Ports

UAE’s Khorfakkan Port unveils phased expansion plan to lift container capacity to 10 million TEU

2 September 2026
3 sources

Khorfakkan Port in the Emirate of Sharjah, operated by Gulftainer, has outlined a long‑term plan to gradually increase its container terminal capacity from the current 3.5 million to 10 million TEU per year. As the port welcomes one of the world’s largest container ships, it is positioning itself as a growing transit hub on Asia–Europe and regional Gulf routes.

In early September 2026, Khorfakkan Port, part of the Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority, received the MSC MARIELLA, a 24,346‑TEU container ship ranked among the world’s largest vessels of its type. Regional reports highlight that the container terminal, operated by Gulftainer, already offers six berths with a total quay length of about 1,880 meters, a draught of up to 16 meters and 18 ship‑to‑shore cranes, providing an annual handling capacity of around 3.5 million TEU. At the same time, port leadership set out ambitious development plans: targeting 5 million TEU in the near term, then expanding capacity to 7 million and ultimately to 10 million TEU through phased infrastructure growth.

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