Emirates Global Aluminium and Gulftainer Partner to Expand UAE East Coast Exports

Emirates Global Aluminium, one of the UAE's largest non-oil industrial conglomerates, has signed a strategic agreement with global ports operator Gulftainer to boost aluminium exports through the UAE's eastern coast. The deal is part of Emirates Global Aluminium's ongoing effort to strengthen its outbound logistics network and ensure uninterrupted delivery of aluminium—the nation's largest non-oil and gas export—to its global clientele.

Under the terms of the agreement, Emirates Global Aluminium will ship up to 250,000 tonnes of aluminium from the UAE's East Coast in the first year. The volume is targeted to increase to 300,000 tonnes in the second year, with continued growth expected in subsequent shipments.

“Emirates Global Aluminium is the biggest 'premium aluminium' producer in the world, and our customers in more than 50 countries need our metal,” stated Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, chief executive of Emirates Global Aluminium. “We have already made considerable progress diversifying our outbound logistics to ensure reliable deliveries. Today's agreement with Gulftainer is another important step forward.”

Gulftainer operates the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal on the UAE's East Coast, alongside port facilities in Sharjah, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the US. The company plans to further develop its port infrastructure to accommodate Emirates Global Aluminium's export requirements. In July, Gulftainer chief executive Farid Belbouab noted that the company could absorb up to 90 per cent of the UAE's total container demand should the Strait of Hormuz face blockades. Gulftainer intends to nearly triple capacity at its Khor Fakkan terminal, raising it from 3.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units to 5 million within three months, and eventually scaling to 7 million and 10 million units over subsequent phases.

Earlier in July, Gulftainer announced $2 billion in investments across Khor Fakkan for new berth and yard equipment, as well as the development of Al Dhaid and Sajaa dry ports. Mr. Belbouab emphasized that the partnership with Emirates Global Aluminium goes beyond logistics, serving to build resilience for UAE trade by providing a reliable gateway to global markets via the UAE's East Coast.

This initiative follows a broader trend among UAE enterprises seeking to diversify export routes away from the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing disruptions to shipping operations. In May, Abu Dhabi chemicals maker Borouge and AD Ports Group similarly partnered to evaluate an alternative export hub at Fujairah to enhance export resilience and bypass the strait.