The company is said to be taking advantage of current favourable market conditions to commit to long-term borrowing. Up to $3bn may well be raised through these issues.

DP World has also asked Deusche Bank and Dubai’s Shuaa Capital to present a plan to partially float or even refinance its P&O Ports unit.

The preferred plan would be to undertake a minority share sale, which would raise $1.9bn.

In related news, DP World is to collaborate with authorities in Senegal to develop a container handling facility at Dakar, which will require at least €400m ($538.4m) in investment.

It will initially take over the existing box terminal, where it plans to double throughput capacity to 550,000 teu by 2010.

This will require investment of €100m ($134.6m). A second terminal capable of handling 1.5m teu/year will also come on stream in 2011 at a cost of €300m ($403.8m).