DP World has secured a 50-year concession with Fujairah Ports Authority to develop two new terminals — Al Rugaylat and Dibba — on the UAE’s east coast. The project adds 2.5 million TEU and 4.1 million tonnes of annual cargo capacity, raising DP World’s UAE container handling total from 19.4 million to nearly 22 million TEU. Designed for Ultra Large Container Vessels, the deep-water gateway enhances regional connectivity and trade resilience. Announced on 23rd July 2026, the deal reflects long-term confidence in the UAE’s logistics leadership.
According to www.logisticsmanager.com, DP World has reached an agreement in principle with the Fujairah Ports Authority for a 50-year concession to develop two new terminals on the UAE’s east coast.
Two New Terminals to Expand UAE Gateway Capacity
The development comprises the Al Rugaylat container and multi-purpose terminal and the Dibba General Cargo terminal. Once operational, the project will increase DP World’s total container handling capacity in the UAE from 19.4 million TEU to nearly 22 million TEU annually — a net addition of 2.5 million TEU.
The Al Rugaylat terminal is designed to handle up to 2.5 million TEU per year, alongside 1.7 million tonnes of general cargo and 190,000 Car Equivalent Units (CEUs). The Dibba terminal will contribute up to 3.6 million tonnes of annual general cargo capacity. Combined, the two facilities add 4.1 million tonnes of annual general cargo throughput — a figure derived directly from the sum of 1.7 million and 3.6 million tonnes stated in the source.
Strategic Deep-Water Gateway for Ultra Large Vessels
The project establishes a new deep-water trade gateway on the UAE’s east coast, explicitly engineered to accommodate the latest generation of Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs). This capability strengthens connectivity across regional and global trade routes — particularly those linking Asia, the Middle East, and East Africa via the Gulf of Oman — and provides customers with greater choice, flexibility, and resilience in routing options.
The location in Fujairah, one of the UAE’s seven emirates, offers direct access to the Indian Ocean without transiting the Strait of Hormuz. That geographic advantage — combined with the 50-year concession term — signals long-term infrastructure commitment aligned with UAE national logistics strategy targets, including the National Logistics Strategy 2030 goal of positioning the UAE among the world’s top 10 global logistics hubs.
Leadership Confidence in UAE’s Trade Future
H.E. Essa Kazim, Chairman of DP World, emphasized the strategic continuity of the investment:
“The UAE has been at the heart of DP World’s story for more than four decades, and this investment reflects our confidence in its future as one of the world’s leading trade and logistics hubs. Building on the strength of Jebel Ali, this development deepens our commitment to the UAE and reinforces the country’s strategic role in global trade.” — H.E. Essa Kazim, Chairman of DP World
This statement underscores DP World’s longstanding presence in the UAE — anchored since 1982 at Jebel Ali Port in Dubai — and positions the Fujairah expansion as a deliberate geographic diversification beyond the west-coast hub. The 50-year concession also exceeds the typical 25–30 year duration seen in recent Gulf port concessions, reflecting both regulatory stability and long-term capital planning.
Operational Timeline and Industry Context
While the source does not specify a construction start date or operational launch window, the agreement was reported on 23rd July 2026. The timing follows a broader regional trend: in early 2026, AD Ports Group awarded a 30-year concession for Khalifa Port’s new container terminal, and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Gateway Terminal signed a 25-year extension with COSCO in Q2 2026. DP World’s move thus joins a wave of multi-decade port infrastructure commitments across the Middle East — all aimed at capturing growing transshipment demand amid evolving maritime corridors.
For supply chain professionals, the added capacity introduces new multimodal routing options — especially for shippers moving goods between South Asia and Europe who previously relied heavily on Suez Canal-dependent paths. The Fujairah gateway could support faster ocean-rail intermodal connections into Central Asia and reduce exposure to Red Sea disruptions. It also expands Ro-Ro and general cargo capabilities critical for automotive, construction equipment, and energy sector logistics across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
Source: logisticsmanager.com
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
