DP World closed 2024 with a landmark achievement in its Dubai terminals, reporting a total movement of 1.3 million vehicles. The year marked a robust 53.6% increase from the previous period, delivering the highest volume the company has ever recorded. The vast majority of this throughput came through roll-on, roll-off operations (ro-ro), with nearly 960,000 units processed at Jebel Ali Port, underscoring its status as the region’s premier automotive hub. The remaining volumes were distributed between Mina Al Hamriya and Mina Rashid, reinforcing Dubai’s role as a pivotal gateway for vehicle imports and exports in the Gulf region.
Record automotive volumes and terminal distribution in Dubai
Dubai’s ports delivered a record-breaking year for vehicle handling in 2024, a milestone that reflects both a surge in regional demand and DP World’s strategic focus on the automotive sector. The ro-ro segment, which involves rolling vehicles on and off ships, accounted for the lion’s share of the total, a clear indicator of the efficiency and reliability of the Jebel Ali Port’s logistics ecosystem. This terminal’s capacity and operational speed make it a natural choice for automakers, dealers, and logistics providers seeking to optimize the flow of vehicles into and out of the Gulf, the wider Middle East, and beyond. The 960,000 ro-ro units processed at Jebel Ali stand as a testament to the terminal’s scale, speed, and capability to manage high-volume automotive trade with minimal disruption.
Beyond Jebel Ali, Mina Al Hamriya and Mina Rashid contributed the balance of 1.3 million vehicles. While these facilities handle a smaller share of volumes compared with Jebel Ali, their continued operation is crucial to maintaining Dubai’s broad-based automotive gateway network. This diversified terminal footprint mitigates risk and supports a more resilient supply chain, ensuring that vehicle flows remain steady even in the face of seasonal demand fluctuations or regional logistical bottlenecks. The distribution across multiple terminals also enhances Dubai’s ability to serve a wider range of markets, from the Gulf region to Africa, Europe, and Asia, by offering flexible routing options for vehicle shipments and a broad spectrum of Ro-Pax services.
The implications of these figures extend well beyond the numbers themselves. A record year signals sustained demand for both imports of new vehicles and exports of used or surplus inventory, as well as rising activity in vehicle parts and spare parts logistics across automotive ecosystems. It also highlights the critical role DP World’s Dubai network plays in supporting the global automotive supply chain, particularly in an era marked by shifting consumer preference toward sophisticated logistics solutions, faster delivery times, and tighter overall supply chain control. The performance in 2024 demonstrates that Dubai remains a premier hub for vehicles, with a capacity to scale and adapt in tandem with the needs of manufacturers, distributors, and end customers alike.
The automotive throughput in Dubai also mirrors broader regional and global recovery patterns in the wake of past supply chain disruptions. As manufacturers rebuilt production schedules and re-optimized routings to align with demand, gateways like Dubai provided essential capacity to move vehicles from manufacturing centers to markets around the world. The emphasis on ro-ro at Jebel Ali underscores a preference for streamlined handling and reduced port stays for vehicles, which translates into faster turnaround times, lower costs, and improved predictability for downstream logistics partners. In this context, the 2024 performance is both a milestone and a platform for future growth, signaling continued demand for a robust port-centric model that can handle a growing and increasingly diverse automotive trade.
China’s rising footprint in the global automotive arena has been a notable backdrop to Dubai’s performance. The region’s preeminence in the vehicle trade shapes how ports like Jebel Ali structure capacity, labor, and cross-border movement to accommodate high volumes and rapid turnover. As the top trading partner for Dubai’s vehicle volumes, China contributed nearly a quarter of total vehicle shipments, underscoring the importance of robust, bilateral trade relationships and efficient customs processing in sustaining high throughput. The remainder of the mix—Japan, Korea, and India—further reflects the international breadth of Dubai’s automotive corridor, with each market presenting distinct demand patterns, vehicle types, and logistical requirements that DP World’s infrastructure and services must meet.
The growth in vehicle movements is also a signal of the broader transformation underway in the automotive sector. The industry is shifting toward electrification, connectivity, and increasingly complex supply chains that require sophisticated logistics platforms. Dubai’s status as a regional and international logistics hub positions it to play a central role in this transition, providing the physical capacity, digital integration, and value-added services needed to manage a more diverse and complex vehicle ecosystem. In this sense, the 2024 results are not merely a reflection of past momentum but a catalyst for ongoing investment in infrastructure, digital systems, and collaborative networks that connect manufacturers with regional markets and end customers.
