Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, visited Mina Al Hamriya to review the port’s development progress and its significant role in enhancing regional and global trade.
According to Emirates News Agency, during the tour, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid emphasized transforming Dubai’s ports into dynamic gateways to connect the world, accelerate the flow of goods, and drive innovation. The vision is to make Dubai the leading global trade hub. The visit included a briefing on the port’s strategic significance in supporting the UAE’s food security and facilitating trade across the Arabian Gulf, especially in perishables and livestock.
His Highness approved a major project at Mina Al Hamriya, which includes constructing a 700-metre quay with a 12-metre draft to accommodate larger vessels and expand the port’s cargo capacity. This project builds on the port’s 2024 expansion, which added 1,150 metres of quay wall, boosting berthing capacity. The port now offers nearly 6.4 million sq. ft of storage space, supporting Dubai’s growing trade ambitions.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, stated that Mina Al Hamriya has been a vital part of Dubai’s trade sector for decades. The new expansion project aims to support the national economic vision and strengthen regional trade and food security. The port, once a hub for wooden dhows, now handles a broad range of commodities with key markets in neighboring countries.
Since the last upgrade, the port has seen an 11% increase in vessel calls, from 2,430 in the first half of 2024 to 2,700 in the first half of 2025, indicating strong demand. In the first half of 2025, the port handled trade valued at approximately AED9.07 billion.
The expansion underscores Dubai’s continued investment in future-ready infrastructure to enhance trade resilience and reinforce its status as a global maritime hub.