A landmark deal has been struck wherein a consortium led by the United Arab Emirates-based DP World, along with other investors, secured a 30-year concession to operate and modernise both the Port of Mombasa and the Port of Lamu in Kenya.
Under the agreement, the consortium would operate all container and general-cargo terminals at both ports and invest significantly to expand capacity, automate yards, extend berths and improve infrastructure.
The aim for Kenya is to turn the country into a regional logistics hub for East and Central Africa: a gateway for landlocked neighbors, faster ship turnarounds, and more efficient trade corridors. The benefits for the UAE are strategic, economic, and geopolitical.
Why This Matters for the UAE
Expanded logistics footprint: By taking long-term control over two of Kenya’s major sea-ports, the UAE further advances its reach into East Africa. It opens new trade flows from Asia and the Gulf into Africa’s interior.
Supply-chain leverage: Ports are not just docks, but rather anchors of trade corridors. The UAE bolsters its status as a hub for Africa, the Middle East, and Asia through sea routes and services.
Diversification of investment: Large infrastructure deals with long-term return potential go in tune with the ambition of the UAE to move beyond hydrocarbons into global trade infrastructure.
Influence and soft power: Infrastructure investment creates durable ties. Operating key assets in Kenya builds the UAE’s role in Africa’s trade architecture.
This Kenyan deal also fits a broader pattern. For instance, DP World invested in the Port of Berbera in Somaliland through a USD 442 million agreement to operate and expand the port and free zone.
In 2025, DP World announced a US$2.5 billion infrastructure investment across Africa, including new port terminals.
