DP World has launched a new shipping route connecting Jebel Ali Port in the United Arab Emirates with Berbera Port in Somaliland, the company said in a statement.
The route, which operates every nine days, aims to strengthen trade between the Gulf and East Africa and enhance the company’s global logistics network.
The new service includes scheduled stops at Aden and Djibouti, providing additional regional connectivity and supporting access to markets across the Horn of Africa. From Berbera, cargo can continue inland to Ethiopia, offering an alternative to existing supply chains dependent on Djibouti Port.
The service is expected to improve transit predictability and reduce regional bottlenecks. Berbera Port, featuring a 1,050-metre quay, modern container facilities, and an annual livestock handling capacity of about 4 million heads, serves as a key logistics hub for East Africa.
DP World holds a 58.5% stake in Berbera’s container and general cargo terminal and has developed the Berbera Economic Zone to promote industrial growth. Berbera already handles more than 4.1 million heads of livestock annually, generating over US$1 billion in trade.
The new route supports DP World’s wider investment strategy in African trade infrastructure. The company has invested nearly US$3 billion in ports and logistics projects across the continent and plans to commit another US$3 billion within the next five years. Since DP World began operations in Berbera in 2017, vessel productivity has increased by 450%, container volumes by 30%, and general cargo throughput by 90%.
Recent infrastructure upgrades, including a 250 km road and the Hargeisa Bypass supported by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and the UK’s Department for International Development, have improved Berbera’s connectivity to Ethiopia.
DP World is a Dubai-based multinational logistics and port management company operating across six continents. It provides supply chain solutions through ports, terminals, marine services, logistics, and technology operations. The company is owned by Dubai World, a sovereign holding entity of the Government of Dubai.
