Khorfakkan Port, part of the Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority, has welcomed the giant container vessel MSC MARIELLA, operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).
With a capacity of 24,346 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), the vessel ranks among the world’s largest container ships, marking another milestone that reflects the port’s advanced capabilities and strategic position in the global trade and maritime transport landscape.
MSC MARIELLA belongs to the ultra-large container vessel (ULCV) class. Measuring approximately 400 metres in length and more than 61 metres in width, its carrying capacity places it among a select group of the largest container ships currently in operation worldwide.
Its call at Khorfakkan Port provides a tangible demonstration of the port’s readiness to accommodate the latest generation of mega container vessels and meet their operational and logistics requirements.
A Development Vision
The arrival of the mega vessel reflects Khorfakkan Port’s growing prominence within the global trade and maritime transport ecosystem.
This position is the result of the development vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, which has placed strategic emphasis on Khorfakkan and the Eastern Region through the development of infrastructure and economic, commercial and logistics facilities.
By strengthening the region’s connectivity to transport and trade networks, this vision has helped consolidate Khorfakkan’s position as a major maritime gateway for the UAE and the wider region.
Khorfakkan Port enjoys a strategic location on the UAE’s eastern coast, with direct access to the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean and close proximity to major international shipping routes.
This provides the port with a competitive advantage in serving trade flows connecting Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, the Arabian Gulf, East Africa and global markets.
Gulftainer, the UAE company specialising in port, terminal and logistics operations, operates the container terminal at Khorfakkan Port.
Its integrated operating model combines specialist expertise, advanced infrastructure and modern equipment, supporting the terminal’s ability to receive and handle ultra-large vessels with high levels of efficiency.
Advanced Operational Capabilities
The container terminal at Khorfakkan Port comprises six berths with a combined length of approximately 1,880 metres and a draught of up to 16 metres. It is equipped with 18 advanced ship-to-shore container cranes, alongside extensive storage and handling yards.
Development plans aim to increase the terminal’s annual handling capacity to approximately 5 million TEUs, further strengthening its operational capabilities as vessel sizes and maritime trade volumes continue to grow.
The terminal operates around the clock, providing an integrated range of services covering container handling, storage, customs clearance, road transport and the handling of refrigerated containers, in addition to technical and support services.
Together, these capabilities help accelerate cargo flows, enhance operational efficiency and reduce shipment transit times across supply chains.
Khorfakkan Port’s competitive advantage is further reinforced by its ability to rapidly connect maritime cargo flows with inland markets.
Its location, operational efficiency and the road transport network linked to the port help reduce cargo transit times to destinations across the UAE while providing shipping lines and cargo owners with greater operational and logistics flexibility.
The port’s capabilities are complemented by a wider network of logistics facilities and complexes being developed by the Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority, including Al Sajaa Logistics Complex and Al Dhaid Logistics Complex.
Together, these facilities strengthen connectivity between seaports, storage and distribution centres and inland markets, supporting the development of an integrated logistics ecosystem serving trade flows and supply chains to and from the Emirate of Sharjah, the UAE and regional markets.
Maritime Infrastructure Readiness
The Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority affirmed that the arrival of mega container vessels reflects growing confidence among leading global shipping lines in Sharjah’s ports ecosystem and demonstrates the readiness of the emirate’s maritime infrastructure.
The Authority noted that this standing also reflects the growing role of Sharjah’s ports in supporting international trade flows and enhancing the emirate’s competitiveness.
The Authority added that the arrival of MSC MARIELLA comes as development plans for Khorfakkan Port continue to advance. These plans include increasing annual capacity from 3.5 million TEUs to 5 million TEUs, followed by phased expansion to 7 million and subsequently 10 million TEUs annually.
The expansion is designed to keep pace with continued growth in maritime trade, enhance the port’s readiness to accommodate mega vessels and meet the requirements of global shipping lines, further strengthening its position as a major regional hub for container and transshipment services.
A Strategic Maritime and Logistics Gateway
As part of the Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority’s integrated ecosystem, and in cooperation with its partners and operators, Khorfakkan Port continues to develop its maritime, operational and logistics capabilities.
These efforts contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of Sharjah and the UAE as a major hub for trade, maritime transport and logistics services, while further consolidating Khorfakkan’s position as a strategic maritime and logistics gateway connecting regional markets with global trade networks.