Dubai, UAE – August 2025
DP World has taken a major step forward in boosting its role in the global car trade by opening a massive new vehicle storage yard at Jebel Ali Port in Dubai. This new development is part of Terminal 4 and covers a huge area of 2.6 million square feet. The latest expansion is a response to the fast-growing demand for automotive logistics in the region.

Stay informed with the latest news. Follow DXB News Network on WhatsApp Channel  

What Is This New Expansion All About?

The expansion at Jebel Ali Port is focused on automotive logistics—that means helping car companies store and move vehicles more efficiently. DP World, one of the world's largest port operators, has launched a brand-new vehicle yard that can now store up to 13,000 more cars. This brings the total car storage capacity to 75,000 CEUs (Car Equivalent Units).

That’s a lot of cars! To give you an idea, it’s like parking more than 750 full school parking lots worth of cars in one place.

Why Did DP World Do This?

There are many reasons why DP World decided to invest in this massive expansion:

• Growing Demand: More and more cars are being imported and exported through Dubai. In just the first half of 2025, Jebel Ali Port handled 545,000 vehicles, which is a 28% increase compared to the same time last year.

• More Imports: About 65% of those cars were imported from countries like China, Japan, Thailand, India, and South Korea.

• Better Services: The new yard and improved terminal facilities help speed up the process, reduce waiting times, and give customers faster service.

Features of the New Yard and Terminal

The new automotive zone at Terminal 4 includes:

• 2.6 million square feet of space dedicated to vehicles.

• 13,000 additional CEUs, which helps store thousands more cars.

• A new 800-meter quay (a place where ships can dock), which can handle three large RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) vessels at the same time.

• Moving RoRo operations from Terminal 1 to Terminal 4, which improves the overall flow and space at the port.

What Is a RoRo Vessel?

RoRo stands for Roll-On/Roll-Off. These ships are specially designed to carry vehicles. Cars are driven on and off the ship using ramps. This is a very efficient way to move vehicles across oceans. The new quay allows three of these ships to load or unload cars at the same time, making things go much faster.

How Will This Help Dubai and the Region?

This isn’t just about storing more cars. It’s about helping Dubai grow as a major center for car trade. With this expansion:

• Car manufacturers and dealers get faster access to their vehicles.

• Logistics providers can move cars more quickly and reliably.

• The port can handle more vehicles, even during busy times.

Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World GCC, said, “Dubai is scaling up its role as a global automotive trade hub. This expansion gives car manufacturers, dealers, and logistics providers faster, more reliable access to key markets across the Middle East, Africa, and beyond.”

Focus on Customers

DP World made it clear that this project is focused on customers. They are not just building for the sake of expansion—they want to help businesses run smoother and faster.

Shahab Al Jassmi, SVP - Commercial, Ports and Terminals, DP World GCC, said, “This is a customer-focused investment. More yard space, quicker service, and reliable berth availability are all designed to help the automotive supply chain grow.”

In simpler words, this means that everything in this project was designed to make life easier for companies that import, export, and transport cars.

A Part of a Bigger Picture

This vehicle yard at Terminal 4 is just one part of a much bigger plan by DP World. They are planning to build a 20 million square foot advanced car market in Dubai. When completed, it will be the largest car market in the world.

This project supports Dubai’s D33 agenda. The D33 agenda is a government plan to double Dubai’s economy by 2033 and make the city a global leader in smart logistics and trade.

Dubai's Importance in Global Trade

Dubai already plays a very big role in global trade. It is located at a perfect spot between Asia, Africa, and Europe. That makes it a great place for storing and moving goods, especially cars. This expansion helps Dubai stay ahead of other ports in the Middle East and continue being a leading automotive logistics hub.

With more space, more ships, and faster services, companies from all over the world will find it easier to do business through Jebel Ali Port.

DP World’s expansion at Jebel Ali Port is a game changer for the automotive logistics industry in the Middle East. By adding more space, faster services, and better facilities, they are making Dubai an even stronger trade hub. The numbers speak for themselves—a 28% rise in vehicles in just half a year shows how quickly the demand is growing.

This project helps manufacturers, dealers, and logistics companies all at once, and fits perfectly into Dubai’s long-term goals for economic growth.

In the end, it’s clear that DP World isn’t just planning for today—they’re building for the future.