DP World is considering a major port expansion in Fujairah as the UAE looks to reduce its reliance on the Strait of Hormuz amid growing security risks in the region.
According to the Financial Times, the Dubai-based ports operator is discussing plans to build a new multipurpose port and an additional container terminal in Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman. The project would allow container cargo to reach the UAE without passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The containers could then be transported by road to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other Gulf markets.
The plans come after months of attacks on merchant ships disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The security situation has prompted shipping companies and cargo owners to look for alternative routes.
The project would also reduce reliance on Jebel Ali, DP World’s main container hub and the largest port in the Middle East. According to the Financial Times, cargo volumes at Jebel Ali fell sharply after disruptions in the strait, increasing the need for an alternative gateway.
Fujairah already plays a key role in the UAE’s energy and logistics network. Located outside the Strait of Hormuz, it provides direct access to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The emirate is also home to the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline, which allows oil exports to bypass the strait.
The new port would complement ongoing road and rail projects linking Fujairah with the UAE’s main commercial centres, making it easier to move cargo inland from the east coast.
DP World has not yet confirmed the plans.
