
AD Ports' new JV to develop multipurpose terminal in Congo
AD Ports Group's subsidiary CMA Terminals, has signed an agreement with France's CMA CGM Group to jointly develop a new multipurpose terminal in the Republic of Congo.
A joint venture between AD Ports and CMA CGM Group, majority-owned by the former, will develop, manage, and operate a new terminal at the Port of Pointe Noire, Congo-Brazzaville, handling containers, general, break-bulk and other types of cargo at the Central West African nation's biggest Atlantic port.
AD Ports, which trades on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), expects to invest about 807 million UAE dirhams ($220 million) to build a 400-metre quay wall at a 16-metre depth, plus a 10-hectare logistics area during the project's first phase.
The multipurpose terminal has already ordered three super post-Panamax ship-to-shore (STS) cranes.
Additionally, it will receive nine hybrid rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) and other associated handling equipment. These hybrid RTGs reduce diesel consumption by up to 60 percent, saving 1 million litres of diesel annually, and cutting nearly 5,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
The Abu Dhabi port operator received a 30-year extendable concession in June 2023 for the New East Mole Terminal in Congo.
(Writing by P Deol; Editing by Anoop Menon)
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ME Construction
a day ago
- ME Construction
AD Ports Group unveiled the inaugural phase of Tbilisi Intermodal Hub in Georgia
Infrastructure AD Ports Group unveiled the inaugural phase of Tbilisi Intermodal Hub in Georgia By The Tbilisi Dry Port, the initial phase of the Tbilisi Intermodal Hub, will be expanded by early 2026 to include long-term warehousing, container yards, truck parking, and a fourth railway spur AD Ports Group has unveiled the inaugural phase of Tbilisi Intermodal Hub, Georgia's first modern, bonded container and intermodal terminal. This logistics hub plays a crucial role in the group's emerging Central Asian transport strategy, said a statement. The rail-linked logistics centre connects the Caspian and Black seas through Georgia, forming a component of the Middle Corridor, the shortest trade route between Asia and Europe. AD Ports Group owns a 60% stake in Tbilisi Intermodal Hub, and the rest is held by Inveco, a local Georgian investment advisory firm, and Wilhelmsen Group. Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State, UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, 'Under the visionary leadership of the UAE Government, we are committed to enhancing international cooperation with strategic global partners who share our vision for mutual benefit and sustainable prosperity. The inauguration of Tbilisi Intermodal Hub exemplifies this commitment by actively developing global trade routes and creating market opportunities for UAE and Georgian businesses.' Jemal Inaishvili, Founder of Inveco, Georgia added, 'The inauguration of Tbilisi Intermodal Hub is a major step for the development of the logistics sector in Georgia and Central Asia. Leveraging its extensive expertise in port operations and logistics, AD Ports Group is introducing advanced management practices to Georgia's logistics sector. This collaboration not only enhances the operational efficiency of the Tbilisi Intermodal Hub but bolsters economic ties between the UAE and Georgia.' The Tbilisi Intermodal Hub's initial phase, the Tbilisi Dry Port, is an Inland Container Depot (ICD) that handles container cargo transported by rail and truck. The group and its partners plan to expand the facility by early 2026. This expansion will include long-term warehousing, additional container yards, truck parking, and a fourth railway spur. The goal is to transform the facility into a full-service import-and-export logistics hub for all of Central Asia, a growing region that AD Ports Group positions as a growth corridor, the statement added. Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO, AD Ports Group commented, 'The inauguration of the first phase of Tbilisi Intermodal Hub is a significant step in our long-term plan to develop the Middle Corridor into a viable East-West trade corridor through Central Asia, where the volume of goods is expected to triple by 2030, according to The World Bank. Under the wise guidance of our leadership in the UAE, AD Ports Group is dedicated to pioneering the strategic, low-impact trade corridors of a sustainable future. With our investments in Tbilisi and elsewhere along the Middle Corridor, we are strengthening global supply chains through investments that foster economic growth and job creation, by creating efficient trade pathways that cater to the emerging economies of Central Asia.' As Tbilisi Intermodal Hub expands in its second and third phases, it will process a wide range of cargo, including containerised vehicles and various forms of bulk and break-bulk commodities such as minerals, ores, and fertilisers. These commodities play a crucial role in the supply chains of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, as well as serving as an East-West crossroads for goods between China and Europe. Tbilisi Intermodal Hub's soft launch commenced when it received its inaugural shipment of 30 containers, each carrying over 26t of cargo. These containers were delivered via rail link from an MSC ship docked at Georgia's Black Sea Port of Batumi. Tbilisi Intermodal Hub, an inland extension of Batumi and the Port of Poti, Georgia's key seaports, will play an important role as a logistics staging hub, accelerating trade flows across the Caucasus region and Central Asia. The facility has received both customs zone authorisation and Georgia's first railway infrastructure operation and safety certification from the state Rail Transport Agency. The inauguration of the Georgian intermodal logistics hub marks a significant milestone in the Group's strategy to transform the Middle Corridor into a viable and modern high-volume trade corridor connecting China and Europe through Central Asia. This corridor will be facilitated by the Group's ports and maritime assets in Türkiye and Pakistan. Stretching over 7,000km, the Middle Corridor is anticipated to handle up to 1.9m TEUs of container cargo annually by 2040. This surge in cargo volume is driven by manufacturers' growing preference for shorter seaborne routes to avoid longer transit times. Tbilisi Intermodal Hub will initially handle up to 96,000 TEUs annually. The facility enables flexible cargo flows from Central Asia and the Far East via multiple transport modes railcars, shipper-owned containers, and trucks – with cross-docking to ocean carriers for global distribution, and vice versa. By early 2026, the second phase of construction will more than double the annual handling capacity of Tbilisi Intermodal Hub to up to 200,000 TEUs. Connected to Georgia's national rail network, the hub offers direct access to the country's international highways, thus bypassing city congestion. The inauguration of this facility marks a significant milestone for AD Ports Group, aligning with its mission to enhance global trade routes and logistics capabilities. Tbilisi Intermodal Hub not only strengthens economic ties between the UAE and Georgia but also positions both nations as key players in the Middle Corridor.


