Abu Dhabi Ports, operator and manager of ports and industrial zones in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, contributed more than AED 14 billion to the Emirate’s GDP and generated over 39,500 new direct and indirect job opportunities in 2014, according to a study conducted by Oxford Economics.
The study, commissioned by Abu Dhabi Ports and verified by Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi (SCAD), revealed that the activities of Abu Dhabi Ports in its entirety, including profits, wages and salaries paid, and its supply chain accounted for 2.9 per cent of the Emirate’s non-oil gross domestic product (GDP). As a result of these activities, researchers noted that last year’s activities also gave rise to nearly two per cent of overall employment in Abu Dhabi’s non-oil economy.
“Our growing success is testament to the hard work of our work force and the positive role played by Abu Dhabi Ports’ suppliers and partners,” said Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO Abu Dhabi Ports.
“The fact that one in every 50 jobs in Abu Dhabi’s non-oil sector can be attributed to Abu Dhabi Ports’ various initiatives not only provides the company a source of pride, but also exemplifies that our commitment to Abu Dhabi’s economic vision is delivering real results”, Capt. Al Shamisi concluded.
As part of Abu Dhabi’s vision of economic diversification, Abu Dhabi Ports continuously invests in the development of central, pillar activities which directly contributed to the successes reported by Oxford Economics.
Expansion in cruise business activities saw passengers grow from 36,000 in 2006/2007 to over 200,000 this past season, generating an estimated value-added contribution to the Abu Dhabi economy of over AED 71 million and resulting in the employment of more than 300 people.
Further development of Khalifa Industrial Zone (Kizad) saw its value-added contribution grow to AED 6.1 billion and create over 3,600 employment opportunities in 2014.
Abu Dhabi Ports’ strong performance in 2014 has seen continuation into the first quarter of 2015, with an approximate 30 per cent increase in containers, bulk and general cargo as well as cruise business.