Abu Dhabi’s AD Ports Group announced a major dredging deal at Karachi’s main container terminal on Sept. 2, part of a broad push into Pakistan’s logistics sector that also includes the Emirates' recent takeover of operations at Islamabad International Airport.

Through these moves, the UAE is securing a strategic foothold in vital corridors linking South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East, strengthening its role in regional trade and transport.

The Karachi agreement, signed between Karachi Gateway Terminal Limited (KGTL) and Dutch marine contractor Van Oord, will boost KGTL’s capacity by 33% and double Karachi Gateway Terminal Multipurpose Limited’s (KGTML) throughput. Led by its international arm, Noatum Ports, AD Ports says the project will double the capacity of its Pakistan terminals by 2026.

The dredging is part of a $300 million investment plan that began in 2023 when AD Ports Group won long-term concessions to operate container and bulk cargo berths at Karachi Port. Since then, it has leased four berths at KGTL for 50 years and six at KGTML for 25 years, extending Abu Dhabi’s foothold along the Arabian Sea. In a press release, Mohammed Al Tamimi, chief executive of Noatum Ports, called the dredging “more than a significant infrastructure upgrade,” describing it as a forward-looking investment in Pakistan’s resilience and connectivity.