The narrative around 2024’s automotive volumes also reinforces the notion that Dubai can serve as a global bridge for vehicle trade. The region’s strategic location, coupled with world-class port facilities, free zones, and a business-friendly environment, creates conditions conducive to sustained growth in the automotive segment. DP World’s approach to leveraging this position—through enhanced terminal capacity, more efficient ro-ro processes, and a focus on end-to-end logistics excellence—positions Dubai as a critical node in the international automotive supply chain, now and into the future.
The broader industry context includes a recognition that electric mobility and hybrid technologies will reshape the demand mix and the logistics required to support it. As the industry trends toward electrification accelerate, the Dubai gateway benefits from the adaptability of its infrastructure, including the capacity to handle high volumes of diverse vehicle types and configurations. The 2024 results, therefore, should be seen not only as evidence of current demand but as an indicator of how DP World’s Dubai network will continue to evolve to meet evolving vehicle technologies, supplier networks, and consumer expectations.
In sum, the 2024 performance confirms Dubai’s enduring appeal as a central hub for vehicle trade, with Jebel Ali serving as the anchor for ro-ro activity and Mina Al Hamriya and Mina Rashid providing critical additional capacity. This multi-terminal approach contributes to a resilient logistics landscape, capable of supporting robust volumes while enabling faster, more cost-effective movement of cars, trucks, and related parts through one of the world’s busiest and most strategic gateways.
Dubai’s automotive gateway role and regional impact
Dubai’s automotive gateway status is reinforced by a broader ecosystem that includes world-class logistics hubs, a robust free-trade zone network, and a favorable business climate. Jebel Ali Port stands out for its scale, efficiency, and proximity to key markets in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and beyond. The port’s capabilities enable automakers and distributors to streamline inbound vehicle flows, manage inventory more effectively, and coordinate downstream distribution with greater precision. The co-location of automotive spare parts companies within Jafza—one of the world’s largest free zones—adds another layer of value by creating synergies between vehicle assembly, distribution, and after-sales networks. This integrated ecosystem supports both the import of new vehicles and the export of used or surplus stock, ensuring that Dubai remains a dynamic node in the global automotive supply chain.
The strategic importance of Mina Al Hamriya and Mina Rashid is equally clear. While Jebel Ali handles the bulk of volumes, these terminals provide redundancy and additional capacity to distribute the load, reduce bottlenecks, and cater to specific route demands or carrier schedules. In combination, these facilities give Dubai a versatile and resilient platform for vehicle trade, enabling faster turnarounds and more reliable service levels for manufacturers, dealers, and end customers. The result is a favorable environment for automotive commerce—one that supports investment, employment, and the broader economic activity required to sustain a thriving logistics and trade ecosystem in the region.
Industry participants note that Dubai’s continued investment in automotive-related infrastructure aligns with longer-term regional and global market dynamics. The region’s growing middle class, expanding consumer markets, and demand for modern mobility solutions drive steady vehicle volumes, while global supply chain realignments post-pandemic continue to push for diversified and geographically balanced routes. Against this backdrop, DP World’s 2024 performance stands as evidence of a well-calibrated strategy to leverage Dubai’s geographic advantages, port efficiencies, and supportive business environment to capture and grow a meaningful share of the world’s vehicle trade.
This momentum into 2025 and beyond is reinforced by strategic plans and capacity expansions that aim to solidify Dubai’s role as a global automotive hub. By continuing to optimize terminal operations, expand free zones that cluster automotive businesses, and maintain excellent connectivity to key markets, Dubai is well-positioned to sustain high throughput levels, improve supply chain resilience, and stimulate broader economic activity linked to the automotive sector and its broader ecosystem.
