emirates7 - The UAE has secured a position among the top 35 countries globally with the largest shipping fleets in terms of tonnage and capacity, as per the 2024 report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The report also recognized three other Arab nations on the list: Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar.
The Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC-Stat) revealed that 10 Gulf container ports ranked among the 70 most efficient ports globally in 2024, out of a total of 405 ports worldwide.
According to GCC-Stat, the Gulf region’s commercial fleet constituted 54.2 percent of the entire Arab commercial fleet in 2023. Data also showed that most GCC countries surpassed the Arab average on the Liner Shipping Connectivity Index, scoring 100.5 in 2023. Moreover, the number of major Gulf seaports exceeded 25 in 2024.
In terms of container productivity, two Gulf ports were identified as high-output ports, each handling over 4 million containers annually. Additionally, eight ports were classified as medium-output ports, with annual handling volumes ranging between 0.5 million and 4 million containers.
GCC-Stat highlighted the region’s sustainable port infrastructure development, positioning Gulf ports and maritime facilities as leading global logistics hubs. The centre underlined the strategic importance of Gulf maritime navigation and ports, which serve as primary nodes for international shipping companies and logistics services.
Among the key milestones of regional cooperation is the establishment of the Unified Maritime Operations Centre, which plays a crucial role in safeguarding territorial waters and ensuring freedom of navigation. This initiative contributes significantly to enhancing security and stability within the GCC region.
The Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC-Stat) revealed that 10 Gulf container ports ranked among the 70 most efficient ports globally in 2024, out of a total of 405 ports worldwide.
According to GCC-Stat, the Gulf region’s commercial fleet constituted 54.2 percent of the entire Arab commercial fleet in 2023. Data also showed that most GCC countries surpassed the Arab average on the Liner Shipping Connectivity Index, scoring 100.5 in 2023. Moreover, the number of major Gulf seaports exceeded 25 in 2024.
In terms of container productivity, two Gulf ports were identified as high-output ports, each handling over 4 million containers annually. Additionally, eight ports were classified as medium-output ports, with annual handling volumes ranging between 0.5 million and 4 million containers.
GCC-Stat highlighted the region’s sustainable port infrastructure development, positioning Gulf ports and maritime facilities as leading global logistics hubs. The centre underlined the strategic importance of Gulf maritime navigation and ports, which serve as primary nodes for international shipping companies and logistics services.
Among the key milestones of regional cooperation is the establishment of the Unified Maritime Operations Centre, which plays a crucial role in safeguarding territorial waters and ensuring freedom of navigation. This initiative contributes significantly to enhancing security and stability within the GCC region.