Khorfakkan Port is set for a major expansion that will significantly boost its role as a regional logistics hub, with plans to increase its handling capacity to more than 10 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), according to an announcement by Gulftainer.

The expansion also includes the development of 2.3 million TEUs of inland logistics capacity across Sajaa Logistics Park and Al Dhaid Logistics Park. The first phase of the Al Dhaid facility is expected to cover 1.5 million square metres, providing additional storage and cargo handling capabilities.

The company rapidly expanded operations in response to recent regional supply chain disruptions. Before the conflict in the region, Khorfakkan Port handled around 8,000 TEUs per week. Following capacity enhancements implemented during the crisis, the port can now process up to 65,000 TEUs weekly.

The company also increased its inland transport capacity dramatically, scaling from 100 trucks per day to 8,500 trucks daily to ensure cargo continued flowing efficiently despite heightened pressure on regional trade routes.

Belbouab credited the company's network of inland logistics hubs for preventing congestion at the port.

"The network of dry ports enabled ships to berth and discharge cargo efficiently. Without moving containers inland, congestion would quickly build up. Although Khorfakkan is geographically constrained by mountains, we found ways to overcome those limitations through logistics infrastructure," he explained.

The expansion project will introduce 17-metre-deep berths capable of accommodating larger vessels, alongside 21 high-performance ship-to-shore cranes, further increasing the port's operational capacity.

Beyond serving the GCC, Gulftainer plans to expand Khorfakkan Port's reach into East Africa, the wider Middle East, and the Indian Ocean, strengthening regional trade connectivity.

Khorfakkan Port currently holds a strategic advantage as the UAE's only fully operational container terminal located outside the Strait of Hormuz, making it a critical gateway for international shipping. While Fujairah Port also operates outside the Strait, it handles cargo on a comparatively smaller scale.