Gulftainer has unveiled ambitious expansion plans for Khorfakkan Port, aiming to scale its operations to handle over 10 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). This strategic upgrade includes the integration of inland logistics hubs at Sajaa and Al Dhaid, the latter of which will span 1.5 million square meters in its initial phase. Since the onset of regional tensions, the port has already demonstrated remarkable agility, with its weekly capacity surging from 8,000 to 65,000 TEUs and daily truck throughput jumping from 100 to 8,500. CEO Farid Belbouab noted that these improvements allow the port to manage 80 to 90 percent of the UAE’s continental supply chain demands, effectively overcoming the geographical constraints posed by the surrounding mountainous terrain.

The upcoming infrastructure project will feature 17-meter-deep berths and 21 high-performance ship-to-shore cranes, signaling a push to expand services beyond the GCC into East Africa, the wider Middle East, and the Indian Ocean. As the primary fully operational terminal located outside the Strait of Hormuz, Khorfakkan has become a vital strategic asset amid ongoing disruptions in the narrow waterway. Despite attempts at a ceasefire, persistent volatility in the Strait—including recent reports of missiles fired at commercial vessels—underscores the critical importance of this expansion in maintaining the stability and reliability of the global supply chain.