DP World, the leading global provider of smart end-to-end logistics solutions, and Dubai Customs will be exploring opportunities to develop trade links between Israel and the UAE, following the signing of a series of memorandums of understanding.

Group Chairman and CEO of DP World Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem signed MoUs with DoverTower, a company owned by Shlomi Fogel, the co-owner of Israel Shipyards and Port of Eilat.

Part of the engagement between the two countries to strengthen peace, dialogue and stability and promote sustainable development, the MoUs create a framework for the companies to work together in assessing opportunities to develop infrastructure for trade between Israel and the UAE, as well as within Israel and the region.

The MoUs cover three broad areas of co-operation: DP World will assess the development of Israeli ports and free zones and the potential establishment of a direct shipping route between Eilat and Jebel Ali; Dubai Customs will promote and facilitate trade between private entities in the two countries through customs best practice and seamless, innovative processes; and Drydocks World will explore business opportunities with Israel Shipyards on a joint venture for developing, manufacturing and marketing ISL products.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman and CEO of DP World, said, “The MoUs will contribute to the efforts to tap economic and trade cooperation opportunities, and facilitate development-oriented linkages between the two countries.”

“DP World’s mission is to enable global trade - our work to build trade routes between the UAE, Israel and beyond will help our customers to do business in the region more easily and efficiently.”

Shlomi Fogel, Chairman and owner of DoverTower Group, shareholder of Israel Shipyard port in Haifa and partner of Eilat Port said, “This is a great honour to work and collaborate with Sultan bin Sulayem. I’m proud of our mutual friendship and vision to create a strategic partnership that will positively impact the global trade and economy while strengthening the commercial relationship between the state of Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

“I believe that this agreement is just the beginning of mutual and long collaboration and more agreements will follow between DP World and DoverTower across different industries.

“I am also happy to announce that DP World and Israel Shipyards will collaborate to establish a joint venture that will participate in the tender for privatisation of the Port of Haifa.”

Last week DP World’s flagship Jebel Ali Port has welcomed HMM GDANSK, one of the world’s largest container vessels, which is now on the return leg of her maiden international voyage between the Far East and Europe.

Jebel Ali is the only port in the Arabian Gulf region connected to the arterial FE3 (Far East 3) loop with the ability to accommodate mega vessels.

HMM GDANSK is 400 metres long and has a capacity of 24,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent container units). The vessel and its crew led by Captain Hyungik Cho were welcomed by DP World UAE Region and other officials from Jebel Ali Port.

The landmark mega carrier arrived from DP World’s London Gateway at the port before sailing to Singapore, her next call in a journey that began in Busan, South Korea on 29th June, with calls at Yantian, Hong Kong, Hamburg, Rotterdam and Antwerp.

Jebel Ali is one of the few ports in the Gulf that can accommodate mega vessels with the capability to handle ten at a time. It has a total handling capacity of 22.4 Million TEU and the visit underscores its capability as the region’s premier gateway port on the Asia-Europe sea trade route.

Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO and Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region, said, “We are honoured to welcome HMM GDANSK and her crew, who are steadfastly plying the global shipping routes to keep essential trade flowing. It is something we could closely identify within DP World, especially as our teams kept critical supplies such as food and medicines moving smoothly through Jebel Ali during the recent lockdown. The port call by one of the largest container carriers is a testimonial to Jebel Ali’s true strength and capacity.”

“Our early investment in digital technology and automation ensured we faced minimal disruption at Jebel Ali Port. We employ today’s frontline technologies like robotics, automation, Internet of Things, Big Data, virtual reality and cybersecurity to build and sustain our efficiencies. This has underlined our capabilities as an essential economic service at a time when our customers need us most.”

WAM