Dubai’s DP World shows how to connect the world

RICH MARITIME TRADITION: The sea and all things maritime is etched in Dubai's DNA. Pearls have been traded in Dubai since as early as the 7th century. Born as a city on the sea to become a city of merchants, Dubai’s association with the maritime industry has stretched across time. Maritime trade was the original growth engine of Dubai's economy. Jebel Ali Port in 1984.

Port Rashid in 1971. In 1972, DP World began with a single port, Port Rashid in Dubai in the UAE. Seven years later, in 1979, Dubai opened its second port, in Jebel Ali. By 1991 these two original Dubai ports were combined to create the larger Dubai Ports Authority.

EXPANSION: Jebel Ali Port was Sheikh Rashid’s answer to the unprecedented rate at which Dubai's trade was expanding. The visionary leader understood that Dubai was located at the crossroads between the east and the west and an efficient logistics facility would turn it into a gateway to a growth-hungry region. It was future proofing at its very best.

NEW AGE OF TRADE AND COMMERCE: It was with this in mind that in 1975 Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum decided that as the UAE's non-oil trading centre, Dubai needed to be brought into a new age of trade and commerce.

QUEEN'S VISIT IN 1979. Since then, Dubai has grown from strength to strength. What eventually became DP World added numerous ports and terminals to its roster — from ports in Saudi Arabia and the UK to Romania and India, and as well as others on six continents.

QUEEN ELIZABETH ON A TOUR OF THE DUBAI CREEK. Jebel Ali Port formally opened on February 26, 1979.

FIRST SHIP TO CALL: The first ship to call Jebel Ali Port was the ‘HMY Britannia’ with Queen Elizabeth II on board.

THEN AND NOW: Jebel Ali port in 1980. Since then, Dubai has built up to be the largest seaport in the Middle East and remains in the ranks of the Top 10 container ports of the world.

In 1975, the late Dubai ruler, Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum decided that as the UAE's non-oil trading centre Dubai needed to be brought into a new age of trade and commerce. Did you know that JAFZA is also home to several thousands of blue-collared workers in the freezone. Worker accommodations are available within JAFZA. In fact, there are over 4,850 rooms in Jafza North and over 4,600 rooms in Jafza South within close proximity to mosques, shops, supermarkets, laundry services, tennis court, volleyball court, football court and cricket court. Such is the advanced logistics and infrastructure within the development.

SINGLE PORT: In 1972, it began with a single port, Port Rashid in Dubai in the UAE. Seven years later, in 1979, Dubai opened its second port, in Jebel Ali. By 1991 these two original Dubai ports were combined to create the larger Dubai Ports Authority.

A SEAFARER'S VIEW OF DUBAI: Dubai's skyline has changed over the decades. The UAE posted a per capita GDP of $31,947 in 2020, according to Statista. Dubai contributed $102.67 billion to the country's GDP in 2018, and constitutes the UAE's commercial platform, mostly due to its port and airport infrastructures.

JEBEL ALI PORT IS BORN. On February 26, 1979 Jebel Ali Port opened, with the British royal yacht, “HMY Britannia” with Queen Elizabeth II on board entering the new port to inaugurate it, 40 km south of Dubai. It was the largest man-made harbour in the world visible to the naked eye from space.

TERMINAL 3: In 2014, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, opened Terminal 3, with a capacity of 4 million TEU. It’s one of the largest and most technologically advanced anywhere, with remotely operated quay cranes, automated gantry cranes to stack container boxes and robotic ITVs (Internal Transfer Vehicles). Jebel Ali Port can simultaneously handle 18 container ships, including those of 20,000 TEU capacity and above.

INCREASING FOOTPRINT: Since then, its has has grown from strength to strength, adding numerous ports and terminals to its roster — from ports in Saudi Arabia and the UK to Romania and India, and as well as others on six continents.

GLOBAL OPERATIONS: DP World Ltd now operates 78 marine and inland terminals, and supported by 50 related businesses. Operations are conducted in over 40 countries. DP World employs a global staff, with 50,000 employees from about 110 nations.

PORTFOLIO: Today, 49 years later, the Dubai-based company has become one of the world’s largest port terminal operators. It handled more than 19.1 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit, the unit used to measure cargo capacity for container ships and container terminals) across its global portfolio of container terminals in the last quarter of 2020, up 7.6%. In 2020, the company handled 71.2 million TEUs, a 0.2% increase despite the pandemic, though volume was initially down 3.9% in the first half.

SPIKE IN CONTAINER VOLUME: In the first quarter of 2021, DP World handled 18.9 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) across its global portfolio of container terminals, a 10.2% year-on-year on a reported basis and up 9.6% up on a like-for-like basis.

STRONG START TO 2021: Dubai’s Jebel Ali (UAE) terminal handled 3.5 million TEU in the first quarter of 2021, up 2.6% year-on-year. The first quarter witnessed a "strong" start to the year with the company’s terminals in India and Australia being the key drivers of growth, the company said.

ADDING VALUE: Anywhere DP World is present, its people and operations add value and long-lasting positive impact on economies and society through the harbours, terminals and container ports it operates.

CARGO HANDLING EXPERTISE: Through the years, its globe-spanning network of ports and terminals, parks and economic zones, maritime services and logistics business help customers handle their cargo movement — from points of production to points of sale in an almost unrivalled efficiency.

FORAY INTO E-COMMERCE, FIRST AFRICA...AND THEN THE WORLD: DP World earlier this month (May 2021) made an audacious entry into the online world through ‘Dubuy’. The ecommerce platform is going live in key African markets, where digital commerce is underserved, and then scaled up to other parts of the world.

CONNECTING THE DOTS: This job of “connecting the dots” on the world map — moving raw materials, finished products — is no mean feat. Throughout its nearly 50-year history DP World demonstrated the ability to continuously improve across its global network of ports and terminals, processes and technology.