Economic growth is driving major seaport expansion worth more than $33 billion (Dh121bn) in the Middle East, say maritime industry observers.
There are currently around 50 such projects under way with individual budgets ranging from $10 million to $5.5bn, according to the latest data from research company Proleads, which monitors all major regional construction.
The new facilities are required to handle record volumes of containers and bulk cargoes.
Jebel Ali Port in Dubai – one of the world's largest container docks – currently handles around 11 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) a year.
If growth continues at the current pace Jebel Ali will increase capacity to 80 million TEUs by 2030. The port is already expected to add a further five million units by early next year.
Countries throughout the region are planning dramatic increases in their capacity to handle containers and cargo, according to Proleads. The biggest seaport being planned is Qatar's New Mesaieed Port ($5.5bn), which heads of 10 new or expansion projects.
The others are King Abdullah Economic City Seaport, Saudi Arabia ($5bn); Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone, Abu Dhabi ($2.5bn); Sirte Port, Libya ($2bn); Ras Laffan Port, Qatar ($1.2bn); Duqm Port, Oman ($1.1bn); Bubiyan Island, Kuwait ($1bn); Ras Al Zour Port, Saudi Arabia ($700m); Red Sea Gateway Terminal, Jeddah Islamic Port, Saudi Arabia ($450m) and Port Sultan Qaboos, Oman ($400m).
"The emergence of strong and diversified maritime companies and operators are making the Middle East, and the Arabian Gulf in particular, one of the most dynamic and vibrant international maritime centres in the world," said Christopher Hayman, Managing Director of Seatrade, which will organise the Seatrade Middle East Maritime 2008 expo in December.
He said optimism in the Middle East's maritime industry was founded on increasing demand for oil and gas worldwide and the vital role the region played as a strategic trading hub linking between Europe and the Far East. Middle East port operators are not only expanding in the region.
Dubai's DP World, the fourth largest port and terminal operator worldwide, is expanding operations across the Indian Subcontinent, the Far East, Europe, the Americas and Australia as well as the Middle East.
DP World handled more than 43.3 million TEUs across its portfolio of 42 terminals in 22 countries in 2007 – an increase of around 18 per cent over the previous year.