Geopolitics · Africa
—The stakes. Gulf states are now the main external funders of African port expansion, with UAE operators controlling terminals from Senegal to Tanzania and Angola.
—The money. AD Ports Group will invest AED 2.45 billion (US$667 million) in port infrastructure in 2026 alone, while DP World set a US$3 billion capex budget.
—The projects. DP World is building the Ndayane Port in Senegal and the Banana deep-sea port in the Democratic Republic of Congo, both aimed at capturing cargo from growing African economies.
—The corridor. A new Jebel Ali to Berbera service links the UAE directly to the Horn of Africa, extending Gulf reach toward the Red Sea and Addis Ababa.
