His Excellency Essa Kazim, Chairman of DP World’s Board of Directors, has outlined the group’s plans for its next phase of global expansion, focusing on building an interconnected trade network through early investments in the ports and corridors the world will need in the future. The strategy aims to link projects across continents, accelerate cargo movement, and provide greater flexibility for international trade.
Speaking during a session titled “Al Maktoum International Airport… The New Airport for the World” at the Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Forum, attended by 1,000 leaders from Dubai’s government and private sectors, His Excellency highlighted the importance of long-term infrastructure investment in strengthening global trade connections. He also reviewed Dubai’s commercial development and DP World’s growing international presence.
Investing Today in the Trade Corridors the World Will Need Tomorrow
DP World’s next phase of expansion focuses on developing a connected global trade network by investing early in essential infrastructure and linking its projects across international markets.
His Excellency Essa Kazim explained that DP World’s future growth strategy is centered on identifying and investing in the ports and trade corridors that will become increasingly important to global commerce in the years ahead.
His Excellency emphasized that the objective extends beyond developing individual ports. The group is working to connect its investments across continents, creating a coordinated network that allows goods to move more quickly and provides international trade with greater flexibility.
According to His Excellency, Dubai’s success did not emerge from a sudden period of growth. Rather, it was built through a succession of decisions and development projects that gradually strengthened the emirate’s connections with the rest of the world.
His Excellency traced the foundations of Dubai’s commercial development to 1901, when a decision was made to exempt traders from customs duties. That decision was followed by investments in ports, airports, roads, and free zones, each contributing to the development of Dubai’s trade infrastructure and its connections with international markets.
His Excellency stressed that investing ahead of future demand remains central to the approach that has supported Dubai’s development and continues to guide DP World’s expansion into new markets.
Jebel Ali’s Transformation Supports a Global Network Across Six Continents
From the development of Jebel Ali Port to operations spanning more than 80 countries, DP World’s expansion reflects the role of integrated infrastructure in connecting businesses, supply chains, and global markets.
His Excellency Essa Kazim highlighted Jebel Ali Port as an example of how a major infrastructure project can support the development of a much broader economic ecosystem.
His Excellency explained that Jebel Ali was never simply a port development project. Over time, an economy emerged around it, bringing together businesses, employment opportunities, supply chains, and a free zone that became a gateway for international trade.
His Excellency noted that the development of this interconnected system illustrates how investment in transport and logistics infrastructure can support economic activity beyond the facilities themselves.
Today, DP World’s international network extends across six continents and more than 80 countries, with a workforce exceeding 125,000 employees. Approximately 10% of global container trade passes through the group’s operations, according to the figures presented during His Excellency’s address.
His Excellency pointed to the scale of this international presence as part of DP World’s development from its origins in Dubai into a global trade and logistics network.
The group’s next phase of expansion, His Excellency explained, will focus on strengthening the connections between these operations, rather than treating ports and logistics projects as separate investments.
Two Fujairah Terminals to Expand DP World’s UAE Capacity to Nearly 22 Million TEUs
DP World is developing a new trade gateway on the UAE’s eastern coast through two terminals in Fujairah, connecting them with Jebel Ali Port and the group’s domestic logistics network.
His Excellency Essa Kazim outlined DP World’s plans to strengthen its operations within the UAE through the development of two terminals in Fujairah, establishing a new trade gateway on the country’s eastern coast.
His Excellency explained that the project involves linking both terminals to Jebel Ali Port and DP World’s existing logistics network across the UAE, bringing the new facilities into a connected national transportation and trade system.
One of the terminals is expected to have an annual handling capacity of 2.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), adding significant container-handling capacity to the group’s operations in the country.
His Excellency noted that once the project is completed, DP World’s total annual port capacity in the UAE is expected to reach approximately 22 million TEUs.
The investment forms part of the group’s broader approach to developing port infrastructure in anticipation of future trade requirements while strengthening links between its facilities and logistics operations.
His Excellency emphasized that connecting these developments with the existing network is an important part of ensuring that new infrastructure operates within a coordinated transport and logistics system.
New Trade Routes Connect Oman, Syria, Senegal, and Canada with DP World’s Global Network
DP World is expanding its international trade connections through new routes linking Oman’s ports with Dubai, investments in Syria and Senegal, and the exploration of additional opportunities in Canada.
His Excellency Essa Kazim revealed that DP World is working on new trade routes connecting ports in the Sultanate of Oman with Dubai, as part of its efforts to strengthen trade links and offer greater flexibility in the movement of goods.
His Excellency also highlighted the group’s involvement in managing and developing Syria’s Port of Tartus, with an investment of up to $800 million over a 30-year period.
The development is among several international projects through which DP World aims to strengthen its port network and expand connections between different trading regions.
In Africa, His Excellency pointed to the development of a deepwater port in Senegal, reflecting the group’s continued investment in port infrastructure across international markets.
His Excellency added that DP World is also exploring new investment opportunities in Canada as it considers further opportunities to expand its global presence.
His Excellency stressed that the significance of these projects goes beyond adding new ports to the group’s international portfolio. The broader objective is to connect them within a single, integrated trade network, allowing goods to move through faster and more flexible routes.
This approach reflects DP World’s focus on investing in future trade corridors while bringing its existing and planned projects together into a coordinated global system.
