Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad opens the Dhs1b Fujairah Terminals’ expansion programme on Sunday. WAM

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah,  on Sunday officially opened Fujairah Terminals’ expansion programme, which comprises infrastructure development and service enhancement projects for the key maritime hub. Fujairah Terminals is one of the Middle East’s most important economic, commercial, and logistics hubs.

Founded in 2017 as a strategic centre for international trade in the emirate of Fujairah, Fujairah Terminals is part of Abu Dhabi Ports, the region’s premier facilitator of logistics, transport, and trade.

Wholly owned by Abu Dhabi Ports, Fujairah Terminals has now passed a critical milestone in its long-term Dhs 1 billion programme for the development of multi-purpose terminal facilities within Fujairah Port.

The completion of the expansion works, which commenced three years ago, will increase the terminal’s general cargo throughput to 1.3 million tonnes, multi-purpose area of 25,000 sqm for general cargo and Ro-Ro services, and increase container capacity to 720,000 TEU, with a total of 110,000 sqm of container terminal area.

In addition, the quay wall has been extended from 760 to 1000 metres and the approach has been deepened from 12 metres to 15 metres to enable the port to handle larger vessels.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al Sharqi highlighted the stature of Fujairah Terminals as a leading global maritime destination due to its advanced infrastructure and its capacity to receive all sizes and categories of ships, tankers and shipments.

‘’The emirate of Fujairah has become a leading international maritime transport centre, due to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah, as well as its strategic geographic location, enabling it to attract investment and support the national sustainable development process,” Sheikh Mohammed  said.

Sheikh Mohammed, who was accompanied by Sheikh Maktoum bin Hamad Al Sharqi; Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Saif Al Sharqi, Chairman of the Fujairah eGovernment; Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade; Awaidha Murshed Ali Al Marar, Chairman of the Department of Energy-Abu Dhabi, and Dr. Mohammed Rashid Ahmed Al Hamli, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, reviewed the ongoing development at the Fujairah Terminal including customer happiness centre, X-ray scanning and custom inspection zones, 600 square metre engineering workshop and an operations command centre.

The development of facilities at the port is in line with the Fujairah Strategic Plan 2040, and its advanced infrastructure and enhanced services will support the comprehensive strategy aimed at enhancing its stature as a key centre of facilitating trade between Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, India, the Red Sea and East Africa.

Falah Mohammad Al Ahbabi, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Ports, said: “It is our privilege to welcome Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al Sharqi to Fujairah Terminals to see the significant development programme taking place at Fujairah Terminals.

‘’This initiative is a key part of Abu Dhabi Ports’ continued efforts to realise the strategic objectives of Fujairah and the wider UAE’s economic development strategy.’’

Al Ahbabi thanked Sheikh Mohammed for supporting the development of Fujairah Terminals.

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports, said: “This is an important day in the maritime history of Fujairah and we are very proud to share the results of so many people’s hard work with Sheikh Mohammed.

Abdulaziz Mubarak Al Balooshi, CEO, Fujairah Terminals, Abu Dhabi Ports, said: “The sterling efforts by Abu Dhabi Ports in transforming and modernising Fujairah Terminals’ facilities has elevated our position as a premier hub for all cargo on the East Coast of the UAE.’’

The opening ceremony was attended by Mohammed Saeed Al Dhanhani, Director of the Fujairah Emiri Court, Eng. Mohammed Juma bin Jarsh Al Falasi, Undersecretary of the Department of Energy - Abu Dhabi, Rashed Al Balooshi, Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, Captain Mousa Murad, General Manager of Port of Fujairah, Mohammed Mohammed Saleh, Director-General of the Federal Electricity & Water Authority.

Meanwhile, Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) has saved more than 1,312 megawatts of electricity last year, which represents a total value of Dhs3.4 billion and marked a record number of fresh water savings, which amounted to more than 349 million imperial gallons by the end of 2020.

The company reaffirmed its full commitment to support the UAE’s global climate interests and to actively contribute to consolidating the country’s achievements in terms of climate action in line with its voluntary commitments under the Paris Agreement and the UNFCCC, its future directions and strategies, and efforts to reduce carbon emissions locally and globally.

The announcement was made in the context of highlighting UAE’s carbon emission reduction strategies by the UAE climate negotiation team in the virtual meetings of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which continues until 17th June to prepare for the most important discussions that will take place during COP26 (Conference Of Parties), which will be held in Glasgow, UK, in November 2021.