DP World has secured a landmark 50-year concession to develop the Al Rugaylat and Dibba terminals in Fujairah, adding over 2.5 million TEUs in container capacity and major general cargo facilities on the UAE’s east coast. Fully integrated with Jebel Ali and Jafza, this strategic expansion allows ocean carriers to bypass the Strait of Hormuz while providing vital capacity, operational flexibility, and enhanced supply chain resilience across regional trade lanes.
Dubai, UAE | July 22, 2026 – Global supply chain giant DP World has signed an agreement in principle with the Fujairah Ports Authority for a 50-year concession to build, develop, and operate two major new terminals on the UAE’s east coast: the Al Rugaylat Container and Multi-Purpose Terminal and the Dibba General Cargo Terminal.
The strategic expansion extends DP World’s primary UAE gateway ecosystem beyond Jebel Ali, establishing a deep-water trade hub on the Gulf of Oman capable of handling the largest shipping vessels afloat while adding significant redundancy and resilience to Middle Eastern trade routes.
Infrastructure Scaling: Unlocking Capacity on the Gulf of Oman
The phased development project, expected to take between 24 and 30 months from commencement, will significantly scale up DP World’s total capacity in the UAE. Total container handling capabilities across its domestic port ecosystem will rise from 19.4 million TEUs to nearly 22 million TEUs.
- Current Capacity: 19.4M TEUs across DP World’s UAE terminal network.
- Future Capacity: 22.0M TEUs following the development of the new Fujairah terminals.
- Net Increase: +2.6M TEUs (a +13.4% expansion in total handling capacity).
Breakdown of New Terminal Capabilities:
| Terminal Facility | Primary Operations | Target Annual Capacity | Key Features |
| Al Rugaylat Terminal | Container, Ro-Ro, & Multi-Purpose Cargo | • 2.5 million TEUs • 190,000 CEUs (Automotive) • 1.7 million tonnes General Cargo | Designed for Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) with direct deep-water access. |
| Dibba Terminal | General Cargo & Bulk Infrastructure | • 3.6 million tonnes General Cargo | Enhances regional raw material and breakbulk distribution channels. |
Strategic Ecosystem: Connecting Jebel Ali, Jafza, and the Indian Ocean
Positioning major container and multi-purpose terminal infrastructure outside the Strait of Hormuz offers critical strategic advantages for ocean carriers and cargo owners alike:
- Bypassing Chokepoints: By operating on the Gulf of Oman (east coast), vessels can discharge and load cargo without navigating the Strait of Hormuz, offering significant time savings and risk mitigation for international lines.
- Integrated Logistics Corridor: The new terminals will be tied directly into DP World’s inland logistics network, creating a seamless bridge back to Jebel Ali and the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza).
- Relieving High Utilization: With Jebel Ali operating near maximum capacity, the eastern gateway provides vital operational room for high-volume trade loops connecting Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, and Europe.
“Fujairah strengthens what Jebel Ali already delivers, a single, global integrated platform for moving goods across global supply chains,” said Yuvraj Narayan, Group Chief Executive Officer at DP World. “With Jebel Ali operating at high utilization, this development provides the additional capacity to support long-term growth. For cargo owners, it means greater flexibility, more choice, and stronger supply chain resilience.”
Driving Regional Growth and Maritime Hub Leadership
Fujairah is already established as one of the world’s leading marine fuel and bunkering hubs. The addition of state-of-the-art container and Ro-Ro handling facilities transforms the emirate into a multi-faceted logistics superpower.
“The partnership with DP World marks an important milestone in Fujairah’s continued development as one of the region’s most important maritime gateways,” stated H.H. Sheikh Saleh Bin Mohamed Al Sharqi, Chairman of the Fujairah Ports Authority. “The Al Rugaylat and Dibba terminals will bring world-class operating capability, expanded capacity, and new investment to the emirate.“
Echoing the long-term vision, H.E. Essa Kazim, Chairman of DP World, emphasized the group’s ongoing commitment to the nation’s trade legacy: “The UAE has been at the heart of DP World’s story for more than four decades, Building on the strength of Jebel Ali, this development deepens our commitment to the UAE and reinforces the country’s strategic role in global trade.“
Industry Takeaway
For ocean carriers, charterers, and bunker operators, DP World’s expansion into Fujairah represents a fundamental shift in Middle Eastern supply chain logistics. By coupling Fujairah’s immense bunkering capacity with DP World’s modern terminal infrastructure and inland transport connections, the move establishes a robust dual-gateway model for the UAE.
About DP World
As a premier driver of international commerce, DP World powers global logistics through a vast operational footprint spanning 83 countries across six continents. Backed by a diverse workforce of over 125,000 professionals and an extensive network of 560+ business units, the company integrates deep-water ports and terminals, marine services, contract logistics, and cutting-edge supply chain technology. Handling over 90 million TEUs annually across its port portfolio and driving massive continuous expansion, including a $3 billion global infrastructure investment program, DP World continues to eliminate supply chain bottlenecks from the factory floor to the end customer’s door.
Source: DP World