Expansion plan for Khalifa Port

The expansion is taking place to prepare for the ports anticipated growth and increase the competiveness of the Emirate as a logistics and maritime hub while also serving key industries across the UAE.

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports, said: “This ambitious expansion is crucial to ensuring Abu Dhabi remains a global trade and investment hub as well as supporting our local industries.”

He added: “Building on recent growth at Khalifa Port, we are future proofing our operations to ensure we can continue to attract the world’s leading operators to use our world-class facilities that will see Capesize vessels, the largest in the cargo industry, come directly into an Abu Dhabi port for the very first time.”

The expansion plan has taken its first step with the signing of a contract with the National Marine Dredging Company (NMDC).

NMDC will start preparatory work on dredging the channels and using this material to build up the new 1000-meter-long quay wall and the adjacent yard behind it.

Eng. Yaser Zaghlool, CEO of NMDC, said: “We see Abu Dhabi Ports as a strategic partner with the important role of actively enhancing the UAE maritime sector.”

He added: “We will build upon that by providing our services while maintaining the highest standards through the employment of a specialised and experienced workforce, made up of national and foreign calibres. We understand this region and its characteristics, and have successfully developed technological methods that will raise safety standards.”

The expansion project of Khalifa which is scheduled for completion in mid-2018.