Post by : Mariam
Al-Faris
DP World, a major global logistics company, has taken a big step to support the growing number of cars passing through Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port. They have opened a new and much larger space to store vehicles at Terminal 4 of the port. This new area is 2.6 million square feet in size. It can now hold 13,000 more cars, measured in car equivalent units (CEUs), which brings the total capacity at the port to 75,000 CEUs. This move helps Dubai stay ahead as the top location in the Middle East for car trading and shipping.
Special New Quay Helps Move Cars Faster
As part of the expansion, DP World also built a new quay that is 800 metres long. A quay is where ships dock to load or unload goods. This new quay is specially designed for "roll-on/roll-off" ships, also known as RoRo vessels. These ships are used to transport vehicles like cars and trucks. The quay can now handle up to three RoRo vessels at the same time. Before this, RoRo operations were done at Terminal 1. Now, they have been moved to the new space at Terminal 4, which has been specially built for this purpose. This change makes more room for ships, improves how fast things are done, and helps the port serve more customers in less time.
Dubai’s Role in Global Car Trade Is Growing
Abdulla Bin Damithan, who is the CEO and Managing Director of DP World for the GCC region, explained how this change is important for Dubai. He said that Dubai is becoming even more important as a centre for the global car trade. With this new area, car companies, car dealers, and logistics businesses can now send and receive cars more quickly and reliably. This helps them reach important markets not just in the Middle East, but also in Africa and other parts of the world.
Focus on Customer Needs and Supply Chain
Shahab Al Jassmi, the Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations at DP World GCC, also shared his views. He said that this expansion was made mainly with the customer in mind. He mentioned that having more space for car storage, faster services, and better availability for ships will help the entire car supply chain. In simple terms, it will be easier and quicker for cars to move through the port, which helps everyone in the business.
Vehicle Numbers Are Growing Fast in 2025
This big change comes at a time when more cars than ever are passing through Jebel Ali Port. In just the first half of 2025, the port handled 545,000 vehicles. This is a large increase of 28% compared to the same time last year. Out of all these vehicles, 65% were imports. That means they came into the country from other places. Most of these imported vehicles were from countries like China, Japan, Thailand, India, and South Korea. These countries are known for making and exporting a lot of cars.
Part of a Bigger Automotive Plan for Dubai
This new project is not a one-time event. It is part of a much larger plan by DP World to make Dubai one of the world’s most advanced centres for car trade and logistics. One of the future projects includes building a massive car market in Dubai that will cover 20 million square feet. When completed, it will be the largest car market in the world. This plan shows how serious Dubai is about becoming a global leader in car-related businesses.
Helping Dubai’s D33 Economic Goals
The expansion and future projects also connect with Dubai’s larger development goals. These goals are part of the D33 agenda, which aims to double the size of Dubai’s economy by the year 2033. Part of this plan is to make Dubai a leader in smart and modern logistics systems. By increasing the port’s ability to handle cars and improving services, DP World is helping to make this vision a reality.
What This Means for the Automotive Industry
For car companies, this expansion is very good news. It means that their vehicles can move in and out of the region more quickly. It also reduces delays and cuts costs. For car dealers and buyers, it means more vehicles will be available in the market. For shipping companies, it offers more space and better planning for handling large volumes of cars. Overall, this expansion makes the entire automotive supply chain smoother and more efficient.
A Step Forward for Smart Logistics
Smart logistics is a term used to describe modern ways of managing the movement of goods using new technologies and smart planning. With this expansion, DP World is showing how it is applying smart logistics ideas to the car trade. The new Terminal 4 facilities, including the advanced storage yard and the improved RoRo quay, are designed to reduce waiting time, avoid congestion, and increase the speed of work. These are all important features of a smart logistics system.
A Big Boost for Dubai’s Car Trade Future
DP World’s expansion at Jebel Ali Port is a major improvement for car trading and shipping in the region. The new vehicle storage yard, the RoRo quay, and the improved operations at Terminal 4 will make a big difference. This project helps everyone—from car makers and dealers to shipping and logistics companies. It also supports Dubai’s goal to become a smart and strong economy by 2033. With more plans coming soon, Dubai is well on its way to becoming the world’s most important place for the automotive trade.
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