Skip to content Skip to Search
Skip navigation

AD Ports commits $250m to Angola port upgrade

The signing ceremony for AD Ports Group's Luanda Port agreement. The 20-year deal is extendable by another 10 years Wam
The signing ceremony for AD Ports Group's Luanda Port agreement. The 20-year deal is extendable by another 10 years
  • 20-year agreement for Luanda Port
  • Stake in JV to operate terminal
  • Gulf projects in Africa worth $53bn

Abu Dhabi Ports Group is investing more than $250 million in a project to upgrade the port terminal at Luanda in Angola. 

The company said it hd secured a 20-year concession agreement, extendable by another 10 years, with the Luanda Port Authority for operating and modernising the terminal.

In agreements with the Angolan logistics companies Unicargas and Multiparques, AD Ports has acquired an 81 percent stake in a joint venture that will operate the terminal and a 90 percent stake in another joint venture that will serve the broader Angolan logistics market.



AD Ports Group has committed $251 million towards the development of the logistics business over the next three years, which could potentially increase to $379 million depending on market demand.

Last year companies from the Gulf announced 73 FDI projects in Africa, worth more than $53 billion, the latest data from the FDI tracking database fDi Markets shows. 

Luanda Port, Angola’s main maritime gateway, handles more than 76 percent of the country’s container and general cargo volumes. 

It also serves as one of the main transhipment hubs for central-west Africa, giving maritime trade access to countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.

With a population of 34.5 million and a GDP of $74 billion, Angola is considered the sixth largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa. 

Under the terms of the terminal concession agreement, the joint venture will significantly upgrade the facility by the third quarter of 2026.

Container handling volumes are planned to grow from 25,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a general unit of cargo capacity, to 350,000 TEUs, while roll-on roll-off volumes will increase to more than 40,000 vehicles.

The second joint venture, with Unicargas, will provide logistics and freight forwarding services for local, regional, and international clients. It will be operated by Noatum Logistics, part of AD Ports Group.

Angola-UAE investment highlights

Dubai Investments is building the DIP Angola project, based 50km from Luanda, covering 2,000 hectares of residential, commercial and industrial property

Dubai Investments and E20 Investment, an Abu Dhabi agribusiness investment company, last July signed a deal to develop 3,750 hectares to produce 28,000 tonnes of rice and 5,500 tonnes of avocados over an 18-month period

Masdar signed a concession agreement last December with Angola’s ministry of energy and water to build and operate a 150 megawatt solar power project to deliver energy to 90,000 homes

Abu Dhabi Ship Building last year won its largest export order to date to supply small warships and patrol boats to the Angolan Navy

The UAE-based data and analytics company Presight signed its first international deal in 2021 with Angola’s Digital Angola 2024 transformation programme 

Latest articles

Property app Stake says it is close to acquiring a fully-rented mall and a 140-apartment tower in Riyadh

Property app Stake to launch in Saudi Arabia

A fractional-ownership platform that enables investors to own parcels of real estate for as little as SAR500 ($134) is to launch in Saudi Arabia on December 9.  Based in Dubai, Stake offers investors the opportunity to buy parts of residential and commercial properties.  Fractional property ownership is a rising trend in the global real estate market. […]

Saudi date drink cola Milaf

‘World first’ date soft drink launched by PIF subsidiary

A soft drink made from dates has been launched by Al Madinah Heritage Company, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Milaf Cola, which is claimed to be the world’s first commercial soft drink made from dates, uses only premium fruit and contains no added sugar.  Dates have historically been used in Middle Eastern beverages […]

Uber and WeRide launch autonomous mobility service in Abu Dhabi

Uber launches driverless operations in Abu Dhabi

Ride-hailing giant Uber Technologies and Chinese autonomous vehicle tech company WeRide have launched a commercial driverless taxi service in Abu Dhabi. The service, available on the Uber platform, will be available for trips on Saadiyat Island, Yas Island and routes to and from Zayed International Airport, with plans to expand the operating territory in the […]

Houses in Royal Crescent, Holland Park. The area is one of London's most expensive neighbourhoods

Abu Dhabi royal family buys £61.5m London mansion

Abu Dhabi’s Al Nahyan royal family has purchased a mansion in Holland Park, one of London’s exclusive neighbourhoods.  The family paid £61.5 million ($78.1 million) for the property, which includes a swimming pool and cinema room, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The deal was completed in October before the UK government introduced […]