AD Ports moves Pointe-Noire concession into build phase

AD Ports advances Congo port construction: Abu Dhabi-based port operator AD Ports Group awarded three contracts worth a combined AED 735 mn (USD 200 mn) for the Noatum Ports Pointe-Noire Terminal in the Republic of the Congo, according to a statement. Construction is expected to be completed in approximately two years.

The details: The marine and topside works contracts, valued at approximately AED 551 mn, were awarded to MAR Contracting Sarlu and MBTP SA JV, while an AED 184 mn crane contract was awarded to Chinese port equipment manufacturer ZPMC.

It’s the next step in a concession AD Ports has been building since 2023 under a 30-year agreement with the Republic of the Congo for the New East Mole Terminal — extendable by a further 20 years. The Group has also committed USD 500 mn over the life of the concession and, in 2025, brought CMA CGM into the project.

The buildout coverage: The awards span the terminal’s core construction package, including marine works, topside infrastructure, and crane equipment. The project is being developed through AD Ports Group’s majority-owned joint venture with CMA Terminals. The first phase of the terminal will feature a 420-meter quay wall with a 16-meter depth, three ship-to-shore cranes, nine rubber-tyred gantry cranes, and a 100k-sqm logistics area.

CMA CGM brings significant cargo depth to the project, with the French carrier historically handling around 35% of the DRC’s container market and leading export volumes while also ranking second in imports and transshipment. The terminal is designed as a multi-user facility, with AD Ports Group retaining majority control and full consolidation of the asset.

From Khalifa to DRC: The Pointe-Noire development deepens the partnership between AD Ports Group and CMA CGM, which is already active in Abu Dhabi. The two groups have previously inaugurated CMA Terminals Khalifa Port — a AED 3.1 bn container terminal expected to add 2.6 mn TEUs in capacity, increasing Khalifa Port’s 2024 handling capacity of 7.8 mn TEUs by roughly one-third.

In other news from AD Ports

AD Ports is building beyond the berth: AD Ports Group built a multimodal inland logistics network linking Khalif Port and Fujairah Terminals with rail-linked dry ports, cargo depots, including Kezad Group’s Industry City of Abu Dhabi.

Heavy industry gives the network its first base load: AD Ports signed MoUs with Emirates Global Aluminium, Emsteel Group, Al Ghurair Iron & Steel, and Tenaris to bring in the four manufacturers to the rail-linked inland logistics network.

The play is factory-to-port, not just port-to-port: The network is designed to move raw materials, semi-finished products, and finished goods across a mix of ports, depots, dry ports, and rail-linked logistics nodes.

Why this matters: The Gulf’s recent disruption cycle highlighted that port capacity is only half the problem — while East coast gateways such as Fujairah can absorb diverted cargo, the real constraint lies in moving boxes and industrial cargo inland. The current rail network remains a partial solution and is not yet a full substitute for maritime capacity or road-based redistribution during major rerouting shocks.