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82.4% growth in container handling in Khalifa Port in the first half of 2019.
– Increasing the number of passengers on board cruises to 320 thousand people.
– Increase in the number of tourist ship visits by 38%.
– More than 500 companies registered in Khalifa Industrial City.
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Abu Dhabi 2019-09-22 / WAM
Abu Dhabi Ports today announced its operating results for the first half of 2019, achieving significant growth in several areas, most notably container handling volume of 82.4%.
Khalifa Port recorded an increase in container handling volume from 620,974 TEUs during the first half of 2018 to 1,135,021 TEUs during the first half of 2019, representing a significant increase of 82.4%. This growth was mainly driven by the concession agreement with MSC International Navigation last year. Abu Dhabi Ports expects further growth after the completion of the construction and development of the COSCO Abu Dhabi Container Terminal, in cooperation with COSCO Ports, Ltd. of China, which commenced operations in April.
These agreements are part of Abu Dhabi Ports’ five-year strategy to enhance trade, attract foreign direct investment and contribute to building a sustainable and diversified national economy. Abu Dhabi ports expect Khalifa Port to increase to 9.1 million TEUs by 2024. The port is now capable of receiving the world’s largest vessels, especially after arriving at the Cusco Abu Dhabi Container Terminal this year, the COSCO Shipping Bases and COSCO Shipping. Solar, which has a capacity of 21 thousand containers.
This success is attributable to the gains from franchising agreements with a number of leading companies in the trade and logistics sectors, including MSC International Shipping and COSCO Ports Ltd.
These agreements have resulted in significant growth in the number of vessels utilizing Khalifa Port’s strategic location and world-class facilities, as well as the investment of Abu Dhabi Ports in the latest technological solutions and advanced infrastructure.
For his part, HE Falah Mohammed Al Ahbabi, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Ports, said that despite the challenges that have cast a shadow on the global investment environment in recent years, we have achieved good results in the sectors of trade and logistics and achieved strong gains and achievements that support the efforts to diversify our national economy. “We are proud of Abu Dhabi Ports’ key role in establishing the UAE and Abu Dhabi on the map of trade, industry and logistics in the Middle East.”
“Our strategy is to build strong partnerships and partnerships with the best international companies and players in vital economic sectors, in line with our vision of leadership that provides all forms of support to Abu Dhabi Ports to continue our ambitious growth.” Captain Mohammed Juma Al Shamsi, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Ports, said that Abu Dhabi Ports achieved remarkable results during the first half of this year by registering high growth rates in all its operations, from the volume of container handling to the number of visits of cruise ships. We expect further successes and progress after the launch of COSCO’s Abu Dhabi Container Terminal and the ongoing renovation and development of the Fujairah Port.
This success and growth is an indication of Abu Dhabi’s commercial and economic importance to the Middle East, Africa and Asia as well as along the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative. ”Abu Dhabi Ports also recorded significant growth in the volume of cargo through its ports including Fujairah, Mina Zayed and Mussafah ports. Total cargo handling reached 9.7 million tons in the first half of 2019, an increase of 10% compared to the same period last year.
Last June, Khalifa Port received the largest and the first deep-sea submarine ship fully loaded in the Arabian Gulf, following the steps taken by Abu Dhabi Ports to enhance their capacity to receive giant vessels by deepening the canal from 16.5 meters to 18.5 meters and expanding its entrance from 250 meters to 280 Meters.
Khalifa Industrial City continues to attract more investments, especially after it signed strategic agreements with DHL Global Forwarding and Gulf Compound Building during the first half of 2019, as well as after the Chinese tire manufacturer Roadbut laid the foundation stone for a value-added project. 2.2 billion dirhams. Once completed, the 275,000 square meter project will have an annual production capacity of 10 million tires and 1 million tires for trucks and buses by 2022.
To date, Abu Dhabi Ports has attracted more than 500 investors to Khalifa Industrial City in addition to a huge investment package exceeding AED 65 billion across various sectors including metals, plastics, oil and gas, automobiles, food, energy and logistics.
On the other hand, Abu Dhabi Ports succeeded in attracting increasing numbers of passengers through cruise ships during the first half of 2019, registering an increase of 35% from 237,169 passengers in the first half of 2018 to 321,277 passengers during the first half of 2019. Visits of cruise ships at Mina Zayed, Fujairah ports and Sir Bani Yas Beach cruise ships from 93 to 129 cruise ships, an increase of 38%. Fujairah ports recorded a threefold increase in the number of tourists from 5,931 to 14,441. Abu Dhabi Ports confirmed that this significant increase in the number of passengers was achieved thanks to huge investments in the development of facilities
