According to gulftoday.ae, the United Arab Emirates is expanding its integrated supply chain infrastructure in 2026, consolidating maritime, land, air, rail, and free zone operations to maintain global trade flows and enhance transit adaptability.
Multi-Modal Corridors Link UAE and Oman
The Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority — coordinating with Oman Customs — recently established a logistics corridor connecting Sharjah’s coastal ports, including Khorfakkan, which targets a future capacity of 10 million containers, with Omani ports such as Sohar, Duqm, and Salalah. Domestically, Sharjah is developing the Al Dhaid Logistics Complex, spanning over 16 million square feet with an initial capacity of 1.5 million TEUs.
Rail Freight Expansion Across Borders
Rail freight capabilities are expanding cross-border following contracts signed by Hafeet Rail in February 2025 to design and build railway facilities in Oman. Within the UAE, Etihad Rail transported approximately 1.8 million tonnes of sulphur, over 4 million tonnes of aggregates, and 129,000 containers during 2026 across 11 terminals linking major industrial hubs and ports, including Khalifa Port and Jebel Ali.
Air and Sea Freight Infrastructure Scaling Up
Air freight capacity is expanding through the Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone, featuring the 8.3-million-square-metre Al Falah Logistics Park and an East Midfield cargo terminal set to handle 1.5 million tonnes annually upon completion in 2027. On the east coast, Fujairah Terminals managed over 70,000 TEUs and 100 cargo vessels during recent regional disruptions, serving as an alternative trade route alongside planned developments at Rugeilat Port and Dibba Al Fujairah.
Digital Integration and Economic Impact
Digital tracking infrastructure — including platforms such as ADDED, which expanded its partner network to over 30 logistics operators in 2026 — enables real-time cargo rerouting and emergency response coordination. These operational capabilities contributed to a 3% growth in the UAE’s real GDP in the first quarter of 2026 to Dhs485 billion at constant prices, while non-oil foreign trade reached a record Dhs1.937 trillion in the first half of the year.
Source: gulftoday.ae
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
