Hamdan bin Mohammed Strengthens Jebel Ali Port’s Capacity to 1.6 Million TEUs Annually
Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port, a critical hub for regional trade, is set to double its rail terminal capacity from 800,000 TEUs to 1.6 million TEUs annually. This announcement follows a visit by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, who reviewed operations and multimodal investments at the port.
During his visit, Sheikh Hamdan was updated on the port’s operational performance, particularly its logistics capabilities over the past two months. DP World, which operates the port, reported handling nearly 200,000 TEUs through regional overland truck and rail corridors, showcasing the resilience of the port’s logistics network.
Sheikh Hamdan commended the teams at Jebel Ali Port for their consistent efforts in maintaining high operational standards. He emphasized that Dubai’s position in global trade is a result of a long-term vision and advanced infrastructure that connects markets across continents. He noted that Jebel Ali Port has been central to this success for nearly five decades, facilitating the flow of commerce and linking regional and international supply chains.
“As trade networks evolve, Dubai is committed to expanding multimodal connectivity and investing in resilient infrastructure,” Sheikh Hamdan stated. This investment aims to enhance supply chain efficiency and support global commerce, reinforcing Dubai’s status as a leading international trade platform.
Jebel Ali Port: A Trade Anchor
Jebel Ali Port serves as the anchor for trade in the Middle East and plays a crucial role in the UAE’s economic framework. Beyond being a gateway, it acts as a strategic base for manufacturing, logistics, and distribution, connecting 12,000 companies to both regional and global markets.
During the tour, Sheikh Hamdan visited several key facilities, including the Jebel Ali Rail Terminal, which is now operating up to eight daily services. He also explored the BOXBAY high-bay storage system and the operations center of Terminal 2, one of the port’s four terminals. These facilities reflect DP World’s ongoing investment in infrastructure, automation, and connectivity, which are vital for the UAE’s role in global trade.
Accompanying Sheikh Hamdan were His Excellency Essa Kazim, Chairman of DP World; Yuvraj Narayan, Group CEO of DP World; and Ahmad Yousef Al-Hassan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World GCC. They provided insights into the port’s role in ensuring a continuous flow of trade in the region.
Kazim remarked that successful businesses in today’s economic landscape are built on diversified and resilient infrastructure. He highlighted that DP World has developed a robust trade and industrial ecosystem around Jebel Ali Port over nearly 50 years, establishing it as the region’s most trusted trade gateway.
Advancements in Rail and Automation
The Jebel Ali Rail Terminal is directly connected to the UAE’s national rail network and currently has an annual capacity of 800,000 TEUs, with plans to expand this to 1.6 million TEUs to meet market demand. DP World is integrating rail into Jebel Ali’s broader multimodal logistics ecosystem, complementing maritime and road networks with up to eight daily train services.
Sheikh Hamdan also visited the Terminal 2 control room and BOXBAY, which is recognized as the world’s first deep-water, automated high-bay container storage system. This innovative system increases effective port capacity without requiring additional physical space.
Strategic Investments for Future Growth
These developments are part of Dubai’s broader strategy to invest in logistics, aligning infrastructure, automation, and digital systems to minimize turnaround times and enhance supply chain resilience. This strategic approach aims to drive sustainable growth in trade volumes.
DP World operates across six continents, employing over 125,000 people and managing more than 300 freight forwarding offices globally, alongside a maritime fleet of over 500 vessels. Jebel Ali Port stands as the largest port in the Middle East and is the cornerstone of the region’s most extensive free zone, Jafza, which hosts 12,000 companies across various sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, retail, healthcare, automotive, and food.
For further details, visit the original reporting source: www.emirates247.com.
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Published on 2026-05-14 19:04:00 • By the Editorial Desk
