Sheikh Mohammed approves major project at Mina Al Hamriya port

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, visited Mina Al Hamriya on Tuesday to review progress on the port’s ongoing development and its expanding role in advancing regional and global trade.

“We’re transforming our ports into dynamic gateways that not only connect the world and accelerate the flow of goods but also drive innovation and opportunity. Our goal isn’t just to compete, but to lead global trade with a transformative vision and new standards. We want Dubai to be the first choice for traders, the trusted route for commerce, and the most dynamic hub in the world’s supply chains,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

During the tour, Sheikh Mohammed was briefed on the port’s strategic role in supporting the UAE’s food security and facilitating trade across the Arabian Gulf, particularly in perishables and livestock. DP World officials also outlined future infrastructure plans to meet surging regional demand.

The Vice President also approved a major project at Mina Al Hamriya involving the construction of a 700-metre quay with a 12-metre draft, designed to accommodate larger vessels and expand the port’s cargo-handling capability.

These developments build on the port’s 2024 expansion, which added 1,150 metres of quay wall and significantly boosted berthing capacity.

The port now handles a growing mix of steel vessels, breakbulk cargo, RoRo, containers and traditional wooden dhows – preserving its legacy while embracing modern logistics.

The port now offers a total of nearly 6.4 million sq ft of storage space, up from 3.4 million, supporting Dubai’s growing trade ambitions.

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said, “Mina Al Hamriya has been a vital part of Dubai’s trade sector for many decades, and we are committed to investing in the port’s growth while preserving its rich maritime heritage. This new expansion project will ensure Mina Al Hamriya continues to support our national economic vision while strengthening trade and food security across the region.”

Once a local hub for wooden dhows, Mina Al Hamriya now handles a range of commodities with key markets in neighbouring countries.

It remains a critical gateway for fruits and vegetables as well as livestock, with imports expected to reach 1 million head of cattle in 2025.

Since last year’s upgrade, the port has also registered an 11% increase in vessel calls, rising from 2,430 in the first half of 2024 to 2,700 in the first half of 2025, reflecting strong customer demand.

In H1 2025, the port handled trade worth approximately Dhs9.07 billion.

The expansion of the port underlines Dubai’s continued investment in agile and future-ready infrastructure to enhance trade resilience and strengthen its position as a global maritime hub.

Recently, DP World Limited has announced financial results for the year ended 31st December 2024.

On a reported basis, revenue grew by 9.7 percent to $20.0 billion, and adjusted EBITDA rose by 6.7 percent to $5.5 billion with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 27.2 percent.

Revenue growth of 9.7 percent was mainly due to improved performance from Ports and terminals and contributions from new acquisitions and concessions.

Ports and terminals revenue per TEU increased 13.9 percent on a like-for-like basis, with strong growth from the Middle East and the Americas.

DP World capacity exceeded 100 million TEU due to selective infrastructure investment in key growth markets.

Capital expenditure of $2.2 billion ($2.1 billion in 2023) was invested across the existing portfolio.

The capital expenditure budget for 2025 is approximately $2.5 billion to be invested mainly in Jebel Ali, Drydocks World and Jebel Ali Freezone, Tuna Tekra (India), London Gateway (UK), Ndayane (Senegal) and Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).

Cash generated from operating activities increased by 18.9 percent to $5.5 billion in 2024 ($4.6 billion in 2023).

“ These results demonstrate the benefits of our strategic focus on high-margin cargo, end-to-end integrated supply chain solutions and disciplined cost optimisation,” Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said.

WAM