The petrochemicals sector is an integral pillar of Operation 300bn, the UAE’s Industrial Strategy that aims to increase the GDP from AED 133 billion to AED 300 billion by 2031. Since 95 per cent of all manufactured goods rely on petrochemicals, the sector is essential to the global economy. Despite the 2020 crisis and the delayed economic recovery, the sector is poised for significant growth in the decades ahead. The UAE’s export-oriented industry is already witnessing improvements which will be sustained by new polypropylene capacity, due to a ramp-up in production in 2022.
DP World UAE plays a pivotal role in facilitating the growth of the regional and global petrochemicals sector through its flagship assets in Jebel Ali. The company’s streamlined chemical supply chain solutions and extensive range of logistics offerings are reinforcing the UAE’s and GGC’s rapidly growing petrochemical sector.
Valued at AED 21.4 billion, DP World UAE’s petrochemicals hub accounts for close to 60 per cent of Dubai’s total trade value in the sector. Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) alone supports 4,700 port customers and is home to 584 companies from the petrochemicals sector. Complementing this is the Jebel Ali Port, a hub for global petrochemical companies catering to growing markets of the Indian Subcontinent, Africa, and the Middle East.
Enabling seamless trade
With its robust container handling infrastructure, the Jebel Ali Port supports 65 per cent of GCC’s polymer exports and 33 per cent of its petrochemical exports. The port has 2 million square metres of dedicated liquid chemical handling capacity comprising 11 berths and over 1 million cubic metres of liquid bulk storage space. DP World UAE’s comprehensive solutions also include tank terminals and warehousing, specialised storage space for packed lubricants, fuels and industrial chemicals, ISO tanks storage and dangerous goods warehouses.
The 532+ petrochemical sector in Jafza is powered by 584+ companies from 60+ countries with a 6000+ workforce, all of which contribute to Dubai’s position as the second-most important emirate in terms of petrochemical production.
The Port of Jebel Ali, as an example, allows the petrochemical industry to service 4,700+ of the port’s and industry’s customers.
Creating local and global success stories
The petrochemical at Jafza spans on the area 3.9 million sqm of combined facilities. Jafza supports several key petrochemical companies, including DOW, BASF, Total and Gulf Petrochem. The free zone offers a holistic solution – handling imports in bulk and containers and offering 235,000 cubic metres of storage capacity. Its enhanced capabilities have ensured that it is the base for some of the largest chemical distributors in the Middle East and Africa. The integrated logistics offerings supported by connectivity across international petrochemical trade lanes and the ecosystem at Jebel Ali give the industry the most attractive logistic proposition. Additionally, its strategic location and vast network of global liners have contributed to the success of the UAE and the region.