The United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is ranked among the top 35 nations in the world by shipping fleet capacity and tonnage, has risen to the top echelons of global maritime power. A 2024 report released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) states. This esteemed list also notably features Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar, underscoring the Arab world’s robust marine presence.
Ten Gulf container ports, out of a total of 405 assessed worldwide, were listed among the 70 most efficient ports in the world in 2024, according to the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC-Stat). With 54.2 percent of the Arab fleet in 2023, the Gulf commercial fleet is the largest. Gulf countries also outperformed the Arab average on the Liner Shipping Connectivity Index, achieving a noteworthy 100.5 in 2023 and having more than 25 major seaports by 2024.
The report highlighted container productivity, noting that eight additional Gulf ports operate in the medium-production range of 0.5 million to 4 million containers, while two ports reached high production levels, surpassing 4 million containers. GCC-Stat highlights the ports’ sustainable growth, turning them into essential international logistics hubs. Global shipping and logistics heavily rely on the Gulf’s maritime infrastructure. The creation of the Unified Maritime Operations Centre, which reflects tight cooperation among GCC nations, is a historic accomplishment. In order to strengthen security and stability throughout the Gulf area, this organization is essential for protecting territorial waters and ensuring freedom of navigation.
