AD Ports Group has announced the appointment of Hassan Allam Construction to develop the infrastructure for Noatum Ports – Safaga Terminal, situated on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. This terminal will mark the first port terminal operated internationally in the Upper Egypt region.
Terminal capacity and features
Covering an area of approximately 810,000 square meters, the terminal will have a container capacity of 450,000 TEUs, along with the ability to handle 5 million tons of dry bulk and general cargo, and 1 million tons of liquid bulk. Additionally, it will feature Ro-Ro facilities with a capacity of 50,000 CEUs, as well as shared spaces. The project will include various facilities such as administration buildings, workshops, warehouses, and authority structures, alongside significant infrastructure enhancements like roads, utilities, and security systems.
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Infrastructure specifications
Among the project’s features will be a 48,000 square meter concrete apron, an 80,354 square meter container terminal supported by essential infrastructure, and around 66,360 square meters designated for general cargo and break-bulk operations.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, managing director and group CEO of AD Ports Group, stated: “We are delighted to sign this construction agreement today with Hassan Allam Construction to build Noatum Ports – Safaga Terminal, which will create a new source of economic growth for the people in the region, in line with the wise vision of our leadership in the UAE.”
Hassan Allam, CEO of Hassan Allam Holding, remarked: “We welcome this opportunity to work with AD Ports Group, one of the fastest growing trade, transport and logistics groups in the Middle East, to deliver Noatum Ports – Safaga Terminal, which will be a key addition to Egypt’s maritime and ports infrastructure on the Red Sea. With our track record of more than 90 years, Hassan Allam Holding looks forward to delivering this large-scale, strategically important project for Egypt.”
Investment overview
This terminal is part of an investment initiative totaling approximately $349 million made by the Group in Egypt over the past three years. This includes acquisitions of maritime companies such as Transmar, TCI, and Safina, plans to construct a Ro-Ro terminal in Ain Sokhna, and long-term concessions for the development and operation of cruise terminals in Safaga, Hurghada, Ain Sokhna, and Sharm El-Sheikh.
UAE-Egypt trade relations
According to the Egyptian Commercial Service (ECS), the UAE is Egypt’s second-largest trading partner and its foremost international investor, having invested $9.6 billion in the country in 2023. Moreover, the UAE’s trade volume with Egypt reached AED25.2 billion ($6.9 billion) in 2023, as reported by the UAE Ministry of Economy.
Emirati presence in Egypt
Furthermore, there are over 1,600 Emirati companies operating in Egypt. In February 2024, the two nations signed a significant agreement that will facilitate a $35 billion investment by the UAE to develop the Ras El-Hekma coastal region, located 350 km northwest of Cairo.
