In an important step towards strengthening Dubai's maritime capabilities, DP World has announced the completion of the Mina Al Hamriya expansion project, enhancing the port's operational capacity and reinforcing its status as a key hub for trade in the Gulf region, East Africa and India.

The inauguration ceremony, presided over by H.E. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World Group, was attended by Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World GCC, alongside senior DP World management and Dubai government officials.

The meeting highlighted the collaborative efforts essential to the project's success, demonstrating a shared ambition to elevate Dubai's maritime sector.

Located on Dubai's mainland, near the Deira Islands, Mina Al Hamriya has grown and transformed in sync with Dubai's dynamic maritime landscape. This vast expansion project, launched in 2022, underlines a visionary commitment to strengthening Dubai's position as a leading global maritime hub.

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Improvements include the construction of an additional 1,150-meter quay wall, increasing berthing capacity for a wide range of vessels, from traditional dhows to modern multipurpose vessels and ro-ro ships.

H.E. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman and CEO of DP World Group, said: "Mina Al Hamriya's journey, from its inception in the 1970s to its current stature, is a story of resilience, innovation and strategic development.

"This expansion enhances our physical infrastructure and reaffirms our commitment to facilitating global and regional trade more efficiently. "Our ancestors laid the foundations for a thriving maritime trade, and today we are building on this legacy, ensuring that Dubai continues to be an essential maritime hub in the modern era."

The project extended the port's quay to a total of 3,140 meters and added five new berths, bringing the total to 14.

The quay extension was undertaken at the same time as comprehensive dredging work, deepening the draught to 8.5 meters to accommodate larger vessels and handle a greater volume of goods and cargo, increasing the port's efficiency and throughput.

Complementing this expansion, an 86,000 square metre apron has been developed, bringing total storage capacity to 403,400 square metres. This area is equipped with state-of-the-art bollards, wings and ladders.

Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World GCC, said: "The successful completion of the Mina Al Hamriya modernization project demonstrates DP World's unwavering commitment to improving Dubai's maritime infrastructure.

"These improvements enable us to handle a more diverse and larger volume of cargo, and underline our central role in the global and regional trading ecosystem. We are proud to set new benchmarks for operational excellence and capacity in the maritime sector.

Mina Al Hamriya's strategic importance was underlined by its performance in 2023. The port welcomed over 4,300 vessels of various types and handled over 1.6 million tons of cargo, in addition to large volumes of vehicles, livestock and containers.

This achievement underlines the port's vital role in maintaining smooth trade flows across the Gulf, East Africa, India and beyond, and its contribution to Dubai's economic diversification and growth. The port is also a key import hub for traditional wooden dhows, particularly for livestock and fruit and vegetables.

To improve efficiency and provide more digital solutions for customers, Mina Al Hamriya implemented the "NAU by DP World" system in 2020, which streamlines dhow entry processes, providing stakeholders with the necessary documentation in advance to facilitate booking requests and shipments.

What's more, the port's fishing harbor can accommodate up to 156 fishing boats simultaneously, playing a vital role in supporting the local fishing industry.

TLME