CMA CGM and AD Ports fast-track expansion of Khalifa Port Container Terminal

Scheduled for completion in early 2028, the expansion will boost the terminal’s annual handling capacity by nearly 50%, rising from 1.8 million teu to 2.7 million teu

November 19, 2025
8:06 am
ASL Narasimha

CMA CGM Group and AD Ports are moving ahead with an accelerated expansion of their joint container terminal at Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Port, less than a year after it became operational. Strong cargo volumes since the launch in December 2024 have prompted the partners to bring forward the next development phase.

CMA Terminals Khalifa Port — 70% owned by CMA CGM and 30% by AD Ports — has attracted higher-than-projected demand, pushing the companies to commit AED 420 million ($115 million) for the second-phase upgrade. The investment will be shared according to their existing stakes.

Scheduled for completion in early 2028, the expansion will boost the terminal’s annual handling capacity by nearly 50%, rising from 1.8 million teu to 2.7 million teu. With this addition, Khalifa Port’s overall container capacity is expected to reach approximately 10.5 million teu, strengthening its position as a key transshipment hub in the region.

The new development plan includes extending the quay line by 400 meters, increasing total quay length to 1,200 meters, and expanding yard space by over 40%. Additional infrastructure upgrades — among them advanced terminal systems and expanded reefer capacity — will support rising volumes, particularly in refrigerated cargo.

Khalifa Port has been climbing regional rankings as transshipment traffic grows, supported by robust operational performance. In the third quarter of 2025, AD Ports recorded a 20% year-on-year rise in container throughput, with the CMA Terminals facility expected to close the year near the 1 million teu mark and operating at about 87% utilisation.

The expansion comes on the heels of another strategic collaboration: in November, AD Ports acquired a 20% stake in Syria’s Latakia International Container Terminal for AED 81 million ($22 million). The two groups will jointly manage the terminal, which handles more than 95% of Syria’s container flows and is slated to expand its capacity from 250,000 teu to 625,000 teu by 2026.