Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited Jebel Ali Port this week to review infrastructure upgrades and operational performance at one of the world’s busiest maritime gateways.
The visit centred on three facilities: the Jebel Ali Rail Terminal, the BOXBAY high-bay container storage system, and the Terminal 2 operations centre, each representing a distinct strand of DP World’s long-term capital programme.
The Rail Terminal, now operating up to eight daily services, connects the port directly to the UAE’s national rail network.
Current annual capacity stands at 800,000 TEUs, with expansion plans targeting 1.6 million TEUs to meet projected demand.
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Rail is being integrated into the port’s broader multimodal logistics framework, sitting alongside existing road and maritime operations.
BOXBAY, which DP World describes as the world’s first deep-water automated high-bay container storage system, adds effective capacity without expanding the port’s physical footprint, a particularly significant capability given land constraints at major hub terminals.
Over the past two months, the port handled nearly 200,000 TEUs through regional overland truck and rail corridors, underscoring the operational weight of its inland connectivity beyond pure maritime throughput.
Sheikh Hamdan said: “As trade networks continue to evolve, Dubai remains focused on expanding multimodal connectivity and investing in resilient infrastructure that enhances supply chain efficiency, supports global commerce and strengthens the emirate’s standing as a leading international platform for trade and economic exchange.”
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His Excellency Essa Kazim, Chairman of DP World, added: “Businesses and economies that thrive in today’s evolving economic environment are those built on diversified, resilient infrastructure.
“What DP World has built over nearly 50 years – the trade and industrial ecosystem around Jebel Ali Port, the customer relationships developed over generations, and the global network and expertise spanning six continents – is what has established it as the region’s most trusted trade gateway. That is built on decades of unmatched experience.”
Yuvraj Narayan, Group CEO of DP World, and Ahmad Yousef Al-Hassan, CEO & Managing Director of DP World GCC, also accompanied the Crown Prince during the tour.
Jebel Ali supports around 12,000 companies through its combined port, logistics, manufacturing and distribution ecosystem, and remains central to the UAE’s trade infrastructure strategy.
For more information:
DP World – https://www.dpworld.com/en/uae
