AD Ports Group, the operator of industrial cities and free zones, plans to further expand Khalifa Port to include drydock services as it seeks to meet growing demand from regional and international operators.
With the expansion, Khalifa Port will boost its range of port and marine logistics services, from container and cargo handling to vessel repairs and maintenance, as it seeks to attract new clients, Abu Dhabi Media Office said on Wednesday.
“The addition of drydock services is a strategic move aimed at driving growth and enhancing the company's competitive position in the market,” said Capt Mohamed Al Shamisi, managing director and chief executive of AD Ports Group.
“AD Ports Group’s extensive experience in the port and marine logistics industry … make it well-positioned to succeed in this new venture.”
The move will also enhance Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading hub for global trade, he added.
The latest move comes after Khalifa Port's previous Dh4 billion ($1 billion) expansion was inaugurated by President Sheikh Mohamed in December.
That included the development of the port’s South Quay, Khalifa Port Logistics and Abu Dhabi terminals.
Khalifa Port has grown to 8.63 square kilometres from 2.43 square kilometres, while its quay wall has been extended to 12.5km from 2.3km.
It now provides 21 berths and offers bespoke services for key strategic industries, with an estimated value of Dh20.4 billion.
The expansion scheme is set to make a major contribution to AD Port Group’s goal of increasing handling capacity at Khalifa Port to 15 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per year by 2030, and general cargo handling capacity to 25 million tonnes.
Opened in December 2012, Khalifa Port was developed from a stretch of reclaimed land 4km out to sea.
It now serves more than 25 container shipping lines with direct links to more than 70 international destinations.
In November, AD Ports Group also partnered with China Harbour Engineering Company for the development of buildings and topside infrastructure for the coming CMA Terminals Khalifa Port.
Announced in September 2021, the new terminal is expected to be operational in the first half of 2025.
It will be managed by a joint venture, owned 70 per cent by CMA Terminals, a subsidiary of CMA CGM — a global player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions — and 30 per cent by AD Ports Group.
The agreement with CHEC includes the development of the first net-zero carbon administration building to be constructed for the joint venture.
It will also see the development of 28 offices and utilities across the terminal, more than one million square metres of yard paving, reefer stacks, STS cranes and access roads.
Once completed, CMA Terminals Khalifa Port will have an initial capacity of 1.8 million TEUs.
It will be fully integrated with Etihad Rail and will enhance Khalifa Port’s connectivity and position as a key gateway for the region.
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What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
More coverage from the Future Forum
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
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Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
