Port Khalifa close-up
AD Ports Group and CMA CGM Group have signed a 35-year concession agreement to develop a new container terminal at Khalifa Port. The terminal, set to open in 2025, will have an initial handling capacity of 1.8 million TEU. Located between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, it offers direct access to local roads and highways and connects to the new Etihad Rail for improved logistics.
The area
Khalifa Port sits along the Maritime Silk Road, which links China to Europe via the Indian Ocean, Mombasa, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean. Thanks to this prime location, the port supports efficient cargo movement between Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Additionally, the port connects seamlessly to Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad). This onshore area forms a fully integrated logistics and industrial hub. It houses customs, inspection, and security facilities, enabling faster and more reliable container handling.
- The port is located 5km from the mainland
- Built on a 2.7km² offshore island
- Linked by two causeways and a 1km bridge
- It features nine of the world's largest ship-to-shore cranes
- Hosts the region's only semi-automated container terminal
- 42 automated stacking and 23 shuttle carriers
Gate automation
Camco delivers a smart gate system with automated kiosks for driver registration and advanced OCR/OFR container recognition.
Inbound, the setup includes:
- Two truck OCR portals
- Multiple traffic barriers
- Seven dedicated lanes for both standard and out-of-gauge (OOG) cargo
- A separate rejection lane for exception handling
Outbound traffic flows just as smoothly, using a mirrored layout to ensure consistent throughput.
Light vehicles use designated lanes, minimizing disruption to heavy truck operations. Moreover, a state-of-the-art enrollment station ensures secure and streamlined driver onboarding.
Yard automation
All trucks, internal and external, carry RFID tags, enabling automatic handovers at E-RTGs with Camco RFID readers.
Additionally, all internal mobile equipment—including terminal tractors (TTs), E-RTGs, and ship-to-shore cranes (STSs)—is equipped with real-time location technology. Their activity is tracked in 2D via THE BRIDGE and in 3D through a Digital Twin platform.
Finally, the CHEOPS RTLS yard automation software, fully integrated with Navis N4, ensures smooth, automated equipment and container handovers, improving overall terminal efficiency.