Terminal operator AD Ports and the CMA CGM Group are expanding their cooperation in the inland transportation network of the United Arab Emirates.
The Memorandum of Understanding aims to optimize the flow of goods in AD Ports Group’s consolidated intermodal inland transport network. This network includes rail-bound container depots, dry ports and freight depots in the Emirates and the wider region. In addition to AD Ports and CMA CGM, the subsidiary CMA Terminals Khalifa Port, which operates the terminal in Abu Dhabi, is also involved. In the future, the partners announced that its reach will extend “beyond the quay” to regional inland markets.
“The collaboration will also explore opportunities to strengthen cargo flows in the UAE and regional markets, including the Northern Emirates, while expanding trade corridors through inland rail links to the borders of the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” it added.
“Flexible and resilient”
The northern emirates, including Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah, border Oman on the one hand and form a land bridge between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman on the other. The partners do not explicitly mention any connection with the closed Strait of Hormuz and the possibility of opening new land-based “lifelines” for trade. However, the memorandum states that the cooperation aims to promote the UAE’s industrial growth by creating “flexible and resilient export corridors” through inland and gateway routes.
“This MoU is an important step towards consolidating the UAE’s inland intermodal logistics on an integrated platform,” said Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and CEO of AD Ports. “By including CMA CGM as the first global shipping line partner in this network, we are expanding CMA Terminals Khalifa Port’s capabilities beyond its traditional quayside role and creating a more connected, flexible and resilient trade gateway for the UAE and the entire region.”
CMA Terminals Khalifa Port, opening in December 2024, is a joint venture between CMA CGM Group (70%) and AD Ports Group (30%) and one of three container terminals in Khalifa Port operated by major international shipping lines.
Jesper Stenbak, Regional Director for the Middle East, Gulf, Indian Subcontinent and Indian Ocean for the CMA CGM Group, said: “This cooperation strengthens the role of CMA Terminals’ Khalifa Port as a key hub for inland cargo transportation and extends CMA CGM’s reach beyond the port through integrated inland connections throughout the UAE and regional markets.” By linking maritime and inland transportation more directly, the partnership will support more efficient routes, greater supply chain resilience and improved service coverage. “AD Ports Group’s inland intermodal network connects gateway ports with inland ports, rail-based cargo handling facilities and industrial hubs across the UAE, contributing to more efficient freight movement, greater inland connectivity and improved access to regional trade corridors.”
Situation in the region remains tense
The Strait of Hormuz – one of the most important shipping passages in the world – has been effectively closed for two months now. Numerous ships, some with a German connection, are stuck in the Persian Gulf. Most recently, US President Trump announced the so-called “Operation Freedom” to escort ships through the strait; Iran saw this as a violation of the ceasefire. The Maersk car carrier “Alliance Fairfax” recently left the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz under military escort.
Meanwhile, the German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd announced its intention to resume services within the Persian Gulf. The connection envisages using the UAE as a land bridge between the seas to reach ports in India and Oman.
