On 3rd September 2012 will open the new multibillion-dollar Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The port is really modern, located in an industrial area, which is known as Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi. The port is situated in Taweelah, between Dubai and Abu Dhabi and is created to serve and support the strategical growth of the economy of Abu Dhabi. Khalifa Port cost 7.2 billion USD for the first phase and from the UAE government promise that this is still its initial phases. The port will continue to growth, as Abu Dhabi and Dubai are planned to become not only the top travel destinations, but also centers of the industry in the region. The cargo port development is planned to turn Abu Dhabi into a center of container and general cargo shipping in Asia.
The port has area of 51 square kilometers, designed to host ships with maximum draft of 15.00 m and has 4.00 kilometers quay wall. Into the port is used the most modern technology, which allows to operate and accommodate the world largest container ships. The annual capacity of the Khalifa Port is 2.5 million TEU and 12 million tons of general cargo. According to the chief executive of Abu Dhabi Terminals, this is only the first step and the first phase of the port, which will have a few more terminals and will increase its capacity a few more times in next years. Through phased development Khalifa Port will be designed to grow its capacity to 15 million TEU and 35 million tons of general cargo till 2030.