DPA launches $1.1 billion investment drive

31 January 2003
Dubai Ports Authority announced on 26 January an AED 4,200 million ($1,100 million) expansion programme that will boost the capacity of Jebel Ali container terminal to 21.8 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) by 2020. The four-phase programme is intended to meet the long-term growth of the port, which handled 4.1 million TEUs in 2002, up almost 20 per cent on the previous year (UAE, MEED Special Report, 8:11:02, pages 45-46).

Work on phase 1 is already under way. Eight international consultants are competing for the contract to design new deepwater container berths alongside the existing berths 22/23. The package will also include the construction of a 1,200-metre-long quay wall. Improvements to the existing 67-berth container facility under the first three phases of the scheme will boost capacity to 9.7 million TEUs by 2010 (MEED 3:1:03; 4:10:02).

Depending on the continued strength of the port's throughput, a decision will be taken after 2010 on whether to press ahead with phase 4, the biggest element in the project. This will entail reclaiming additional land beyond the existing breakwater, creating enough space to build three new giant terminals with total capacity of 12.1 million TEUs.

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