The Khalifa Port is a multi-purpose maritime facility located 5 km offshore of Taweelah and covers an area of 2.2 km2. It will be able to accommodate the current and future marine traffic served by Mina Zayed and will create a gateway for the import of all cargo into Abu Dhabi and export of goods manufactured in the adjacent industrial zone. Phase 1A of the Port is anticipated to have an annual throughput of 2 million TEU’s (twenty-foot equivalent container units) and over 6 million tonnes of general cargo.
The Khalifa Port will ultimately be developed in 5 stages. The project will start with the creation of a 260 hectare marine platform. The island platform will be made from reclaimed seabed material that will be dredged to create the harbor basin and the 16.5 meter deep and 12 km long approach channel. The outer perimeter of the port island will be protected by rock revetments and breakwaters. Quay walls will line the inner harbour perimeter to berth vessels.
The decision to award the contract to the ABH Consortium is the result of a careful and thorough pre-qualification and tendering process, which was initiated in November 2006 following two years of detailed engineering and environmental studies led by HPA/Halcrow of New York.
Elaborating on the award of this substantial contract, Mr. Ahmed Al Calily, CEO and Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Ports Company, said:
“The awarding of the contract to the ABH Consortium is a significant milestone and a major step forward in the development of Khalifa Port and the adjacent industrial zone. Considering the scale and tremendous scope of the Khalifa Port project, we were very careful and keen on consulting only the best-in-class companies. The ABH consortium was selected from among four consortia with great records of experience.”
Khalifa Port is part of the multi-billion dollar development project, Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone (KPIZ). KPIZ will be a multi-purpose facility located in Taweelah between the cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. In addition to the container and industrial port, the project includes the development of over 100 square kilometers of industrial, logistics, commercial, high-technology, educational and residential special economic and free zones. KPIZ is ideally suited to become a world-class industrial and logistics hub with its strategic location easy access to two major ports, two major airports, and the new Emirates rail.