Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala Investment Company and Mubadala Infrastructure Partners have agreed to sell their combined 50 per cent equity in Abu Dhabi Terminals to Abu Dhabi Ports, the remaining shareholder.

Abu Dhabi Terminals won the 30-year concession to operate and manage Khalifa Port's container terminal in 2006.

MEED understands the port is the region’s first semi-automated container terminal, allowing shorter clearing times for cargoes.

A second container terminal is being planned at the port.

In 2016, Abu Dhabi Ports Company signed a 35-year concession agreement with China’s Cosco Shipping Ports for the operation of the second terminal.

The contract is renewable for a period of five years. Cosco will operate an initial 1,200 metres of quay and yard with a capacity of 2.4 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

The preparatory work for the second container terminal is being undertaken by Abu Dhabi-based National Marine Dredging Company.

Last November, the Abu Dhabi Ports/Cosco joint venture awarded Beijing-based China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) the contract to upgrade the 1.2 kilometre-long container terminal at Khalifa Port. The value of the contract was not disclosed. The scope includes mechanical, electrical and plumbing work to automate the terminal.

The contract for the construction of a 1km quay wall as well as deepening the port’s main channel and basin was tendered in August last year, with the award expected before end of the year. However, this was delayed.

MEED understands the client plans to retender the contract.

Companies that submitted a bid for the contract in August last year are understood to include:

• Afcons Infrastructure (India)
• Bam International (Netherlands)
• China Harbour Engineering Company (China)
• National Marine Dredging Company (UAE)
• Hyundai Engineering & Construction (South Korea)
• Van Oord (Netherlands).