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DP World signs 50-year concession to develop new UAE terminal outside Hormuz

DP World confirmed today that it had reached an agreement with Fujairah Ports Authority to build two new terminals on the UAE's east coast - and outside of the Hormuz Strait - under a 50-year concession. The two facilities will be the Al Rugaylat container and multi-purpose terminal, and the Dibba General Cargo terminal, and in combination will increase DP World's total container handling capacity in the UAE from 19.4m teu to almost 22m teu, while significantly expanding general cargo and ro-ro capabilities. "Fujairah strengthens what Jebel Ali already delivers -- a single, global integrated platform for moving goods across global supply chains and within the UAE and beyond," Yuvraj Narayan, DP World's group chief executive officer said. "With Jebel Ali operating at high utilisation, this development provides the additional capacity to support long-term growth. "For cargo owners, it means greater flexibility, more choice and stronger supply chain resilience," he added. However, according to an Alphaliner analysis, both DP World's and AD Ports home terminals have seen traffic plummet since the outbreak of the US-Israel-Iran conflict. "Both of the UAE's main hubs in the Gulf, Jebel Ali in Dubai and the AD Ports-operated Khalifa Seaport in Abu Dhabi, have experienced a massive drop in activity since the Iran conflict escalated, which led to repeated closures (or de facto closures) of the Strait of Hormuz," Alphaliner said today. "Located outside the Gulf, Fujairah offers direct access to the Indian Ocean, making it a strategically important gateway for liner shipping." 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, with the Al Rugaylat container terminal designed to handle up to 2.5m teu annually, alongside 1.7m tonnes of general cargo and 190,000 Car Equivalent Units (CEUs), Dibba will add up to a further 3.6m tonnes of annual general cargo capacity. "The partnership with DP World marks an important milestone in Fujairah's continued development as one of the region's most important maritime gateways," said Sheikh Saleh Bin Mohamed Al Sharqi, chairman of Fujairah Ports Authority. "The Al Rugaylat and Dibba terminals will bring world-class operating capability, expanded capacity and new investment to the emirate. "We look forward to working with DP World to deliver a project that will benefit customers, communities and the UAE's wider economy," he added. The new development, which is expected to take somewhere between two and two and a half years' to complete, will come alongside an expansion to Gulftainer's Khor Fakkan container terminal, as previously reported by The Loadstar, and means that since Iran first closed Hormuz around 7.5m teu of new terminal capacity outside Hormuz is now planned. "This development will add significant new capability to Fujairah's port infrastructure and enhance the range and quality of services we can offer to cargo owners and logistics customers," Captain Mousa Murad, Fujairah Ports Authority managing director, said "By combining Fujairah's strategic location with DP World's operating expertise, we aim to deliver modern, efficient terminals that support regional trade flows, strengthen connectivity and meet the highest international standards," he added. Meanwhile, DP World recently announced it had acquired 700 new trucks expressly for the purpose of operating landbridge container movements that are likely to be a foundation of the new terminal's cargo base.

Kazakhstan's SCAT Airlines to launch freighter operations

Kazakhstan's SCAT Airlines is set to enter the freighter market after signing up for a conversion through Boeing as demand to central Asia continues to rise. The agreement will see Boeing modify a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft into a freighter configuration to enable the airline to launch general and express cargo operations. The deal comes as the Kazakh government is prioritising rapid growth in the air cargo market and as other airlines are increasing their cargo operations into the country due to its capability as a regional hub. The central Asia has seen a spate of freighter service additions in recent months as airlines look to shift Asia-Europe operations away from the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict. Most recently, Cathay Cargo added a freighter operation to Astana. In June, Emirates SkyCargo announced it would begin flying to Almaty. SCAT becomes the first Kazakh airline to operate a 767-300BCF. "Demand for medium widebody cargo airplanes in Central Asia continues to grow," Boeing said in a press release. "As one of Kazakhstan's leading airlines, SCAT will be well-positioned to make its entry into the freighter market with the 767-300BCF." The airline is hoping to target e-commerce and general freight traffic between Asia, the Middle East and European markets. "Launching cargo operations opens a strategic new chapter for SCAT Airlines and Kazakhstan's aviation industry," said Vladimir Denisov, president of SCAT Airlines. "With southern Kazakhstan's hub potential, established partners in China, Türkiye and Europe, and Boeing performing the 767-300BCF conversion, this long-term programme directly supports the task set by the President of Kazakhstan to establish the country as a leading Eurasian aviation hub." The converted aircraft can carry up to 57 tonnes of cargo and has a range of 6,190 km. Its total volumetric capacity across both decks stands at 444 cu m, while the maindeck has 24 pallet positions and the lower deck can take 95.7 cu m in the lower hold and 12.2 cu m in the bulk compartment. Lindsey Douglas, vice president of cabin, modifications, maintenance & digital services for Boeing Global Services, added: "The 767-300BCF is a proven performer in the cargo industry, and we are confident it will continue to deliver value for many years to come."

Delta Cargo adds five-day search functionality

Delta Cargo has enhanced its booking capabilities with five-day search functionality as part of ongoing digitalisation efforts. The US cargo business said that the ability to search flights over a five-day period as opposed to a single day, would provide customers with greater flexibility. The new capability allows customers to view up to five days of available flight options in a single search while continuing to access real-time schedules, capacity and pricing, along with applicable customer rate and allotment indicators. Delta claimed to be one of the first US passenger airlines to be able to offer flexible-date search capability. "At Delta Cargo, we're continually investing in digital capabilities that make it easier for customers to do business with us," said Sebastian Kunze, director, revenue management. "Expanding search visibility from one day to five gives customers greater flexibility to compare flights, evaluate alternatives, and find real-time solutions that best meet their shipping needs, all within a single search." Troy Easterday, general Manager, digital transformation and technology, added that the enhancement will make it easier for customers to compare flights and plan shipments more efficiently. Delta Cargo's online booking tools are powered by tech firm Revenue Technology Services' Velocity and Accelerate solutions. Customers can book and manage shipments, schedule future bookings, and track shipments using the solution, while the airline has also placed its capacity on portals including cargo.one, CargoWise, and Freightos. The carrier has been investing in its digital services in recent years. In November last year, Delta Cargo implemented IBS Software's full iCargo product suite covering terminal operations, truck dock management, customs and security, and premium shipment handling. Also in 2025, the airline launched shipment tracking service, Pulse to provide greater visibility of cargo and enable it to react more quickly to any issue that may arise. Meanwhile, the carrier has benefited from rapid cargo revenue growth in the first half of the year. For the three months ended 30 June, Delta recorded cargo operating revenue of $294m, up from $212m in the same period last year. The airline also fared well in the first quarter of 2026 with a 9% year on year rise in cargo operating revenue to $226m.