Mergers, acquisitions, expansion, and growth achieved
In facing the extraordinary challenge of a once in a generation pandemic, Abu Dhabi Ports has weathered 2020 particularly well, continuing to grow and expand its overall capacity and capabilities and emerge stronger than ever before, the company .
With the advent of the pandemic, the company successfully raised its profile worldwide as a responsible player in the trade and logistics sector with the ‘Horns of Hope’ campaign.
This innovative initiative reached more than 260mn people in over 23 countries and involved leading global and regional organisations, such as the International Maritime Organisation and the Arab Sea Ports Federation.
In tandem, Abu Dhabi Ports’ comprehensive business continuity strategy was implemented ensuring the smooth flow of goods and medical provisions supplied into Abu Dhabi continued as normal for the duration of the crisis.
By the close of the year, as the pandemic vaccine became available, Abu Dhabi Ports joined the ‘Hope Consortium’, the Abu Dhabi government-led effort to realize full global vaccine distribution. Abu Dhabi Ports is committed to utilizing storage and distribution resources at its logistics facilities at the Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD) toward the immunization efforts of billions of people in the region and beyond.
“In less than 12 months, Abu Dhabi Ports’ pandemic response and overall contribution to trade and logistics is accelerating its transformational journey from a domestic champion to a globally recognized player,” commented Falah Mohammad Al Ahbabi, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Ports.
“Despite the most difficult business environment, our broad portfolio has remained resilient and has continued to grow, keeping trade moving, building new facilities and infrastructure, and launching new services,” remarked Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Group CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports.
Progress across Ports
Despite the unprecedented challenges that arose over the course of 2020, Khalifa Port, Abu Dhabi Ports’ flagship deep-water facility which today serves more than 25 shipping lines and offers links to over 70 international destinations, has managed to surpass expectations by achieving a series of magnificent milestones, such as progressing the ongoing South Quay and Khalifa Port Logistics (KPL) developments ahead of schedule.
Khalifa Port’s advanced RoRo terminal, Autoterminal Khalifa Port, unveiled an all-new technical centre aimed at diversifying the portfolio of services on offer for our automotive customers.
One big player to invest in Khalifa Port’s ecosystem is Saudi-based Arabian Chemical Terminals (ACT), who signed a 50-year lease earlier this year. They will take advantage of a plot next to the 16-metre-deep quayside at KPL for a commercial bulk liquid and gas storage tank farm.
As part of its efforts to serve and facilitate the growing global trade demands within the Gulf region, and to support mainliner shipping clients, Abu Dhabi Ports also announced the establishment of a new feeder services company called ‘SAFEEN Feeders’.
The new service injects further transhipment capacity at Khalifa Port and allows Abu Dhabi Ports to meet the growing demands of its largest customers.
Formation, Merger, and Acquisition
The formation of Abu Dhabi Maritime in July as the primary custodian of all waterways and marine ecosystems in Abu Dhabi is expected to bring growth to the sector within the emirate and enable the UAE to complete its objective to become a globally recognized world-leading centre for maritime activities.
The same month, following a decree by Abu Dhabi Executive Council, the Higher Corporation for Specialized Economic Zones (or ZonesCorp) joined Abu Dhabi Ports, ensuring that Abu Dhabi Port’s industrial and economic zones offering expanded to 555 square kilometres and more than 1,400 customers.
In September, in another step in its drive to enhance the emirate’s rank as an international hub for trade and logistics, Abu Dhabi Ports announced the acquisition of MICCO Logistics.
Innovating Trade
Over the course of the year, one significant event stood out in Abu Dhabi Ports’ development of innovation.
Developed and operated by Abu Dhabi Ports’ Maqta Gateway under the supervision of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, the Advanced Trade and Logistics Platform (ATLP) aims to facilitate trade through sea, land, air, industrial and free zones, in addition to enhancing customer and stakeholder experience within the trade and logistics sectors.
Developing Industrial and Economic Zones
One of the biggest developments within our Industrial Zones and Free Zone portfolio this year was the integration of ZonesCorp under Abu Dhabi Ports. This milestone came in the wake of another significant development in the journey of Abu Dhabi Ports, its joining the portfolio of ADQ, one of the region’s largest holding companies with a broad portfolio of major enterprises spanning key sectors of Abu Dhabi’s diversified economy.
ZonesCorp brought over 900 manufacturing and commercial facilities, many of which are already utilised by some of the world’s leading industrial players.
In June, KIZAD announced the start of developing new warehouse products to meet the rising demand for pre-built facilities. A range of small-to-medium light-industrial warehousing units comprising the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh phases of the KIZAD Logistics Park were introduced throughout 2020.
