A leading global enabler when it comes to trade, logistics, and industry solutions, AD Ports Group has joined a 30-year concession to design, build, and operate a new dry bulk terminal from Africa Ports Development – APD at the Port of Douala located in the Republic of Cameroon.
The agreement comprises an investment structure wherein AD Ports Group, along with two other investors from the UAE, owns 60% of the operating company in addition to the 40% ownership in Africa Ports Development LTD, implying an effective economic interest of 51% when it comes to the AD Ports Group.
Based upon the ownership as far as this investment structure is concerned, the AD Ports Group’s share of investment is anticipated to be almost AED 320 million, or EUR 73.4 million, in terms of the development of phase 1 of the new dry bulk terminal, which has in it 2 berths and almost 450 metres of quay wall, having a per-year handling capacity of around 4 million tonnes of dry bulk cargo such as clinker, fertilizer, gypsum, and grain.
Construction is most likely to take place between 2026 and 2028 and will be in close collaboration with the Port Authority of Douala in order to address a robust and sustained demand at the principal maritime gateway of Cameroon.
According to Mohamed Eidha Al Menhali, Regional CEO of AD Ports Group, “This agreement represents a strategically important expansion of AD Ports Group’s presence in Africa and reinforces our commitment to developing high-impact maritime infrastructure in high-growth markets, in line with the vision of our wise leadership. The Douala dry bulk terminal will enhance trade resilience, support industrial development, and strengthen Cameroon’s role as a gateway to Central Africa.”
He further added, “Through our partnership with Africa Ports Development, we are combining local market expertise with AD Ports Group’s global capabilities in port development and operations to support the Port Authority of Douala’s plans to modernize and enhance Douala Port, enabling regional trade and long-term economic growth. We commend the Port Authority for the significant progress achieved in recent years, which has driven strong growth in Cameroon’s maritime sector, and we look forward to contributing further to its long-term development ambitions.”
As per the Managing Partner of Africa Ports Development, Marc Tabchy, “We are honored to bring this partnership to life with AD Ports Group, a global reference that shares our firm belief in this project, in Cameroon, and in the potential of the African continent. Building upon the opportunity provided by the Port Authority of Douala’s modernization and specialization initiatives, this collaboration establishes a strategic synergy combining our group’s ambition and regional depth with AD Ports Group’s operational excellence.”
Situated at the Port of Douala, which apparently happens to be the largest maritime port in Cameroon, taking care of the majority of the bulk imports of the country and serving as a major transit hub for landlocked Central African markets, the new terminal is going to strengthen the regional supply chains and at the same time will also elevate the efficiency of major cargo flows. Besides, the new terminal also benefits from strong hinterland connectivity, which would link Douala with major industrial centres along with certain regional trade corridors throughout Central Africa.
It is worth noting that AD Ports Group continues to widen its Africa footprint via building on established investments as well as operations across Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Kenya, Angola, Tanzania, and the Republic of the Congo, thereby reinforcing its position as a very much preferred partner when it comes to trade, trade-enabling infrastructure, and logistics across the continent.
