KEY POINTS
- AD Ports Group and Nimex Terminals sign AED 30 billion deal to develop LNG and LPG hubs at Khalifa Port.
- The project aims to position the UAE as a leading low-carbon energy and petrochemical trading hub.
- Operations are set to begin by 2028, advancing the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 ambitions.
In a landmark move to bolster the United Arab Emirates’ status as a global energy hub, AD Ports Group and Nimex Terminals have signed two long-term agreements worth over AED 30 billion (around USD 8 billion) to develop the country’s first private-sector Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) terminal hubs at Khalifa Port.
The deal, announced in Abu Dhabi, marks a major stride in strengthening international energy trade and expanding the UAE’s role in the low-carbon transition. AD Ports Group will invest up to AED 1.3 billion (USD 354 million) to build core infrastructure such as dredging and jetty development, while Nimex Terminals will commit AED 2.6 billion (USD 700 million) towards advanced LNG and LPG storage tanks, regasification facilities, pipelines, and fire protection systems.
According to both companies, initial operations will begin in 2028, with full-scale activity expected by 2031 for LNG and 2033 for LPG.
Transforming Khalifa Port into a Low-Carbon Energy Hub
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, described the project as “a transformative milestone” that aligns with global shifts towards cleaner fuels. “Through our partnership with Nimex Terminals, we are equipping Khalifa Port, one of the world’s fastest growing ports, with infrastructure that supports a more sustainable future for the maritime industry,” he said.
Spanning over 130,000 square metres for LNG and 90,000 square metres for LPG, the terminals will feature a combined storage capacity of 680,000 cubic metres. Designed for import, export, and transshipment, the hubs will serve as gateways to Asian energy markets while creating new streams of foreign investment and skilled employment in the UAE’s growing energy sector.
Saif Al Mazrouei, CEO of Ports Cluster at AD Ports Group, noted that the facilities “will further position Khalifa Port as a global hub for low-carbon energy and petrochemicals,” reinforcing the UAE’s push for sustainable growth and energy diversification.
