As geopolitical tensions disrupt shipping routes in the Gulf, logistics giants are stepping up their efforts to integrate land and sea transport. AD Ports Group and the CMA CGM Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to revolutionise intermodal connectivity in the United Arab Emirates, transforming CMA Terminals Khalifa Port into a gateway that extends far beyond the quay.
The project focuses on the integration of the container terminal (opened in December 2024 and 70% owned by CMA CGM) with AD Ports’ rail network and dry ports. The official objective is to “anchor’ cargo flows”, transporting them directly from the quays to major inland industrial and consumer centres.
It’s not just about domestic logistics. The partnership aims to extend trade corridors to the borders of the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, offering businesses more flexible, resilient options at a time when route security has become a top priority.
According to Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of AD Ports Group, the agreement represents the first step towards consolidating the country’s “logistics backbone’” under a single integrated platform. The inclusion of CMA CGM as the first global partner in this rail network will allow export and import flows to be optimized, enhancing the competitiveness of national supply chains.
Jesper Stenbak, Regional Director at CMA CGM, shares this view, emphasising that the direct link between maritime services and land-based transport flows is key to ensuring supply chain resilience and more efficient routes for global customers.
Translation by Giles Foster
