Abu Dhabi Ports Group’s agreements highlight the strong bilateral ties between the two nation
AD Ports Group has signed a definitive concession agreement with the Red Sea Ports Authority (RSPA) to develop, operate and manage three cruise terminals at Safaga, Hurghada, and Sharm El Sheikh ports.
AD Ports Group’s total investment of US$4.7 million over the next 15 years will cover management and operations of the three cruise terminals, expected to be operational in 2025, to provide new services, improve access for cruise operators and add new itineraries through the group’s cruise terminal network in the red sea. The agreement aims to further strengthen AD Ports Group’s cruise business in the Red Sea region, supporting volumes of cruise passengers and elevating passenger and cruise experiences.
The definitive agreement was signed at the Egyptian Cabinet headquarters in Cairo in the presence of His Excellency Dr Mostafa Madbouly, Egypt’s Prime Minister; His Excellency Lieutenant-General Kamel El Wazir, Egypt’s Minister of Transport; Her Excellency Mariam Al Kaabi, Ambassador of the UAE to Egypt; Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports Group; Ahmed Al Mutawa, Regional CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports Group; and Major General Osama Saleh, Vice- Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Red Sea Port Authority.
AD Ports Group and the General Authority of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) initialled two 30-year concession agreements for the development, management, and operations of a Ro-Ro terminal and a cruise terminal at Sokhna Port.
Captain Mohammed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO, AD Ports Group, said: “We’re happy to build upon our initial agreement signed earlier in January. Today’s signings reaffirm our commitment to bolstering the cruise tourism sector in the Red Sea, through providing world-class facilities and services to passengers, while further strengthening bilateral ties between the UAE and Egypt, in line with the vision of our wise leadership.”
“Sokhna is strategically positioned on the western shore of the Gulf of Suez. We are keen on collaborating with our partners at the General Authority of the Suez Canal Economic Zone to fulfill the region’s requirement for prime Cruise and Ro-Ro services.”
The agreements reaffirm strong bilateral ties between the two nations and follow a definitive concession agreement signed in December 2023 with the Red Sea Ports Authority (RSPA) for the development and operations of a multi-purpose terminal at Safaga Port, bound to be the first internationally operated port serving the Upper Egypt region with investment of US$200 million made over three years.
