The settlement, signed on Tuesday, brings collectively AD Ports Group’s consolidated inland intermodal community with the maritime scale of CMA CGM and the terminal operations of CMA Terminals Khalifa Port. The companions plan to develop intermodal options linking gateway ports with rail-connected inland container depots, dry ports and cargo services serving industrial, shopper and regional markets.
A central goal is to maneuver cargo extra effectively from Khalifa Port to demand centres throughout the UAE, together with the Northern Emirates, whereas creating routing choices in direction of the borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia. The plan is designed to offer shippers higher flexibility at a time when provide chains are being reshaped by geopolitical disruption, Pink Sea diversions, increased insurance coverage prices and demand for shorter, extra resilient cargo routes.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group Chief Govt Officer of AD Ports Group, mentioned the MoU was an “vital step” in consolidating the UAE’s inland intermodal logistics spine underneath one platform. He mentioned bringing CMA CGM into the community as its first world transport line companion would prolong CMA Terminals Khalifa Port past its conventional quay-side position and create a extra linked commerce gateway for the UAE and the area.
CMA Terminals Khalifa Port is a three way partnership owned 70 per cent by CMA CGM Group and 30 per cent by AD Ports Group. It was inaugurated in December 2024 and has turn into considered one of three container terminals at Khalifa Port operated by main worldwide transport traces. Its positioning provides Abu Dhabi a direct hyperlink to one of many world’s largest container transport and logistics teams, with operations spanning sea, land, air and contract logistics.
Jesper Stenbak, Regional Director for the Center East Gulf, Subcontinent and Indian Ocean at CMA CGM Group, mentioned the collaboration would strengthen the terminal’s position as an inland-enabled gateway by connecting maritime providers extra immediately with inland cargo flows. He mentioned the partnership would help higher routing, stronger supply-chain resilience and wider service attain for patrons.
The MoU follows a significant growth settlement between AD Ports Group and CMA CGM in November 2025 to extend capability at CMA Terminals Khalifa Port from 1.8 million TEUs to 2.7 million TEUs by early 2028. That undertaking, valued at AED420 million, will elevate Khalifa Port’s complete container dealing with capability to 10.5 million TEUs yearly and add almost a million TEUs to the joint terminal’s capability.
The growth contains extending the terminal’s quay wall from 800 metres to 1,200 metres and rising yard space from 464,000 sq. metres to 667,000 sq. metres. The power already has two deep-water berths, an 18.5-metre draft, next-generation ship-to-shore cranes, electrical rubber-tyred gantry cranes and connectivity to the Etihad Rail community.
AD Ports Group’s wider efficiency provides the inland push added significance. The group reported file 2025 income of AED20.77 billion and complete web revenue of AED2.07 billion. Its ports cluster dealt with 7.7 million TEUs throughout the yr, up 23 per cent, whereas normal cargo volumes rose to nearly 60 million tonnes. CMA Terminals Khalifa Port dealt with greater than 1.3 million TEUs in its first yr of economic operations, reflecting sturdy utilisation for a brand new facility.
For producers and exporters, the settlement might enhance entry to a number of corridors and scale back reliance on single-route logistics planning. Sooner inland cargo flows can be significantly vital for industrial zones, free zones, automotive provide chains, meals distribution, building supplies, petrochemicals and shopper items companies working throughout Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates.
