February 23, 2026
Methodology About Newsletter
WE THE UAE 2031
The Vanderbilt Terminal for the UAE's National Transformation
INDEPENDENT GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% | UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% |

Definition

Khalifa Port is a deep-water semi-automated container port located in Taweelah, approximately 50 kilometers north of Abu Dhabi city center. Opened in 2012, the port was built on a reclaimed island and operates as Abu Dhabi’s primary commercial maritime facility, replacing the older Zayed Port (Mina Zayed) for cargo operations. Khalifa Port features a container terminal operated by Abu Dhabi Terminals (a subsidiary of AD Ports Group), a general cargo terminal, and an offshore supply base. The port is directly integrated with Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD), creating a port-to-factory logistics corridor.

UAE Context

Khalifa Port is the cornerstone of Abu Dhabi’s strategy to diversify beyond oil by developing a competitive trade and industrial sector. The port’s deep-water berths can accommodate the world’s largest container vessels, positioning Abu Dhabi as a viable alternative to Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port for certain cargo flows, particularly those serving the capital’s growing industrial base. The integration with KIZAD means that raw materials can move from ship to factory with minimal transit time, a critical advantage for the manufacturing and processing industries the emirate is cultivating. AD Ports Group, the port’s parent entity, has also expanded internationally, operating port concessions in multiple countries.

Key Data

  • Location: Taweelah, Abu Dhabi
  • Opened: 2012
  • Container capacity: Over 5 million TEU at full build-out
  • Operator: Abu Dhabi Terminals (AD Ports Group subsidiary)
  • Key feature: Semi-automated container terminal with deep-water berths
  • Integrated zone: KIZAD (Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi)
  • Parent entity: AD Ports Group (listed on ADX)

Significance for Vision 2031

Khalifa Port is essential to Abu Dhabi’s industrial diversification under Vision 2031 and the broader Operation 300bn strategy. The port provides the maritime infrastructure required to support KIZAD’s manufacturing tenants and enables the emirate to capture a share of the region’s growing trade volumes. Planned capacity expansions and the integration with Etihad Rail’s freight services will further strengthen Khalifa Port’s position as a multimodal logistics hub serving the capital’s economic transformation.

  • KIZAD - The industrial zone directly integrated with Khalifa Port
  • Jebel Ali Port - Dubai’s larger port and Khalifa Port’s primary regional competitor
  • Operation 300bn - Industrial strategy that Khalifa Port’s infrastructure supports
  • Etihad Rail - National rail network planned to connect with Khalifa Port