In 2003, Dubai Ports World (the company to run our ports) began a "master plan" expand and modernize their port facility, the Jebel Ali Free Zone, to "meet the damand of the Iraqi market". This new facility is now complete:
Dubai Ports Authority (DPA) is on course to complete the new Jebel Ali port expansion master plan on schedule and will be ready to meet the expected demand from the Iraqi market, according to a senior official.
Last year the DPA announced its master development plan for Jebel Ali Terminal, which when completed will offer an extra three major terminals and a total of 82 berths equipped with 125 quayside cranes enabling DPA to handle over 21 million TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units).
DPA has already completed the development phase of berths 11 and 12, berths 22 and 23, the new container empty strip, general cargo berths 37-39 and berth 4. The reshaped quay 4, berth 10/10A, while berths 24 and 25 are currently under construction and to be completed early next year, said a Khaleej Times report. ‘By then Jebel Ali will have excess capacity for this trade,’ he said. To date this year DPA handled 5.2 million TEUs, while the total throughput for the year is expected to touch 6.1 million TEUs.
Meanwhile, Jamal Majid bin Thaniah, chief executive officer DPA, said the general cargo volumes loaded to Iraq through DPA in the last eight months have grown tremendously. It is expected to double, exceeding last year’s volumes by the end of this year, he said.
“Ro-ro units exported through DPA to Iraq have shown same upward trend as January-June figures this year are higher than last full year figures. We have accelerated the investment programme for this and next years to meet such an increase in trade between the UAE and Iraq.”
http://www.oilandgasnewsonline.com/bkArticlesF.asp?Arti...GE was one of the first companies to benefit from this new facility:
GE Energy has opened a new regional Center Of Excellence (COE) at the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ), which was today inaugurated by Jamal Majid bin Thaniah, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Ports Authority.
GE Energy's rental business is the temporary and portable power unit of GE Energy, a US$19 billion global business specializing in power generation and energy delivery technology.
GE Energy's rental business will now carry out its regional operations from its new 200,000-square foot COE, a specialized facility designed to serve the business's smaller regional hubs. Its expanded capabilities will enable GE Energy to meet the increased energy demands of the region which have contributed to the business's growth. The short-term power solutions provider, which has been serving the Africa, India and the Middle East (AIM) region since 2001 from its previous centre, also located at JAFZ, continues to grow and expand its business.
http://www.ameinfo.com/40386.html