Overview
AD Ports Group, listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, is a diversified conglomerate encompassing ports, economic cities, logistics, maritime services, and digital infrastructure. The group manages Khalifa Port, Musaffah Port, and a growing international portfolio of terminal operations and industrial zones. Majority-owned by ADQ, one of Abu Dhabi’s sovereign holding companies, AD Ports Group is a strategic instrument for the emirate’s economic diversification agenda.
The group operates through five business clusters: Ports, Economic Cities and Free Zones, Maritime, Logistics, and Digital. This integrated model allows AD Ports Group to offer end-to-end solutions that connect manufacturers, traders, and shipping lines within a single operational ecosystem.
Strategic Role in UAE Vision 2031
AD Ports Group is central to Abu Dhabi’s strategy for becoming a leading industrial and trade hub in the wider Middle East and Indian Ocean region. By developing world-class port infrastructure alongside adjacent industrial zones, the group creates an environment where manufacturing, assembly, and re-export activities can thrive with efficient access to global shipping lanes.
The group’s economic zones, including Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD), provide purpose-built facilities for sectors such as metals processing, food production, pharmaceuticals, and petrochemicals. These zones attract foreign direct investment, generate employment for UAE nationals, and build the productive capacity needed to reduce dependence on oil revenues.
Khalifa Port and KIZAD
Khalifa Port is a deep-water semi-automated container terminal that serves as Abu Dhabi’s primary gateway for containerized cargo. Its location adjacent to KIZAD creates a seamless corridor between port operations and industrial production, reducing transportation costs and enabling just-in-time supply chain models.
KIZAD itself spans a vast area and offers tailored infrastructure packages for heavy industry, light manufacturing, and logistics operations. The zone’s proximity to Abu Dhabi International Airport and the Etihad Rail network further enhances multimodal connectivity, making it one of the most strategically located industrial zones in the Gulf region.
International Expansion
AD Ports Group has pursued an aggressive international expansion strategy, securing port operation concessions and logistics partnerships in Egypt, Tanzania, Mozambique, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Central Asia. These investments extend Abu Dhabi’s trade reach, create new revenue streams, and build strategic relationships with emerging market economies along key maritime corridors.
This international growth mirrors the broader UAE strategy of building economic partnerships through infrastructure investment, positioning the country as a preferred partner for developing nations seeking to modernize their port and logistics capabilities.
Maritime and Digital Services
The group’s maritime cluster provides vessel management, offshore support, coastal and harbor services, and ship repair facilities. These capabilities ensure that Abu Dhabi maintains a complete maritime ecosystem rather than relying solely on terminal throughput for its port revenues.
On the digital front, AD Ports Group has invested in platforms that streamline trade documentation, customs clearance, and cargo tracking. The Maqta Gateway digital platform facilitates paperless trade processes, reducing clearance times and enhancing transparency across the supply chain.
Looking Ahead
As global trade patterns shift and supply chain resilience becomes a priority for governments and corporations worldwide, AD Ports Group is well positioned to capture new flows of goods and investment. Its integrated model, combining ports, zones, logistics, maritime services, and digital infrastructure, provides a comprehensive value proposition that few competitors can match. The group’s growth trajectory will be a key indicator of Abu Dhabi’s success in building a post-hydrocarbon industrial economy.