AD Ports has launched its first custom-bound inland dry port facility, according to a statement. The facility — dubbed as Al Faya Dry Port — will serve as an inland container depot (ICD) connected to Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Port and function as a transit terminal for trucks. The new facility looks to streamline market access and cut costs for cargo handling operations from Khalifa Port to Dubai and the northern Emirates region.

The new facility looks to boost connectivity and operations at Khalifa Port’s recently launched AED 3.1 bn container terminal as part of a JV between AD Ports and CMA Terminals, a subsidiary of French logistics giant CMA CGM Group. The French company will be the dry port’s key initial client, with other players operating at Khalifa Port, like Switzerland's MSC and China’s Cosco, set to be serviced later as operations scale up.

REMEMBER- The terminal is set to expand the port’s total container capacity by 23% to reach nearly 10 mn TEUs.

More details: The truck terminal at the dry port has an initial container capacity of 900 TEUs – scalable dependent on demand. AD Ports will deploy its Maqta Technologies’ Advanced Trade & Logistics Platform to digitally connect Khalifa Port to the new dry port.

Not the first we’ve heard of the dry port: Abu Dhabi Customs greenlit the establishment of a new customs center — Al Faya Dry Port Customs Center — last month, which is set to oversee the new center, offering 24-hour service throughout the week.

AD Ports + CMA CGM have overseas ventures: The pair formed a JV to develop and operate the New East Mole multipurpose terminal in Pointe Noire, Congo, for which AD Ports Group secured a 30-year extendable concession for the terminal in June 2023. The first phase includes a USD 220 mn investment to construct a 400 m quay wall and a 10-hectare logistics zone. The terminal will handle containers, general, break-bulk and other types of cargo at the Central West African nation’s biggest Atlantic port.

CMA CGM’s been busy in the region: Saudi Arabia’s Almajdouie Logistics finalized in October a joint venture (JV) with France-based CMA CGM’s logistics arm CEVA Logistics to boost logistic services in the Kingdom. The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) and CMA CGM broke ground over a year ago on their new SAR 487 mn integrated logistics area in Jeddah Islamic Port.

IN OTHER AD PORTS NEWS-

Noatum + Erkport launch RoRo liner JV: AD Ports subsidiary Noatum Maritime has entered into a JV with Turkish shipping firm Erkport to launch a new RoRo liner — dubbed United Global RoRo — that aims to link key ports in the automotive sector, according to a statement. Noatum Maritime will hold a 60% stake in the JV, while Erkport will retain the remaining 40%,

The plan: The JV aims to establish regional feeder networks as well as boost the accessibility of RoRo liner services across the Arabian Gulf, Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, South Africa, and Asia. The venture is slated to use integrated regional networks to cap transit times and advance cargo delivery efficiency. Once operational, the JV will operate 11 vessels over five services, deploying container RoRo, Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) and RoRo vessels.

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