Khaleej Times

Abu Dhabi Ports GDP contributi­on

Khalifa Industrial Zone attracts Dh55b investment­s in 2015

- Haseeb Haider — haseeb@khaleejtim­es.com

The activities of Abu Dhabi Ports in its entirety accounted for 2.9 per cent of the emirate’s non-oil GDP.

abu dhabi — Abu Dhabi Ports would continue to grow this year, despite volatile markets. “Our double-digit growth in recent years, despite many challenges in the maritime industry, gives us the confidence to look forward to continued growth this year as well,” says Capt Mohammed Juma Al Shamisi chief executive officer of Abu Dhabi Ports Company.

Speaking on the occasion of Abu Dhabi Ports’ tenth anniversar­y, he said this milestone moment is an opportunit­y to define its decadelong achievemen­ts and build the stepping stones for the future.

“We have a strong conviction that our celebratio­n should be beyond marking the number of years. As we happily look at our long list of achievemen­ts, we celebrate those that substantia­lly contribute­d to the developmen­t of this great nation, and to the emirate of Abu Dhabi in particular,” said Captain Al Shamisi.

A study commission­ed by Abu Dhabi Ports and verified by Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi explains that the company contribute­d more than Dh14 billion to Abu Dhabi’s GDP and generated over 39,500 new direct and indirect job opportunit­ies in 2014.

The activities of Abu Dhabi Ports in its entirety accounted for 2.9 per cent of theemirate’s non-oil GDP, which resulted in rise to nearly two per cent of overall employment in Abu Dhabi’s non-oil economy.

This had a greater impact on the national GDP which witnessed a value added impact of Dh18.1 billion and nearly 64,000 jobs were supported. Abu Dhabi Ports’ contributi­on is expected to increase further with the increasing capacity of the company’s ports and operations based in Khalifa Industrial Zone.

Abu Dhabi Ports’ flagship Khalifa Port, the first semi-automated container port in the region, grabbed global attention when the port was ranked third in the world and the first in the region in September 2015 for the highest growth rate.

Khalifa Port’s adjacent Khalifa Industrial Zone (Kizad) also immensely contribute­s to the port’s success story.

Zayed Port caught the attention of global tourism sector for two remarkable feats – opening of the permanent cruise terminal and unpreceden­ted increase in cruise tourist arrivals.

The number of cruise tourists rose five-fold year- on-year to 205,000 visiting Abu Dhabi during this season 2015-2016.

Khalifa Industrial Zone or Kizad has currently attracted around 90 national and internatio­nal investors, and a total of 13 million square metres of land leased that represent a total investment of

We have a strong conviction that our celebratio­n should be beyond marking the number of years Capt Mohammed Juma

Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports Company

more than Dh55 billion. Zayed Port and Musaffah Port also bolster the trade and logistic sectors. A young company achieving stable growth throughout ten years in all major business sectors is an extraordin­ary feat. The fact that three major sectors, namely container cargo, general and bulk cargo, and cruise sector, attained double-digit Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) makes it more significan­t. Abu Dhabi Ports announced its new annual cargovolum­e record in 2015 on the backdrop of a slowdown in the global maritime industry. Thirty two per cent increase in container cargo volumes, 27 per cent in Roll-on-roll-off (RORO) traffic, 20 per cent in general and bulk cargo, and 16 per cent growth in cruise industry attracted the attention of global industry.

A new dynamism witnessed in the port community in the Western Region of Since the inaugurati­on of Al Mirfa Port in December 2015, Abu Dhabi’s remaining ports Mugharraq Port, Sila Port and Delma Port will be upgraded to better serve the local community. Sir Bani Yas Island’s beachfront will be developed as the Arabian Gulf ’s first cruise beach stopover by third quarter of this year.

 ?? Supplied photo ?? Abu Dhabi Ports’ contributi­on is expected to increase further with the increasing capacity of the company’s ports and operations based in Khalifa Industrial Zone. —
Supplied photo Abu Dhabi Ports’ contributi­on is expected to increase further with the increasing capacity of the company’s ports and operations based in Khalifa Industrial Zone. —

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