ADNOC L&S and TA’ZIZ to Build UAE’s First Dedicated Chemicals Port

In a milestone move for the UAE’s industrial ambitions, ADNOC Logistics & Services (ADNOC L&S) and TA’ZIZ have inked a 50-year strategic pact to build the the country’s first dedicated chemicals port in the Ruwais industrial zone.

Valued at more than US$300 million, the new port is slated for completion in the fourth quarter of 2026. Under the agreement, ADNOC L&S will design, build, own and operate the facility, while TA’ZIZ will use the port as the export gateway for its portfolio of chemicals and derivatives.

Over the first 27 years of operations, the project is projected to generate more than US$1.3 billion in revenue for ADNOC L&S.

Strategic and Industrial Rationale

The Ruwais chemicals port is integral to the broader vision of creating a vertically integrated chemicals ecosystem in the UAE. TA’ZIZ, established as a joint vehicle of ADNOC and ADQ, is targeting production of 4.7 million tonnes per annum of chemicals by end-2028. Its planned product mix includes methanol, low-carbon ammonia, caustic soda, ethylene dichloride (EDC), vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

ADNOC L&S Expands Integrated Logistics Business

By owning its export infrastructure, TA’ZIZ aims to reduce reliance on third-party ports, gain control over logistics, and improve efficiency in accessing key markets in Asia, Africa and beyond.

From ADNOC L&S’s perspective, the deal represents a strategic pivot into chemicals logistics—adding a stable, long-term revenue stream alongside its existing maritime, ship management, and integrated logistics operations.

In his comments, Captain Abdulkareem Al Masabi, CEO of ADNOC L&S, said the project “will provide ADNOC L&S long-term, predictable revenue while supporting TA’ZIZ’s growing chemicals ecosystem.” Mashal Al-Kindi, CEO of TA’ZIZ, added that the port’s proximity to high-growth markets makes it a strong enabler of scale and export reliability.

Design, Capabilities and Future Role

According to maritime and industrial media, the port will include three berths (two liquid, one dry), shore-to-ship power links tapping into clean energy grids, significant storage and handling infrastructure, and connections to feedstock pipelines and shared utilities in the TA’ZIZ zone.

The port is meant to integrate with TA’ZIZ’s supporting infrastructure - centralized utilities, tank farms, internal roads, emergency services, and safety/crisis management systems. This shared ecosystem is intended to unlock efficiencies for chemical producers operating in the zone.

Once operational, the port will function as the UAE’s chemical export gateway, reinforcing the country’s push to move up the value chain in petrochemicals and reduce dependence on raw hydrocarbon exports.

Broader Impacts and Outlook

• Economic diversification & job creation: The project aligns with the UAE’s strategy to broaden its industrial base beyond oil and gas. It is expected to catalyze new downstream industries and create thousands of jobs.

• Revenue stream for ADNOC L&S: The forecasted US$1.3 billion from port operations gives the logistics arm a stable, long-term earnings profile through 2053.

• Supply chain control and resilience: By internalizing export infrastructure, TA’ZIZ enhances supply chain control, reduces external dependencies, and improves resilience to logistical bottlenecks.

• Regional competitiveness: With growing global demand for specialty chemicals and transition fuels (e.g. low-carbon ammonia), having a dedicated port gives the UAE a competitive edge in delivering products at scale.

• Timing and risk considerations: Completion by late 2026 is ambitious, and the long 50-year concession places emphasis on operational execution, regulatory stability, and market demand over decades.

Landmark Infrastructure Commitment

The ADNOC L&S–TA’ZIZ chemicals port project in Ruwais is a landmark infrastructure commitment, engineered to support the UAE’s leap into high-value chemical exports. With its funding, design, and strategic alignment underpinned by long-term contracts and ecosystem planning, the port may well become a linchpin in the country’s industrial transformation.

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