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Mina Zayed celebrates 40 years of success as Abu Dhabi Main Trade Gateway

posted on 10/07/2012: 1862 views



Mina Zayed marks its 40th anniversary today and celebrates four successful decades of providing world-class services to a growing customer base locally, regionally and internationally.

Established at the end of June 1972 by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the UAE, Mina Zayed has played a pivotal role in building modern day Abu Dhabi, and has since become an essential gateway to Container and the Oil '&' Gas sector.

Benefitting from its strategic location in the heart of the capital, Mina Zayed has also been instrumental in bolstering Abu Dhabi's international trade, being the main gateway for trade in the Emirate and playing a pivotal role in supporting Abu Dhabi's Economic Vision 2030, the government's drive to achieve economic diversification.

Martijn Van de Linde, ADT's CEO said, "Mina Zayed is part of the late Sheikh Zayed's legacy and an important component in Abu Dhabi's continued economic and trade development. ADT is honoured to promote this valued national asset." "As we celebrate four decades of Abu Dhabi's port and maritime milestones, ADT is working to open the first phase of Khalifa Port. The container terminal will be the first semi-automated in the region, and this cutting-edge infrastructure will redefine the port industry in the region and provide direct and long-term benefits for our customers," Van de Linde added.

Traders, entrepreneurs and business people in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi faced many challenges before Mina Zayed became operational in 1972, as it was impossible for larger vessels to enter Abu Dhabi's shores due to the shallow waters.

Cargo ships used to dock up to eight kilometres away from the coast and unload their shipments on barges and small vessels, which were then transported to the shore. This not only slowed down the development of trade but additionally, increased the total cost to the local trader.

Through the years and under the visionary guidance of the Abu Dhabi Government, Mina Zayed has evolved and continues to play a vital role in the development of the local economy by enabling global trade and serving as a main gateway for trade.

Here are the Key Milestones Achieved, 1968 - Construction of the port commenced, 1971 - Berths one, two and three were built, 1972 - Berths four, five and six were built, 28th June 1972 - Mina Zayed was officially inaugurated, 1984 - Mina Zayed's main channel development, 2002 - Introduced a new container terminal, deepening the main channel to 15m, 2006 - ADT established to manage and operate Mina Zayed, under which it has seen remarkable successes and milestones in operations and business.

Today, Mina Zayed spans over 535 hectares, has 21 berths with individual depths between six and 15 metres, allowing the docking of all types of commercial ships. Mina Zayed has over 143,000 square metres of covered warehousing space and cold storage facilities with a capacity of 20,000 tonnes.

Promising future ahead ADT's near-term milestone is the completion of Abu Dhabi's new hub, Khalifa Port. Khalifa Port will feature the region's first semi-automated container terminal and be equipped to handle an initial capacity of 2.5 million TEU container traffic annually.

Khalifa Port is strategically situated between Abu Dhabi and Dubai with ideal highway access, close to four airport hubs. Khalifa Port will also be the first port in the UAE with on-dock rail access when Etihad Rail becomes operational in 2015. Khalifa Port will also offer shipping lines the opportunity to increase their market share in one of the fastest-growing markets in the MENA region, in addition to fuelling new business and trading opportunities. – Emirates News Agency, WAM

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