Abu Dhabi Ports Group has entered into a dredging contract with Dutch firm Van Oord through its joint venture, Gateway Karachi Terminal, aimed at boosting trade traffic across its facilities in Pakistan.
The collaboration between Abu Dhabi Ports’ international operations arm and Van Oord is set to deepen the docks and shipping channels at Gateway Karachi Limited, enabling the terminal to accommodate container ships ranging from 305 to 350 meters in length, with a draft depth between 13 and 15.5 meters. Once the expansion is completed, the terminal’s container handling capacity is expected to rise from 750,000 TEUs to one million TEUs.
For Gateway Karachi Multipurpose Limited, the dredging initiative will enhance the capacity for handling general and bulk cargo and allow the reception of large vessels with a carrying capacity of up to 120,000 tons, effectively doubling the current capacity of 60,000 tons. This upgrade is anticipated to lower shipping costs and improve the terminal’s throughput.
By the first quarter of 2026, dredging operations at both Gateway Karachi Limited and Gateway Karachi Multipurpose Limited will be completed, projects that involve collaboration between Abu Dhabi Ports Group and Dubai-based Kahi Terminals.
In 2023, Abu Dhabi Ports entered the Pakistani market by signing long-term concession agreements to develop and operate marine terminals for containerized, general, and bulk cargo at the Port of Karachi. Pakistan represents a significant market for the group, with investments amounting to approximately 1.1 billion dirhams.