Project record

Khalifa Port EGA berth enhancement programme

EGA and AD Ports Group representatives at Khalifa Port for the AED 84 million berth infrastructure development agreement

Emirates Global Aluminium / AD Ports Group

EGA's Khalifa Port bulk system moved from a 2017 long-term facilities agreement through completed channel deepening and widening to the first fully laden Capesize call in June 2019. AD Ports Group and EGA now confirm an AED 84 million Newcastlemax upgrade for August 2028. Two current China Harbour Engineering Company staff profiles independently identify the matching EPC and active live-berth refurbishment, advancing the record from programme agreement to reported construction while leaving the official award, dredging package and equipment suppliers undisclosed.

Project signal

Construction in UAE

Current status CHEC EPC delivery and live-berth works reported by two current staff profiles; owner releases confirm the AED 84 million programme but do not name the contractor Source confidence Confirmed

Location

UAE / Middle East

Segment

Port infrastructure

Status

CHEC EPC delivery and live-berth works reported by two current staff profiles; owner releases confirm the AED 84 million programme but do not name the contractor / Confirmed

Last checked

15 August 2026

Coverage

Related sectors

Port infrastructure is the primary work classification. Related sectors connect this record to adjacent marine delivery and market coverage.

Subject index

Related subjects

These subject pages bring together related projects, technical articles, reports, and evidence methods.

Project anatomy

Contract scope and delivery roles

Client / authority
AD Ports Group and Emirates Global Aluminium
Delivery parties
China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) - reported EPC and live-berth construction contractor in two current staff profiles; the reviewed owner releases do not name CHEC, Dredging subcontractor and additional-unloader suppliers are not publicly identified
Contract route
A long-term port-facilities agreement underpins EGA's operating berth and marine-service relationship through 8 December 2052. The 2026 work is a separate AED 84 million joint, multi-phase infrastructure investment. Two current CHEC staff profiles report an EPC and active delivery role, but the owner and tenant releases do not publish the award, notice to proceed, design consultant, subcontract structure or package value split.
Execution window
The earlier Capesize access system entered use on 24 June 2019. Current CHEC staff profiles date the reported live-berth refurbishment and EPC role from October and November 2025 respectively. The owners announced the programme on 29 June 2026 and plan Newcastlemax completion in August 2028; public records do not reconcile the earlier staff start dates with the later announcement or provide interim acceptance milestones.
Works package
Upgrade EGA's dedicated Khalifa Port berth for Newcastlemax dry-bulk vessels and approximately 8 million tonnes of annual cargo handling. Public scope covers the existing capping beam, new bollards and fenders, crane-beam and foundation extensions, additional utility connections, unloader flexibility and dredging works; quantities, final geometry, equipment packages and acceptance criteria remain undisclosed.
Marine interfaces
The existing logistics chain joins an 18.5-metre approach, EGA's dedicated berth and a five-kilometre offshore belt-conveyor and transfer-tower system to Al Taweelah. The new interface adds berth dredging, structure, mooring, crane and unloader foundations, utilities, conveyor and cargo integration, hydrography and Newcastlemax navigation and operating acceptance.
Commercial evidence boundary
The 2017 agreement, funded channel works and verified 2019 fully laden Capesize call establish one completed tenant-backed port investment cycle. The 2026 agreement defines a second design, dredging, marine-civil, mooring, equipment, utility and systems-integration cycle. Two current CHEC profiles now expose a reported EPC and active construction tier, including capping-beam demolition and reinstatement, piling, crane rails, fenders, bollards, utilities and critical lifts. Dredging, hydrography, unloader supply and official contract terms remain addressable but undisclosed.

Contract and delivery chain

Named roles and open packages

Named appointments are shown against the workstream they cover. Unallocated packages remain open until a project source identifies the responsible party.

Programme ownership

AED 84 million multi-phase Newcastlemax berth enhancement

Named party
AD Ports Group and Emirates Global Aluminium
Status
Confirmed
Source position
The port operator and tenant jointly confirm the investment, scope envelope, August 2028 target and approximately 8 million tonnes of planned annual handling. Source
EPC delivery

EGA Berth Renovation Project, Khalifa Port

Named party
China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC)
Status
Reported
Source position
A current CHEC technical manager identifies the exact project as an AED 84 million EPC active from November 2025. The reviewed owner releases do not name CHEC or publish the award. Source
Live-berth delivery

Construction management and HSE within an operating industrial berth

Named party
China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC)
Status
Reported
Source position
A second current CHEC manager reports active project work from October 2025, including high-risk planning, marine-edge controls, critical lifts and live-port SIMOPS. Source
Berth structure

