UAE's AD Ports Group opens office in Islamabad to facilitate maritime, logistics partnerships
The announcement comes months after AD Ports signed four memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Pakistan in November last year to explore opportunities to upgrade the country's maritime, rail, airport, customs and logistics infrastructure.
The move coincides with Pakistan's efforts to attract international investment, particularly from Gulf countries, with a focus on strategic sectors such as ports and shipping, aviation and logistics to drive sustainable economic growth.
'The new office will serve as a critical platform for deepening engagement with government stakeholders and advancing priority infrastructure and trade initiatives,' the AD Ports Group said in a statement.
'As a client-facing and administrative hub, the Islamabad office will also support ongoing operations and facilitate strategic partnerships in the ports, maritime, logistics, and industrial development sectors.'
The development reflects the depth of the bilateral relationship and shared vision for long-term economic cooperation between the two countries, according to the Emirati port operator.
It follows a series of high-impact investments by AD Ports Group in Pakistan, including $295 million committed toward the development and enhancement of container, bulk, and general cargo terminals at Karachi Port's East Wharf, which are central to the Group's strategy to support the transformation of Pakistan into a regional trade and logistics hub.
On the occasion, AD Ports CEO Capt. Mohamed Juma Al-Shamisi said the opening of the Islamabad office marks a significant milestone in the Group's global expansion strategy.
'This move will enable closer collaboration with government entities and strategic partners, positioning AD Ports Group as a key contributor to Pakistan's economic transformation,' he said.
'Our growing footprint, underpinned by significant investments in critical port infrastructure, aligns with our wise leadership vision for trade facilitation, industrial diversification and sustainable development.'
The UAE is Pakistan's third-largest trading partner after China and the United States, and the second biggest source of foreign remittances to Pakistan after Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan holds a strategic geographic position as a maritime gateway to Central Asia, making it a crucial element in AD Ports Group's vision to establish an integrated trade corridor stretching from China to Europe, according to maritime and logistics provider.
AD Ports Group entered Pakistan in 2022 with a landmark 50-year concession to develop and operate container berths 6–10 at Karachi Port's East Wharf in partnership with Kaheel Terminals. This was followed by a second 50-year agreement in 2023 to manage berths 11–17 for general and bulk cargo.
In July 2024, the group also signed an agreement to invest $250 million over the next decade in Pakistan with plans to develop a state-of-the-art port facility in the coastal city of Karachi.
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