in the book after you start sailing.
Can I apply for a seaman book online in the UAE?
Yes. The entire application runs through the MOEI website using your UAE PASS account: fill the form, upload documents, pay AED 300, and receive the book in about 2 working days. In-person service is also available at MOEI Happiness Service Centers.
Do I need a UAE residence visa to get a seaman book in Dubai?
The service targets UAE citizens and residents, and you need UAE PASS to apply online. For the related seafarer’s license covering ships operating in UAE territorial waters, MOEI requires a passport copy plus residence. Non-residents sailing under other flags should apply to their home country or flag-state authority.
Start Your Maritime Career in Dubai Today
Getting your seaman book in Dubai is fast when your documents are in order — and that starts with the right training. Our Dubai-based maritime training center offers STCW Basic Safety Training, medical exam guidance, and step-by-step seaman book application support for new seafarers and maritime students across the UAE. Call us, visit our center, or book a free consultation on Google to get document-ready for your first voyage.