Capping-beam removal, reinstatement and marine-edge demolition

Named party
China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC)
Status
Reported
Source position
The current CHEC HSE manager's exact-project scope describes reinforced-concrete capping-beam removal and reinstatement plus marine-edge demolition; quantities and accepted progress are not stated. Source
Crane infrastructure

Piling, crane-beam foundations, and seaside and landside crane rails

Named party
China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC)
Status
Reported
Source position
The exact-project profile names piling and foundation works for crane-rail extension and installation of new seaside and landside rail systems. Final geometry and handover are not evidenced. Source
Mooring and utilities

Fender handling and replacement, bollards, and utility protection

Named party
China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC)
Status
Reported
Source position
The exact-project profile attributes these live-berth work fronts to the current CHEC delivery context, while suppliers, quantities and acceptance remain unpublished. Source
Dredging

Berth deepening, material handling and hydrographic control

Named party
No separately evidenced dredging contractor
Status
Undisclosed
Source position
Owner releases include dredging in the programme and a CHEC profile reports the whole EPC, but no reviewed source defines the dredging subcontract, quantity, target depth, plant or disposal route.
Cargo equipment

Additional unloader, conveyor and cargo-control integration

Named party
No project-specific equipment supplier publicly identified
Status
Undisclosed
Source position
The owners describe flexibility for an additional unloader but do not identify the equipment supplier, procurement status, conveyor modifications or integration contractor.
Marine acceptance

As-built hydrography, berth-system testing and navigation approval

Named party
Owner, port, EPC and specialist acceptance parties still to be evidenced
Status
Not evidenced
Source position
No reviewed record provides accepted survey results, structural or mooring handover, navigation approval or completed integrated berth tests.
Operating acceptance

First fully laden Newcastlemax call and sustained 8-million-tonne performance

Named party
AD Ports Group, EGA and future vessel operators
Status
Not evidenced
Source position
The August 2028 and annual-volume statements are targets. The 2019 Capesize call cannot prove Newcastlemax readiness or future throughput.

Project timeline

Material developments

Dated events that changed scope, counterparties, delivery, commissioning or operating status.

Open this project in the Change Log

AD Ports Group and EGA agreed an AED 84 million Newcastlemax berth upgrade

The joint investment defines dredging, capping-beam, fender, bollard, crane-foundation, utility and additional-unloader interfaces for planned August 2028 completion and about 8 million tonnes of annual handling. It is a programme agreement, not a design acceptance, construction award, mobilisation notice or completed capacity increase.

Source

Two current CHEC staff profiles report the matching EPC and active berth works

A CHEC technical manager identifies the exact AED 84 million EGA Berth Renovation Project as an EPC active from November 2025. A second CHEC manager describes matching live-berth structural, piling, rail, fender, bollard, utility and lifting work from October 2025; this supports Reported CHEC attribution, but not the owner award, full EPC boundary, dredging subcontract or accepted progress.

Source

AD Ports documented the long-term marine-service baseline through December 2052

The listing prospectus identifies a port-facilities agreement under which AD Ports provides EGA marine and repair services through 8 December 2052. This establishes the operating commercial relationship behind the berth, not a construction contract for the 2026 upgrade.

Source

Cape Taweelah made the first fully laden Capesize call after approach works

EGA confirmed that Abu Dhabi Ports had completed the approach-channel works, deepening from 16.5 to 18.5 metres draft and widening from 250 to 280 metres. The vessel call proves the earlier Capesize access state in operation; it does not prove Newcastlemax berth geometry or the new structural and equipment scope.

Source

EGA and Abu Dhabi Ports signed the long-term Capesize facilities agreement

The original agreement committed Abu Dhabi Ports to fund and complete approach-channel, basin and berth dredging and widening so fully laden Capesize bauxite carriers could reach EGA directly. It is the commercial and geometry baseline for measuring the later Newcastlemax upgrade.

Source

Evidence gap

What remains unverified

Outstanding evidence

  • Owner confirmation of the CHEC appointment, contract date, notice to proceed, and EPC package boundary
  • Dredging contractor, quantity, target berth depth, plant, material route, and hydrography
  • Capping beam, bollard, fender, crane-foundation, and utility progress
  • Structural, mooring, crane, conveyor, utility, and hydrographic acceptance
  • Newcastlemax trial calls and sustained bulk-handling performance

Related records 2

Reporting status

Construction, confirmed confidence

Last checked 15 August 2026 across 9 cited sources. The dated timeline above carries the project events.

Last checked 15 August 2026 Cited sources 9

Sources and related records

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Source collections

Project sources 9