Global trends reshaping the automotive landscape and DP World’s alignment
The automotive industry is undergoing a powerful transformation that is reshaping how vehicles are produced, distributed, and consumed on a global scale. A pivotal trend is the anticipated shift in the vehicle mix, with electric vehicles (EVs) projected to surpass internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2036. This anticipated transition underscores the need for robust, flexible, and future-ready logistics infrastructure that can accommodate different vehicle types, charging needs, and end-to-end supply chain requirements. In this context, DP World’s Dubai network gains strategic importance as a platform capable of handling the evolving vehicle landscape, from conventional ICE vehicles to next-generation EVs and hybrids, with the flexibility to adapt to regulatory changes, battery logistics, and new maintenance ecosystems.
China’s dominant position in EV manufacturing, which accounts for a substantial share of global production, becomes a central driver of supply chain dynamics. The region’s role in manufacturing more than half of the world’s EVs has profound implications for the global automotive supply chain, including the sourcing of batteries, modules, and other critical components. This reality drives a need for logistics networks that can handle diverse supplier bases, complex cross-border movements, and the coordinated movement of high-value, battery-intensive cargo. The Dubai gateway, with its integrated port and free zone ecosystems, is well-suited to support these evolving demands. The supply chain is actively adjusting to support this shift toward sustainable mobility, and Dubai’s strategic position within the global network makes it a key enabler of EV distribution to Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Hybrid vehicles, which combine electric propulsion with traditional internal combustion engines, are also seeing increased adoption worldwide. In response, logistics providers and port authorities must plan for a multi-technology portfolio, including diverse battery handling protocols, safety standards, and repair and maintenance value chains. Hybrid adoption adds a layer of complexity to vehicle throughput, but it also creates opportunities for value-added services, such as battery leasing, charging infrastructure support, and specialized warehousing for hybrid components. Dubai’s automotive logistics framework can leverage this trend by offering scalable solutions that accommodate both conventional and alternative powertrains, ensuring smooth movement across markets with varying regulatory landscapes.
These evolving trends position Dubai as a pivotal hub in the global automotive trade. The city’s strategic location, modern port facilities, and expansive free zones create an attractive environment for automakers, distributors, and logistics providers to consolidate, store, and move vehicles with efficiency and speed. The 2024 milestone for DP World’s Dubai terminals thus becomes part of a larger narrative about how regional gateways can adapt to the shifts in vehicle technology, consumer demand, and international trade patterns. The blend of high-volume throughput, enhanced terminal operations, and a forward-looking approach to technology and infrastructure makes Dubai a crucial component of the global automotive supply chain in the era of electrification and electrified mobility.
From Detroit to Dubai, the broader trends reshaping the automotive landscape underscore a shared trajectory toward more dynamic, interconnected, and sustainable mobility ecosystems. The movement of vehicles through Dubai’s ports is a practical manifestation of these trends, reflecting how modernization, global trade, and policy directions intersect to drive growth, efficiency, and resilience in vehicle logistics. DP World’s milestones, alongside Dubai’s infrastructure investments, illustrate how regional gateways can influence and participate in the global automotive narrative, ensuring that vehicles reach markets efficiently while aligning with the imperatives of sustainable mobility and supply chain modernization.
DP World’s milestone in the context of global trends and regional development
Abdulla Bin Damithan, chief executive and managing director of DP World GCC, emphasized Dubai’s expanding role in the automotive supply chain and the broader economic implications for markets across Asia and Europe. He stated that Dubai’s emergence as a global automotive hub offers significant potential for these markets, with a ripple effect on the local economy. His remarks underscore the strategic vision of DP World to position Dubai as a central node in international trade, where automotive logistics, manufacturing, and related services converge to support growth in the region and beyond.
The automotive industry is widely recognized as a powerful catalyst for economic development. It not only creates direct employment opportunities but also attracts foreign investment and stimulates the growth of local businesses across the value chain. In this context, DP World is committed to building and upgrading the necessary infrastructure to sustain and accelerate this growth. The company highlights that its state-of-the-art logistics hubs, such as Jebel Ali Port, and its free trade zones, like Jafza—home to more than 930 automotive and spare parts companies—are integral to its global automotive supply chain strategy. This emphasis on integrated ecosystems and strategic location reinforces the potential of Dubai’s automotive trade to expand and solidify its leadership role.