Arabian Post
3 days ago
- Arabian Post
From petrostate to deal state: Gulf IPO markets mature
Maein Khalid Since the pandemic, IPO activity across GCC capital markets has surged – offering a sharp contrast to the stop-start pace on New York's Nasdaq and the near standstill on London's LSE. Nearly 300 IPOs have raised around $50 billion across the Gulf since 2021. ADVERTISEMENT Below I outline six key macro themes shaping this post-Covid IPO boom in the GCC. First, contrary to expectations, the number, size and aftermarket performance of IPOs in the GCC have shown little correlation with oil prices. Since 2021 Brent crude has swung wildly, yet IPO momentum has remained resilient, even in hydrocarbons-heavy markets like Saudi Arabia. Second, the sheer variety of sectors that contributed to regional IPO deals demonstrates that non-oil growth, industry deregulation, private sector entrepreneurship and e-commerce are powerful macro themes in the Gulf. The two largest IPOs in the GCC last year were the $2 billion food delivery app Talabat's IPO, listed in Dubai's DFM, and the $1.8 billion Lulu hypermarket, a 50-year-old family-owned grocery chain listed on Abu Dhabi's ADX. ADVERTISEMENT Last year saw 48 IPOs from sectors as varied as grocery chains, software and IT services, e-commerce, education, healthcare, financial services, remittance solutions, leisure, transportation and real estate. Third, Saudi Arabian deal flow both dominated the IPO pipeline and dramatically outperformed its GCC peers in aftermarket trading. For instance, 38 out of the 48 deals in the GCC that raised $12.06 billion in 2024 originated from the kingdom, and the average aftermarket performance in the week following the IPO was a spectacular 45 percent. The kingdom's first three IPOs on the main market this year all went 'limit up', surging on their first day of trading by the maximum 30 percent allowed. 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But the market has since evolved, moving beyond oil giants and into broader, more diversified territory. Saudi Aramco subsequently raised $12 billion in a secondary offering last year. These mega deals played a crucial role in the development of the kingdom's capital markets infrastructure and set the stage for the current bullish IPO environment. The UAE's role as the most diversified, cosmopolitan and networked economy in the Arab world can be gauged by the fact that it contributed to the two largest IPOs of 2024 – both private sector businesses with no connection to oil and gas or the government. The 2025 IPO of Bahrain-based Investcorp Capital marked a milestone for the region – positioning Abu Dhabi where it listed not just as an oil-rich emirate, but as a rising power in global finance. 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Middle East Eye
3 days ago
- Middle East Eye
Trump-Musk fight creates unprecedented elite power struggle in the US
It is hard to find a historic or contemporary precedent for the battle raging between Donald Trump, the president of the United States, and Elon Musk, the world's richest man. There may be a couple of examples that come close, but nothing that quite captures the current moment. For instance, in 2017, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman rounded up his profligate cousins and businessmen at the Riyadh Ritz-Carlton for a royal shakedown. They got into line quickly. And almost two decades before, Russian President Vladimir Putin managed to bend the oligarchs who got rich off post-Soviet capitalism to his will. On its surface, the Trump-Musk feud seems to be over policy. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The Tesla chief and former head of DOGE attacked Trump's tax bill this week as a 'disgusting abomination'. Musk was channelling the concerns of deficit hawks in the US, who worry the bill will add trillions to the US debt pile at a time when the dollar has weakened and demand for more US debt is looking stretched. Trump, who has positioned the bill as a do-or-die piece of legislation, said on Thursday during a meeting in the Oval Office with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, that 'I'd rather have Elon criticise me than the bill,' adding later, 'Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will anymore.' Then it got nasty. Within hours, Musk was on X calling for Trump's impeachment, to be replaced by Vice President JD Vance. The vice president himself was catapulted to power in part by Peter Thiel, a billionaire tech entrepreneur who mentored and groomed Vance's career in politics. He threatened to form a new political party and stop ferrying Nasa astronauts into space. He said Trump would have lost the US presidential election without his endorsement. And for good measure, insinuated that Trump was linked to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Trump fired back. He suggested Musk was attacking the bill, not out of patriotic fervour, but because he had snatched away perks for electric vehicles from which Tesla benefits. 'Elon was wearing thin,' Trump said. 