Deepening China-UAE trade and cultural exchanges
The COSCO SHIPPING Universe, carrying nearly 20,000 TEUs, recently arrived at Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Port, a major hub jointly operated by COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited and Abu Dhabi Ports Group. After unloading in the Emirati capital it was set to continue on its journey to Dammam in eastern Saudi Arabia.
“The COSCO SHIPPING Universe unloads cargo destined for Abu Dhabi, while feeder vessels distribute goods onward to Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Djibouti,” said Hua Nan, operations director of the Abu Dhabi Terminal.
“Goods imported to these countries can also be transshipped back to China via Qingdao and Shanghai.”
China COSCO SHIPPING Corporation Limited (COSCO SHIPPING)’s West Asia Company currently operates nine mainline and eight feeder routes in the Middle East, covering 48 ports. In 2023, it launched a new route to Oman’s Sohar Port. In addition, Hainan Yangpu and Abu Dhabi have established a sister port relationship, enhancing regional connectivity.
A smart, green, and efficient regional logistics hub
On February 14, the Saipan Santos made its maiden call at the Abu Dhabi Terminal.
Since its opening in 2018, the terminal has seen rapid growth, handling 1.845 million TEUs in 2024 — a 36 percent year-on-year increase — with over 1,000 vessel calls.
This rapid development has helped Khalifa Port climb the global container port rankings, significantly enhancing its influence.
“The terminal’s record-breaking throughput highlights the strategic importance of the China-UAE partnership and sets a benchmark for the industry,” said Abu Dhabi Ports Group CEO Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi.
Building a robust supply chain for the Belt and Road Initiative
A shipment of Chery Automobile’s spare parts from Wuhu, Anhui Province, recently arrived at Jebel Ali Port in Dubai for distribution across the region.
COSCO SHIPPING’s warehouse in Jebel serves as Chery Automobile’s Middle East regional parts center and is one of the largest auto spare parts hubs in the region.
Tian Dong, chairman of COSCO SHIPPING’s West Asia Company, emphasized that overseas warehouse development is central to the company’s integrated “Shipping, Port and Logistics” strategy. With growing demand for China’s “new trio” exports — new electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic products — the company is expanding logistics services in Dubai, Dammam and Jeddah.
In 2023, COSCO SHIPPING launched a rail service from Abu Dhabi Terminal to local industrial zones and provided end-to-end logistics solutions for projects such as Sinomach’s Abu Dhabi solar power station. It also developed a tailored supply chain management system for Borouge, a major chemical producer in the United Arab Emirates, to optimize coordination efficiency.
Wang Guangda, secretary-general of the China-Arab Research Center on Reform and Development, said developing high-quality international logistics and supply chains is key to building connectivity on the Belt and Road initiative.
“Deepening China-Arab logistics cooperation ensures secure and stable industrial and supply chains, accelerating the construction of a China-Arab community with a shared future,” he said.
(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)
