Egypt starts trial operations at Safaga terminal on Red Sea
Egypt launched trial operations on Tuesday at the Safaga 2 multipurpose terminal on the Red Sea, developed in partnership with Abu Dhabi Ports Group, as it seeks to strengthen its position as a regional logistics and trade hub.
The terminal received its first vessels during the launch, including the vehicle carrier UGR Al Samha, which arrived from Singapore carrying 5,000 vehicles, and the container ship Safeen Prosper, which arrived from Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Port carrying 2,642 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
Transport Minister Kamel El-Wazir said the project forms part of Egypt’s broader strategy to develop logistics infrastructure linking industrial, mining, and agricultural regions with international markets.
Located within the Greater Safaga Port development on Egypt’s Red Sea coast, the terminal covers 776,000 square metres and features a 1,100-metre quay with a depth of 17 metres.
The facility is designed to handle up to 450,000 TEUs annually in its initial phase, with maximum capacity reaching 2 million TEUs. It can also accommodate up to 7 million tons of general and dry bulk cargo, 1 million tonnes of liquid bulk cargo, and 50,000 vehicles.
El-Wazir said the terminal would support economic activity in Upper Egypt, including mining projects in the Golden Triangle region, while facilitating imports, exports, and industrial production across the area.
“This is the first container terminal in Upper Egypt to be equipped with technology of this scale, and it will help support industrial development and export growth across the region,” the minister said.
The project is part of the Safaga-Qena-Abu Tartour logistics corridor, one of several transport corridors Egypt is developing to improve cargo movement between ports, industrial zones, and inland production centres.
The minister said the corridor would increase the role of rail transport in freight movement, including through Egypt’s high-speed electric railway network, and strengthen connections between development zones and international trade routes.
He added that the terminal would also support the proposed Southern Arab Trade Corridor, which aims to connect Gulf markets with Europe through Egypt by linking Red Sea and Mediterranean ports.
The facility is expected to strengthen trade links with East Africa through a logistics zone designated to serve African markets and support the export and re-export of containerised and non-containerised cargo.
The terminal is equipped with three ship-to-shore cranes capable of handling large container vessels and six hybrid rubber-tired gantry cranes designed to improve cargo-handling efficiency.
Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Ports Group, said Egypt remains one of the company’s most important international markets.
“With its strategic location on the Red Sea, Noatum Ports – Safaga Terminal will strengthen our position as a global trade enabler along one of the world’s most important maritime corridors,” Al Shamisi said.
He added that full operations at the terminal are expected to begin later this year.
The Greater Safaga Port development includes the existing Safaga Port, the Safaga 2 multipurpose terminal, the Safaga 3 dry bulk and roll-on/roll-off terminal, and a planned expansion phase that will add additional berths and ship-repair facilities.
Egypt has been expanding private-sector participation in its ports and logistics sector as part of efforts to attract foreign investment, increase trade volumes, and strengthen its position along major shipping routes linking Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English