Ports of Nawatom receives quay cranes and gantry cranes at Safaga terminal in Egypt to enhance the Red Sea connectivity network
ABU DHABI : Nawatom Ports, the international port operator arm of Abu Dhabi Ports Group on Monday announced the arrival of three quay cranes and six rubber-tired gantry cranes at its new multi-purpose terminal in Safaga, Egypt. This significant milestone comes ahead of the anticipated opening later this year of this major new commercial marine gateway on the Red Sea in Upper Egypt.
The Superpost Panamax cranes, manufactured by Shanghai Shenhua Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (ZPMC), a world leader in industrial cranes, were successfully delivered after being shipped by sea from China. This paves the way for the phased commencement of operations at Nawatom Ports – Safaga Terminal, following the completion of key infrastructure development. Strategically located on the Red Sea coast, Nawatom Ports – Safaga Terminal is the first international marine terminal in Upper Egypt, serving as a vital gateway to the region and enhancing connectivity between Egypt, the Middle East, Africa, and global shipping lanes.
The terminal is equipped to handle containers, general cargo, liquid and dry cargo, and roll-on/roll-off cargo, supporting regional and international trade flows by providing high productivity levels, a deep draft to accommodate mega-ships, and best-in-class port operations and services. Furthermore, the terminal will play a pivotal role in enabling industrial development in Upper Egypt and the Red Sea region in general, including container trade, project cargo for industrial infrastructure and green energy, and logistics services for the mining sector. On this occasion, Mohamed Al Tamimi, CEO of Nawatom Ports,
said : “The arrival of the quay cranes and gantry cranes today marks a significant milestone in the operational journey of Nawatom Ports – Safaga Terminal, ahead of its opening later this year, which will be a major new gateway to support economic development in Upper Egypt. This achievement confirms our transition from the development phase to the operational phase in a vital and strategic location, where the terminal will be a pivotal gateway on the Red Sea, supporting global trade flows and contributing to driving economic growth in Egypt.”
The Nawatom Ports – Safaga Terminal covers an area of approximately 810,000 square meters and includes a 1,000-meter quay wall, a container handling yard with a capacity of up to 450,000 TEUs, a handling capacity of up to 5 million tons of general and dry cargo, and 1 million tons of liquid cargo, in addition to roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) cargo handling facilities with a capacity of up to 50,000 vehicles.
The terminal also features various facilities including administrative buildings, workshops, warehouses, and government facilities, supported by a comprehensive infrastructure of roads, public utilities, and security and safety systems.Abu Dhabi Ports Group has invested AED 193 million to purchase and operate these cranes at the terminal, which is expected to commence operations in the second half of 2026. These cranes are part of a total investment of $200 million that the group committed to allocating to the Safaga Terminal, following the signing in 2023 of a 30-year concession agreement with the Red Sea Ports Authority to develop and operate the multi-purpose terminal.
The project is being partially financed through a $115 million financing facility from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), with participation from the National Bank of Kuwait – Egypt and other investment institutions, as announced by the group in February 2026. This financing is provided through a syndicated loan portfolio managed by the IFC, with a maturity of up to 15 years. This reflects strong international confidence in the operational capabilities of Abu Dhabi Ports Group and the strategic role of the Arab Republic of Egypt within global supply chains.
This new project is part of the group’s broader strategy to develop and operate high-performance port facilities and infrastructure along high-growth trade corridors, particularly in Egypt, which has become one of the group’s most important international markets. The delivery of the cranes reflects Nautom Ports’ long-term commitment to investing in advanced infrastructure and state-of-the-art equipment across its portfolio, reinforcing its role in delivering safe, efficient, and reliable terminal operations worldwide.
