Photo credit: DP World

Dubai’s global logistics giant DP World has struck a deal with the Fujairah Ports Authority to build two new terminals on the UAE’s east coast under a 50-year concession.

The project includes the development of the Al Rugaylat container and multi-purpose terminal and the Dibba General Cargo terminal.

Once operational, the development will boost DP World’s total container handling capacity in the UAE from 19.4 million TEUs to almost 22 million TEUs, while significantly expanding general cargo and Ro-Ro capability.

The planned Al Rugaylat terminal is designed to handle up to 2.5 million TEUs per year as well as 1.7 million tonnes of general cargo and 190,000 car equivalent units (CEUs), while the Dibba terminal will add up to 3.6 million tonnes of annual general cargo capacity.

“The project will establish a new deep-water trade gateway on the UAE’s east coast, capable of handling the latest generation of ultra large container vessels,” the company said in a statement.

DP World did not provide financial details on the investment, but said the development ​will be ⁠delivered in phases, with construction expected to take between 24 and 30 months from the start of works.