Khalifa Port Expansion
AD Ports, EGA Invest AED84 Million to Upgrade Khalifa Port Berth for Larger Vessels
Key Points
The upgrade program will provide the flexibility to install additional unloader facilities to support future cargo volumes.
The joint investment is AED84 million, equivalent to about $23 million (reported as about $22.87 million in some outlets).
Saif Al Mazrouei, CEO – Ports Cluster of AD Ports Group, stated the agreement enhances critical trade infrastructure and will help partners grow and compete more effectively on the global stage.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of Emirates Global Aluminium, described Khalifa Port as a strategic gateway for EGA’s global operations and highlighted that the collaboration will strengthen long-term capacity, efficiency and performance of the berth to ensure safe, reliable handling of essential raw materials.
AD Ports Group and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) will jointly spend AED 84 million — about $23 million — to upgrade EGA's dedicated berth at Khalifa Port, according to Maritime Professional. The multi-phase project will allow the facility to handle Newcastlemax dry bulk vessels, which carry 15–20% more cargo than the Capesize ships currently used.
The upgrade targets a capacity of roughly 8 million tonnes of bulk cargo per year, Trade Arabia reported. Work is expected to finish by August 2028.
What the Upgrade Actually Involves at the Berth
The project covers a wide range of physical changes to the berth. Engineers will reinforce the capping beam — the concrete structure that holds the dock together and absorbs force from large ships. They will also install new bollards and fenders, extend crane beams and their foundations, and add utility connections, according to Maritime Professional.
Crews will also dredge the seabed to make it deeper. This is essential because Newcastlemax vessels sit much lower in the water than Capesize ships when fully loaded. The plan also leaves room to add extra unloading equipment later to handle even more cargo in the future, Trade Arabia noted.
Why Newcastlemax Vessels Change the Economics for EGA
EGA is the largest premium aluminium producer in the world. Its Al Taweelah smelter needs a constant supply of bauxite and alumina shipped in from abroad. Right now, those raw materials arrive on Capesize vessels. Switching to Newcastlemax ships — which can carry up to 205,000 deadweight tonnes compared to around 180,000 for Capesize — means fewer voyages and lower cost per tonne of cargo.
That efficiency gain matters globally. EGA produces roughly 4% of the world's total aluminium, according to TradingView. Cutting import costs makes UAE-made aluminium more competitive on world markets. It also reduces the carbon footprint per tonne of raw material shipped, which is increasingly important as international environmental rules tighten.
What the CEOs Said About the Long-Term Partnership
Saif Al Mazrouei, CEO of the Ports Cluster at AD Ports Group, said the deal goes beyond a single construction project.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of EGA, called Khalifa Port
Khalifa Port Cements Its Role as an Industrial Gateway
Khalifa Port opened in 2012 and was designed from the start to serve large industrial customers like EGA. This upgrade deepens that specialization. By tailoring the berth to Newcastlemax standards, AD Ports locks in a long-term anchor tenant while positioning the port ahead of regional rivals that cannot yet handle vessels of that size at dedicated industrial berths, according to Maritime Professional.
The investment also fits inside the UAE's broader
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