Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, China – August 27, 2026 – A global trade route that has been used for decades is now being reassessed.

Recently, DP World announced that it will invest hundreds of millions of dollars to build a new port in Fujairah, on the eastern coast of the UAE, along with a container terminal.

The new port project could be completed in as little as one and a half years. The initial investment is in the hundreds of millions of dollars, and if capacity expansion is needed later, the scale of investment could increase further.

The greatest significance of this project is not merely adding port capacity, but rather:

Reducing dependence on the Strait of Hormuz and Jebel Ali Port.

1Why is the UAE suddenly building a new port?

The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, serving as a vital artery for global energy transportation.

For a long time, Dubai has relied on Jebel Ali Port – one of the world’s largest ports – to drive its re-export trade. Data shows that Jebel Ali Port handles over 15 million TEUs of container throughput annually, making it a key logistics hub linking Asia, Europe, and Africa.

But the problem is equally clear:

Jebel Ali Port sits inside the Persian Gulf, meaning all vessels entering or leaving must pass through the Strait of Hormuz – making its operations heavily dependent on this narrow waterway. Once regional tensions escalate, energy transport and international shipping are directly impacted.

Since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran and Iran declared the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, cargo volumes at Jebel Ali Port have plummeted by 90% to 95%.

That’s a direct drop of more than half! Rating agency Moody’s estimates that due to the conflict, DP World’s overall earnings will fall to approximately $5.9 billion this year – a decline of nearly 11% from last year.

For Dubai, which relies heavily on trade and port-driven economic growth, this undoubtedly poses a huge risk.

2Fujairah: A New Gateway Bypassing the Strait of Hormuz

Fujairah is located on the eastern coast of the UAE, directly facing the Gulf of Oman.

Compared to Jebel Ali Port:

✅ No need to pass through the Strait of Hormuz

✅ Direct access to Indian Ocean shipping routes

✅ Easier connectivity to Asian and African markets

According to the plan, DP World is considering:

• Building a new multipurpose port
• Expanding existing terminals
• Increasing container handling capacity

In the future, cargo from Asia, Europe, and Africa can first arrive at Fujairah, and then be transported overland to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and neighboring countries.

This creates a new logistics model: “East Coast Port + Overland Transport”.

3Not Just Building a Port – The Middle East Is Redefining Logistics Security

In fact, the UAE is not the only player taking action. In recent years, several Middle Eastern countries have begun strengthening alternative transport routes:

Media Contact
Company Name: Guangdong CHOHELP International Forwarding Ltd.
Contact Person: Media Relations
Email: Send Email
Country: China
Website: https://www.chohelpfwd.com/