UAE · Gulf logistics
How Khalifa Port’s CMA terminal expands from 1.8 to 2.7 million TEU
A joint venture led by CMA CGM handled 1.3 million TEU at its Khalifa Port terminal in 2025. A second phase would lift that terminal’s rated capacity by half, while increasing the design capacity of the whole Abu Dhabi port by about 9%.
Sources checked
- December 2024Initial CMA terminal opens
1.8 million TEU annual design capacity · First phase Source 1
- 2025CMA terminal handles its first operating-year volume
1.3 million TEU handled · Actual Source 1
- 2025Whole Khalifa Port throughput
6.6 million TEU handled · Actual Source 2
- 18 November 2025CMA CGM and AD Ports agree to expand
AED 420 million announced investment · Agreement Source 1
- Early 2028Expanded CMA terminal scheduled
2.7 million TEU annual design capacity · Target Source 1
- Early 2028Whole Khalifa Port capacity after expansion
10.5 million TEU annual design capacity · Target Source 1
The timeline distinguishes annual design capacity from the actual containers handled in 2025.
One terminal within a larger port
CMA Terminals Khalifa Port is a joint venture owned 70% by CMA CGM and 30% by AD Ports Group. Its first phase provided 1.8 million TEU of annual capacity. The terminal handled 1.3 million TEU in 2025, with AD Ports reporting 74% utilisation on its underlying figures. Source 1 Source 2
The expansion adds both berth and yard space
The planned quay extends from 800 to 1,200 metres, adding 50% of the original length. The container yard expands from 464,000 to 667,000 square metres. Quay space provides working frontage for ships, while the yard provides space to hold and arrange containers before onward movement. Source 1
The 50% increase applies to the terminal
The terminal rating increases by 900,000 TEU, from 1.8 million to 2.7 million. The same addition takes Khalifa Port as a whole from 9.6 million to 10.5 million TEU of design capacity, about 9.4%. The whole port already counted 6.6 million TEU of actual throughput in 2025. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3
The first phase supplies an operating benchmark
The expanded capacity was scheduled for early 2028 when the partners announced their AED 420 million agreement in November 2025. Comparing later reported annual volume with the new design rating will show how quickly the additional capacity is used. An announced capacity increase alone cannot establish future traffic. Source 1 Source 2