'The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn't do it!' Trump said in another post on Thursday night, threatening to leverage the power of the presidency against Musk's business empire, which includes Tesla and SpaceX. Tesla shares dropped about 14 percent on Thursday amid the spat. According to Bloomberg's billionaires index, Musk's net worth plunged $34bn that day. Tesla was trading up around five percent on Friday. Silicon Valley vs 'America First' nationalists The Trump-Musk feud is a decidedly American affair - partly performative, very populist, and made for social media. And on that note, Musk has been posting on X, the social media platform he bought before the US election, and Trump has been posting on Truth Social - owned by Trump Media & Technology Group - that was purposely built as a right-leaning competitor to X before Musk bought it. Of course, the US is no stranger to elite power struggles capturing the public's attention, particularly during its rambunctious, early years as a republic. Aaron Burr, a former vice president, famously killed Alexander Hamilton, the one-time treasury secretary, in a dual in 1804. A century later, Teddy Roosevelt rode a populist 'trust busting' wave that pitted him against the gilded elite, making men like JD Rockefeller his foe. But the Trump-Musk feud has key differences. JD Vance's mentor co-founded company that helps Israel generate 'kill lists' of Palestinians in Gaza Read More » The two men had forged an unprecedented alliance that, to a point, symbolised a broader one between Silicon Valley tech entrepreneurs and crypto bros on one side, and working-class "America First" nationalists on the other. While some media reports say that allies of the two men are urging both to reconcile, the standard bearers of "America First" nationalism appear to be egging Trump on and savouring Musk's fall from grace. Steve Bannon, a former Trump advisor whose podcast WarRoom advocates for "America First" positions, called on Trump to seize Musk's company SpaceX and examine the billionaire's immigration status. Musk was born in South Africa. Bannon himself was critical of Trump's tax bill, but he was one of the few supporters who called for tax hikes on the wealthy. 'You're going to have a few of the tech bros and the crypto crowd stick with Elon because you have the cult of Elon. But MAGA will 100% back Trump. You aren't going to have a person in MAGA who will buy a Tesla,' Bannon said. But Musk donated over $250m to Trump's 2024 campaign and has made clear he has no qualms about deploying his cash against those who turn on him within the Republican Party. On Thursday night, Musk wrote, 'some food for thought as they ponder this question: Trump has 3.5 years left as President, but I will be around for 40+ years…' Do Musk and Trump have options? Trump has a history of engaging in brutal public spats, only to mend fences later. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vance both lambasted Trump during his 2016 run for the White House. But the key difference here is that neither of these men had the deep pockets of the world's richest man to endure a battle with the president. To an extent, Musk is a country unto himself. His technology, like Starlink, is hovering over battlefields in Ukraine, while his company ferries Nasa astronauts into space. The knowledge he has gained of Trump's family and the inner workings of the White House would make him a valuable catch for any foreign leader, including US allies. More broadly speaking, the feud is likely to reaffirm a perception among American friends and foes that something within the US system is cracking. In less than one day, the president of the US threatened on social media to use the power of his office against a comrade-turned-foe, while the world's richest man called for his impeachment. Elon Musk: How a tech nerd became Trump's 'first buddy' Read More » Many observers said the bonhomie between Trump and his former 'first buddy' was bound to implode eventually, given both men's power and outsized egos. Musk also felt his investment in Trump's campaign wasn't paying off, reports suggest. In May, The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk tried to block OpenAI from building one of the world's largest artificial intelligence data centres in Abu Dhabi. Trump and his aides rejected Musk's bid to cancel the deal in favour of his AI company. On Wednesday, Jared Isaacman, a tech billionaire friend of Musk, suggested Trump pulled his nomination to run Nasa because of his ties to Musk. Things could get ugly if the feud refuses to die down, and the president has several institutions that could be weaponised against Musk and his businesses. Trump has not been shy about using state leverage to settle old scores since his return to power. However, Musk has pockets deep enough to make mid-term elections an uphill battle for Trump and his loyalists. If the gloves come off, the world will have a front row seat to an unprecedented battle between the world's most powerful politician and the world's richest man, as it all plays out in real time on social media.