H.H. Sheikh Maktoum visits London's DP World Port and Logistics Park

His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance of the UAE visited DP World’s Port and Logistics Park at London Gateway, in the Thames Estuary.

On the visit His Highness was accompanied by Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, as they met Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman and CEO of DP World, and Rashid Abdulla, CEO and Managing Director of DP World in Europe.

The trio discussed the capabilities of London Gateway’s newly completed Berth 4.

Sheikh Maktoum expressed his pride in the expansive operations and projects of DP World, which extend across more than 30 countries in Europe. "The London Gateway logistics park, operated by DP World, is a landmark development that is adding significant new capacity to the UK’s logistics infrastructure. Upon completion, London Gateway will be the largest port in the UK, with the capacity to connect with 130 ports worldwide." He said.

"Dubai is investing AED 2.1 billion in the expansion of the port and its accompanying logistics area. Spanning 9.5 million square feet, the logistics park will be the largest in Europe," he added.

DP World currently operates in 34 locations across the UK, employing 6,000 individuals, a figure set to double to 12,000 with the completion of the logistics park at London Gateway.

London Gateway will become the UK’s largest seaport once Berth 4 opens, accounting for 55 per cent of the UK’s cargo coming through the South East. With a modern rail connection, the port and logistics park is ideally located just 28 miles from the centre of London.

The port, which currently handles 2.4 million containers, will expand its capacity to 3.4 million containers when Berth 4 opens, later this month. Total berth length will increase to 1,680 metres with this new extension.

Sultan bin Sulayem took H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed on a tour of the development and briefed him on DP World’s global operations. He outlined the company’s transformation in the last eight years from a global port operator to an end-to end global logistics company.