AD Ports Group has made a significant leap into the global top 20 container port operators for the first time, as revealed by the latest Drewry index. The UAE-based port operator has been ranked 19th globally in Drewry’s 2024-2025 annual industry report, which assesses container throughput based on data from 2022-2023. This accomplishment underscores the group’s expanding influence in the international maritime sector.
In 2023, AD Ports Group reported an impressive 13% increase in container throughput, reaching 4.91 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs). This growth is indicative of the group’s strategic efforts to enhance its operational capacity and strengthen its position in the global market. Additionally, the total volume handled at its UAE terminals increased by 6%, totaling 4.6 million TEUs. This consistent growth is a testament to AD Ports Group’s ability to adapt to market demands and capitalize on new opportunities.
A key driver behind AD Ports Group’s recent success is its rapid expansion through a series of new operating concessions and strategic acquisitions. Notably, the 2023 acquisition of Noatum, a Spanish company that operates 16 terminals, has significantly bolstered the group’s capacity.
This acquisition, along with a new concession in Karachi, Pakistan, has increased AD Ports Group’s global terminal capacity by 14%, bringing the total to 9.7 million TEUs in 2023.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, expressed his satisfaction with the group’s ranking, stating, “The inclusion in the Drewry Top 20 League Table of container port operators confirms the growing international significance of the Group.” His statement highlights the group’s commitment to becoming a key player in the global maritime industry.
Currently, Group manages a total of 33 terminals across eight countries, including the UAE, Spain, and Pakistan. Of these, 27 are operational, while the remaining terminals are scheduled to become operational in the coming years. New terminals are also expected to launch in the UAE and under concession agreements in the Republic of Congo, Egypt, and Angola. This expansion strategy is set to further elevate AD Ports Group’s standing in the global market.
The group’s inclusion in the Drewry Top 20 is a significant milestone, marking a new chapter in its growth story. As AD Ports Group continues to expand its global footprint, its influence in the international port operations sector is expected to grow even further.