UAE’s AD Ports Signs Agreement with CMA CGM to Expand Terminal at Khalifa Port

UAE’s AD Ports Group signed an agreement with France’s CMA CGM Group, a global player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions, to expand their joint container terminal at Khalifa Port, less than a year after it opened.

Since its opening in December 2024, CMA Terminals Khalifa Port, owned 70% by CMA CGM and 30% by AD Ports Group, has recorded strong demand and operational performance. The new expansion plan is valued at AED 420 million (USD 115 million), with the joint venture partners sharing the costs proportionate to their shareholding.

Scheduled for completion in early 2028, the expansion will increase the terminal’s capacity by 50%, from 1.8 million to 2.7 million TEUs, enhancing Khalifa Port’s overall container handling capacity by 9% to 10.5 million TEUs annually.

CMA Terminals Khalifa Port is one of three container terminals operated by major international shipping lines at Khalifa Port. The facility opened on the port’s North Quay in December 2024, with two berths totaling 800 metres and a depth of 18.5 metres, equipped to accommodate the world’s largest container ships.

The expansion will extend the quay wall length at the terminal by 50%, from 800 meters to 1,200 meters, and expand the yard area by more than 40%, from 464,000 m² to 667,000 m². The project will also include upgraded utilities and systems, such as advanced reefer racks to support refrigerated container storage, further strengthening the terminal’s operational efficiency and service capabilities.

The project marked another sign of the deepening cooperation between the two partners and the rapid growth of Khalifa Port, which advanced this year to become the 39th largest container port in the prestigious Lloyd’s List of Top 100 World Ports. The Group first entered the Lloyds ranking table at 95th place in 2019.

In Q3 2025, AD Ports Group reported that quarterly container throughput in its Ports Cluster soared 20% year-on-year, whilst general cargo volumes increased 12%. During the period, CMA Terminals Khalifa Port was close to reaching 1 million TEUs year-to-date, with a quarterly capacity utilisation of 87%.

A key hub connecting Asia, Africa, Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, the Arabian Gulf, and the Indian subcontinent, CMA Terminals Khalifa Port is outfitted with state-of-the-art, sustainable technology, including 8 next-generation ship-to-shore cranes and 20 electric RTGs, and features seamless connectivity to the Etihad Rail network.

The terminal also hosts an administrative building powered by renewable energy, including on site solar panels, which was recognized with the MENA Green Building Awards in 2022.