AD Ports Group reported preliminary unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ending December 31, 2025, according to a release from the company. The group achieved record revenue and net profit for the full year 2025 and generated positive Free Cash Flow for the first time since its 2022 public listing.

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Operational Drivers and Strategy

Operational growth was driven by increased container terminal throughput, the addition of 3.3 square kilometers of new industrial land leases in Khalifa Economic Zones, and strong activity across maritime businesses. The group continued executing its internationalization strategy, focusing on regions including the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa, which expanded its customer base by nearly 20% in 2025. Spending by its top 10 customers increased by 40%.

The macroeconomic context in the UAE was supportive, with the country’s GDP growing approximately 5% in 2025, driven by non-oil sectors. UAE non-oil foreign trade exceeded 1 trillion US dollars, a 26% increase over 2024. Since 2022, 29 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements have been signed, with 14 implemented by the end of 2025.

In container shipping, the group’s container feeder shipping business saw a 38% volume growth in 2025 despite a volatile environment. Trade flows continued to be shaped by geopolitical tensions and persistent disruption in the Red Sea, with most major shipping operators diverting around the Cape of Good Hope. The year 2026 is expected to continue to be tempered by volatility related to these disruptions.

2025 Operational and Financial Performance

The group’s operational performance was strong across its clusters, which were restructured into four groups: Ports, Economic Cities & Free Zones, Maritime & Shipping, and Logistics. Total container throughput increased 23% year-over-year to 7.7 million TEUs, while general cargo volumes rose 7% to nearly 60 million tons. The CMA Terminals Khalifa Port facility, which started operations in early 2025, handled over 1.3 million TEUs.

In the Economic Cities & Free Zones cluster, KEZAD Group completed its first land sale transaction, selling a 4.6 square kilometer plot for 2.47 billion UAE dirhams. The group has earmarked an initial 16 square kilometers of land for sale. It also sold two tenanted warehouses for 570 million dirhams in November 2025.

Container feeder shipping volumes in the Maritime & Shipping cluster rose 38% to 3.35 million TEUs. The bulk, multipurpose, and Ro-Ro shipping vessel fleet expanded to 60 vessels, up from 28 at the end of 2024.

Cash flows from operations increased 28% year-over-year to 5.05 billion dirhams. The group turned Free Cash Flow to the Firm positive for the first time since its 2022 listing. Net debt stood at 20.6 billion dirhams, with a net leverage ratio of 4.1 times.

Key Developments in Q4 2025 and Beyond

Notable developments in the fourth quarter of 2025 included selling a 9.77% stake in NMDC for 1.6 billion dirhams and signing agreements valued at over 30 billion dirhams to establish LNG and LPG terminal hubs at Khalifa Port. The group acquired a 20% stake in the Latakia International Container Terminal in Syria and increased its stake in Egypt’s Alexandria Container & Cargo Handling Co., announcing an intention to launch a mandatory tender offer for majority control.

Several major land lease agreements were signed with international companies for industrial plots in KEZAD Abu Dhabi, with total investment values exceeding 3.3 billion dirhams. Jochen Thewes was appointed CEO of the Logistics Cluster.

Developments after the fourth quarter included an 840 million dirham land sale agreement, the acquisition of a shipyard in Spain for 11.2 million euros, and the launch of a 450,000 square meter Metal Park in Abu Dhabi. The group also signed a 30-year concession to manage the Aqaba multipurpose port in Jordan and joined a 30-year concession for a new dry bulk terminal in Douala Port, Cameroon. ESG Strategy Update In 2025, AD Ports Group revamped its ESG strategy, focusing on decarbonization. It aims to reduce group-level scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 22% by 2034 from a 2024 baseline.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform