The Arab Federation of Shipping was first formed on 10.4.79 with Headquarters in Baghdad.Per invitation from the former Assistant Secretary General dated 8th July 2003, to all members, for holding an urgent meeting out of Iraq and deciding on a new locationfor headquarters to replace Baghdad, a General Assembly was held in Beirut on 5-6thDecember 2003, in which decisions were taken moving headquarters from Baghdadto Beirut, electing a new Board of Directors, and electing Mr Anwar Gazawoui, Chairman of the Lebanese Shipowners’ Association, as the new Secretary General for the Federation.These decisions were duly notified to the Counsel of the Arab Economic Union, which marked its approval.On date of 23.12.2004, the Lebanese Government issued Decree Nr 54 approving Beirut as Headquarters for the Federation, and granting privileges provided for per Law Nr 114 of 7.12.91. This was in response to the decision taken by the Board of Directors in its session of 5-6th December 2003 implementing the relocation of headquarters from Baghdad to Beirut.The Arab Federation for Shipping is one of the specific and specialized federations attached to the Counsel of the Arab Economic Union within the League of Arab States.