Global port operator DP World announced on 22 July 2026 a concession with Fujairah Ports Authority to develop the Al Rugaylat Container & Multi-Purpose Terminal and the Dibba General Cargo Terminal. The 50-year agreement creates the UAE’s first deep-water gateway on the Gulf of Oman capable of handling ultra-large container vessels and adds substantial roll-on/roll-off and break-bulk capacity. Al Rugaylat will feature 1.2 kilometres of quay and an annual throughput capacity of 2.5 million TEU, plus 1.7 million tonnes of general cargo and 190,000 car-equivalent units. Dibba will contribute a further 3.6 million tonnes of cargo capacity. Together they will lift DP World’s UAE container capacity from 19.4 million to almost 22 million TEU and diversify routing options beyond the Strait of Hormuz—a strategic consideration given recent conflict-related insurance surcharges on Gulf shipping lanes. For multinational manufacturers and relocation suppliers, the east-coast location offers a shorter nautical distance to South Asia and avoids congestion at Jebel Ali. Fujairah’s emerging logistics zone is also expected to provide bonded-warehouse options for regional distribution and project-cargo staging, potentially reducing inland-haulage times into northern Emirates free zones. Construction is scheduled to start in Q1 2027, with phased operations beginning 2029; DP World will integrate the terminals into its global CARGOES digital-supply-chain platform from day one. Companies finalising long-term sourcing contracts should factor the new gateways into freight-network design and note that early bird tenancy incentives are likely to be released in H2 2027. The investment reinforces the UAE’s objective of doubling non-oil foreign trade to AED 4 trillion by 2031 and provides redundancy for humanitarian and military logistics should Hormuz tensions escalate.
Source: DP World Press Release