DP World’s longer-term vision aligns with global projections for passenger vehicle sales. Industry forecasts indicate that passenger vehicle sales will increase from about 94.7 million units in 2024 to roughly 109 million units by 2030. This projected growth trajectory signals expanding demand, which will require a combination of increased manufacturing capacity, enhanced logistics networks, and broader market access. DP World’s planning and development activities, including Jebel Ali Port’s capacity expansion and Mina Al Hamriya’s ongoing development, reflect a proactive approach to meeting this rising demand. The company’s strategy also contemplates the development of more sophisticated, expansive car markets and logistics hubs to accommodate future traffic, including the world’s largest and most advanced car market spanning 20 million square feet.
Jebel Ali Port’s capacity, currently positioned at one million car-equivalent units, stands as a critical pillar of Dubai’s automotive ambitions. The planned development of an expansive car market, coupled with the improvements and expansions in Mina Al Hamriya, underscores a concerted effort to create a comprehensive ecosystem that supports both distribution and value-added services for automotive stakeholders. This approach is aligned with Dubai’s broader economic objectives, including the D33 Economic Agenda, which aims to double the size of the economy by 2033. The synergy between port capacity, market development, and macroeconomic goals demonstrates a cohesive strategy to leverage Dubai’s geographic and infrastructure advantages to support sustained growth in the automotive sector and the wider economy.
The 2024 record automotive volumes thus serve as more than a standalone milestone. They illustrate DP World’s ability to translate strategic intent into measurable outcomes and to align its operations with the dynamic trajectory of the global automotive industry. The results highlight how Dubai’s gateway model—anchored by world-class port facilities, strong free zones, and diversified terminal operations—can drive increased throughput, improve supply chain resilience, and contribute to the region’s status as a key global hub for vehicle trade and logistics in the coming years.
In conclusion, DP World’s record 2024 performance reinforces Dubai’s central role in the global automotive trade and confirms the region’s readiness to support the evolving needs of a transforming industry. As electrification, hybrid propulsion, and global supply chains continue to reshape how vehicles are manufactured, moved, and delivered, Dubai’s multi-terminal approach, combined with strategic investments in capacity and infrastructure, positions the city to remain a leading gateway for vehicle imports and exports. The company’s unwavering commitment to infrastructure development, including Jebel Ali Port’s capacity, Mina Al Hamriya’s expansion, and the broader D33-driven growth agenda, signals a robust foundation for heightened volumes and a more resilient automotive supply chain in the years ahead.
Conclusion
DP World’s 2024 results mark a watershed moment for Dubai’s automotive trade, illustrating the strength of the city’s gateway model and its capacity to handle rising demand for vehicles in a rapidly evolving industry. The impressive 1.3 million-vehicle throughput, with the vast majority moving through Jebel Ali Port, underscores Dubai’s status as a premier automotive hub in the Gulf and beyond. The diversification of volumes across Jebel Ali, Mina Al Hamriya, and Mina Rashid enhances resilience and expands capacity to meet changing market needs.
The leadership commentary highlights the strategic importance of Dubai’s automotive ecosystem for regional and international markets. With China as a leading partner and a broader mix including Japan, Korea, and India, Dubai’s gateway is well-positioned to support global supply chains that are increasingly characterized by electrification, hybrid powertrains, and advanced mobility solutions. The move toward EVs, backed by a global shift in manufacturing led by China, emphasizes the need for agile logistics and infrastructure capable of supporting high-value, battery-intensive cargo.
DP World’s long-term vision—anchored by significant capacity at Jebel Ali Port, the planned expansion of a major car market, and the continuous development of Mina Al Hamriya—aligns with Dubai’s D33 Economic Agenda to double the economy by 2033. The emphasis on free zones like Jafza, which host hundreds of automotive and spare parts companies, reinforces the city’s role as a comprehensive automotive commerce hub that integrates manufacturing, logistics, and trade.
As the industry moves toward higher EV penetration and more complex supply chains, Dubai’s multi-terminal architecture and DP World’s strategic investments position the city to sustain and grow its automotive throughput beyond 2024. The road ahead will involve continuing capacity enhancements, seamless end-to-end logistics, and a commitment to supporting a diversified ecosystem that enables vehicle trade to flourish in an increasingly electrified and interconnected global market. Dubai’s automotive gateway is poised to remain at the forefront of global vehicle trade, contributing to economic growth, job creation, and the broader advancement of sustainable mobility across regions.