Key Rotterdam Officials Visit RAK Ports

RAK Ports in Ras Al Hkaimah, the northernmost emirate of the United Arab Emirates recently hosted a meeting with Rotterdam dignitaries and Dutch business partners.

Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of Rotterdam, which is home to Europe’s largest port and the site of 2022 Breakbulk Europe, May 17-19, accompanied by Lody Embrechts, ambassador of Netherlands to the UAE, visited RAK Ports and had lunch with Dutch business partners.

The delegation included several Rotterdam-based knowledge institutions, who met with Boskalis, Van Oord, BAM International bv, Damen, Maqta Tyres and others.

Following a tour of the Saqr Port Freezone, the delegation was received by Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and ruler of Ras Al-Hkaimah. Port officials said it was an excellent opportunity to showcase its capabilities and explore potential areas for knowledge sharing.

Watch a video of the delegation's visit.

Ras Al Hkaimah and RAK Ports enjoy a unique location with immediate access to an abundance of natural resources. RAK Ports, which is a key maritime gateway, the leading bulk-handling port in the Middle East region, and consequently an ideal hub for industrial, manufacturing and construction sectors.

RAK Ports operates at four hubs across Ras Al Khaimah, including Saqr Port, the biggest bulk handling port in the region, and RAK Maritime City, the only free zone in the region to have direct quayside access.

Imports and exports through Saqr Port have doubled in the past five years, and RAK Ports now handles more than 75 million tons of cargo annually. Investment of about US$250 million led to expansion in 2019 added two deepwater Capesize berths at Saqr Port, increasing overall annual capacity to 95 million tons and placing it among the largest dry bulk ports in the world.

RAK Ports advanced facilities also handle a wide range of other commodities, including breakbulk, general cargo and containers, making it the partner of choice for cargo flows in and out of the UAE.