Abu Dhabi Ports, the master developer, operator and manager of the Emirate’s ports and Khalifa Industrial Zone, has announced a major expansion plan in Khalifa Port.

The expansion at Khalifa Port, one of the world’s fastest growing container, bulk cargo and roll-on roll-off vehicle transport ports, will add 3,280 feet of quay wall to the port and deepen its main channel and basin to 59 feet from the current 52 feet. The new quay wall will add an additional 6.5 million square feet for cargo handling.

These measures will ensure the port can accommodate anticipated growth in the short to medium term and handle the world’s largest ships, increasing the competitiveness of the Emirate as a logistics and maritime hub while also serving key industries across the UAE.

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

Over the past few years Abu Dhabi Ports has invested in building an integrated, technology enabled platform and physical infrastructure. “Today sees us take this to the next level as a maritime center and as the gateway to the world’s fastest growing economies,” Al Shamisi added.

A first step in delivering this plan has been the signing of a contract with the National Marine Dredging Company (NMDC) which will start preparatory work on dredging the channels and using this material to build up the new quay wall and the adjacent yard behind it. Two-hundred fifty workers will be involved in the awarded expansion project of Khalifa Port which is scheduled for completion in mid-2018.

“We see Abu Dhabi Ports as a strategic partner with the important role of actively enhancing the UAE maritime sector,” said Yaser Zaghlool, CEO of NMDC. “We will build upon that by providing our services while maintaining the highest standards through the employment of a specialized and experienced workforce. We understand this region and its characteristics, and have successfully developed technological methods that will raise safety standards. This agreement is a good incentive for us to raise our service standards and strengthen our position as international industry leaders in the marine dredging sector.”