DP World has launched a new shipping route connecting Jebel Ali Port in Dubai with Berbera Port in Somaliland, strengthening trade links between the Gulf and East Africa.
Operating every nine days, the service enhances market access across the Horn of Africa while reinforcing Berbera’s growing role as a regional logistics hub.
The Jebel Ali–Berbera service includes scheduled stops at Aden and Djibouti, offering faster and more predictable transit times. From Berbera, cargo can move inland to Ethiopia and other destinations, providing an alternative to routes through Djibouti and easing overland congestion.
DP World’s investment in Berbera includes a modern container terminal, a 1,050-metre quay capable of handling large Triple E vessels, and the Berbera Special Economic Zone designed to attract foreign investment. The port currently handles over 4 million heads of livestock annually, a trade valued at more than $1 billion.
Ganesh Raj, Group COO of Marine Services at DP World, said the new route supports the company’s ongoing investment drive across Africa, creating more resilient and sustainable trade corridors.
Supachai Wattanaveerachai, CEO of DP World Horn of Africa, added that the initiative would bring lasting economic benefits and strengthen Berbera’s role in regional growth.
Since DP World began operating in Berbera in 2017, the port has seen vessel productivity rise by 450%, container volumes up 30%, and general cargo throughput grow by 90%. The company plans to expand annual capacity from 500,000 to 2 million TEUs.
With close to $3 billion already invested in African infrastructure and another $3 billion committed, DP World’s new Jebel Ali–Berbera route marks another milestone in building faster, safer, and more connected trade networks across the continent.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
