Fujairah and DP World Strengthen Trade Capacity with 50-Year Deal for Two New Ports
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, oversaw the signing of a significant agreement between DP World and the Fujairah Ports Authority. This partnership aims to develop two multi-purpose ports—Al Rughailat Container Port and Dibba Al Fujairah Port—under a 50-year concession.
Strategic Development for Fujairah
The agreement was finalized in the presence of Essa Kazim, Chairman of DP World Group, and Mousa Murad, Director of Fujairah Port. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi emphasized that this initiative aligns with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah. The project is intended to bolster the emirate’s status as a global maritime and logistics hub.
Sheikh Mohammed highlighted that the development will enhance Fujairah’s economic infrastructure, attract quality investments, and improve supply chain efficiency. The initiative is also expected to create new employment opportunities while supporting sustainable development goals and reinforcing the UAE’s competitiveness in global trade.
Enhancing Logistical Flexibility
The two ports are projected to significantly improve logistical flexibility across the UAE. They will provide increased capacity, diverse trade options, and enhanced connectivity with regional and international shipping routes. The project will establish a new deep-water trade gateway for Fujairah, capable of accommodating the latest generation of large container vessels.
Al Rughailat Port is designed to handle up to 2.5 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) annually, along with 1.7 million tonnes of general cargo and 190,000 car equivalent units (CEUs). Meanwhile, Dibba Al Fujairah Port will contribute an additional 3.6 million tonnes of annual general cargo handling capacity.
Integration with Logistics Ecosystem
DP World and the Fujairah Ports Authority plan to integrate each port with dedicated logistics zones, creating a comprehensive trade and logistics ecosystem on the Arabian Sea. This integration is expected to enhance Fujairah’s role in global maritime trade, leveraging its strategic location and direct access to key international shipping routes.
Once operational, the two ports will elevate DP World’s total container handling capacity in the UAE from 19.4 million TEUs to nearly 22 million TEUs. This expansion will also significantly increase capacity for general cargo and roll-on/roll-off vessel operations.
Connectivity and Economic Growth
The ports will be linked to Jebel Ali through DP World’s logistics network and integrated with Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza). This connection will facilitate more efficient movement of goods between ports, logistics hubs, and end markets. The project is set to be implemented in phases, with construction anticipated to take between 24 and 30 months from the start date.
Sheikh Saleh bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Chairman of the Department of Industry and Economy in Fujairah and Chairman of the Fujairah Ports Authority, stated that the project will accelerate growth in the trade and logistics sectors, supporting the broader UAE economy. He noted that the Al Rughailat and Dibba ports would provide world-class operational capabilities, expand capacity, and attract new investments to the emirate.
Confidence in Future Growth
Essa Kazim remarked that the UAE’s status as a global trade and logistics hub has laid the groundwork for DP World’s success over the past four decades. He indicated that this new investment reflects confidence in the country’s future growth.
Kazim stated, “As an extension of the significant advantages enjoyed by Jebel Ali Port as one of the most important and largest container ports in the world, this project reaffirms our commitment to strengthening the UAE’s strategic role at the heart of global trade.”
Mousa Murad described the partnership as a transformative development that will enhance flexibility in maritime trade operations and support a modern economic ecosystem in Fujairah.
DP World Group Chief Executive Officer Yuvraj Narayan emphasized that Fujairah Port and Jebel Ali Port complement each other in providing an integrated supply chain for the movement of goods within and beyond the UAE. He added, “This project will provide additional capacity to support long-term growth and enhance supply chain resilience across DP World’s network in the country, giving traders greater flexibility, wider choices, and a stronger logistics network for moving goods across the UAE and to global markets.”
As reported by www.emirates247.com.
Explore the latest digital editions of FAME Delivered in the Magazine section.
Published on 2026-07-22 18:09:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk