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DP World targets deals in Turkey and Eastern Europe

By Pramod Kumar
DP World CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem said the company will continue to invest through targeted bolt-on acquisitions Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem/X
DP World CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem said the company will continue to invest through targeted bolt-on acquisitions

Global ports operator DP World is exploring acquisitions in Turkey and Eastern Europe as part of its growth plan, a media report said.

“We are exploring markets,” The National newspaper reported quoting executive vice president of East Europe Kris Adams.

The container market in Eastern Europe is fragmented, with consolidation required, Adams said, adding that the company “wanted to be a part of the market”.

In March chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem said the company will continue to invest through targeted bolt-on acquisitions and expand into new locations.

The Dubai-headquartered company operates terminals and logistics centres in Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Moldova, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Cyprus and Greece, the report said.

Adam said that DP World intends to expand in Turkey’s $92 billion logistics market, where it currently operates two port terminals in Istanbul in partnership with Evyap Group.

The company aims to operate more warehouses and build its freight forwarding network within Turkey, he said.

Last month DP World and the Syrian government signed a memorandum of understanding worth $800 million to develop Syria’s port of Tartous after the lifting of US sanctions cleared the way for the deal.

This month Mahdah Development Company, a UAE-Omani joint venture led by DP World, signed a 50-year deal to develop an economic free zone between the UAE and Oman.

The company set its 2025 capex at $2.5 billion, primarily targeting Jebel Ali, Drydocks World and Jebel Ali Freezone in the UAE; Tuna Tekra, India; London Gateway, UK; Ndayane, Senegal; and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Although DP World started 2025 positively, Sulayem said that global trade remains in flux because of ongoing geopolitical challenges.

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