The UAE's seaports are international and regional hubs and an essential factor in driving economic growth and facilitating economic diversification.

The country's sea transportation sector is developing steadily in terms of ports, operating ships, maintaining and constructing dry docks in accordance with the international standards on maritime safety and protection of the marine environment.

The UAE has several seaports. According to the World Shipping Council, two of the world's top 50 container ports are in the UAE, with Dubai featuring among the top ten.

Overall, 61 per cent of cargo destined for GCC states arrives via the UAE's seaports. The UAE has 12 commercial trading ports, other than oil ports. It contains 310 berths, with cargo tonnage of 80 million tonnes.

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Major seaports in the UAE include:

• Zayed Port - This port in Abu Dhabi city was the emirate's main general cargo port for 40 years. Currently, it is dedicated for cruise liners.
• Mina Rashid and Jebel Ali Port - These ports in Dubai city are operated by DP world and play a pivotal role in the trade in the UAE.
• Khor Fakkan Container Terminal (KCT) - This port in Sharjah is the only natural deep water port in the region, with a strategic geographical position for deep sea container trade.
• Mina Saqr in Ras Al Khaimah
• Fujairah Port - It is a multi-purpose port which is strategically located at the Gulf of Oman.
• Khalifa port is a massive new AED 26.5 billion, 420 square kilometres port that will spring industrial development in Al Taweelah area in Abu Dhabi. It is the first semi-automated port in the Middle East and North Africa. The commercial activities of the port started on 1 September 2012. Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) is developing the project and Abu Dhabi Terminals (ADT) operates its terminals.

It serves over 25 shipping lines, offers direct links to 70 international destinations, and boasts an intermodal transport network facilitating efficient transportation and logistics across sea, road and air. The port will also be the first in the UAE to be linked to the new Etihad Rail network, which is currently under construction. It will also serve as a main gateway for Kizad, which is set to become the largest industrial city in the region covering an area of nearly 420 square kilometres of prime industrial land.

Read about the 

• Maritime transport eServices of MoEI
• UAE's significant maritime initiatives.