AD Ports Joins 30-Year Douala, Cameroon Bulk Terminal Deal

AD Ports Group has entered a 30-year concession agreement to develop and manage a new dry bulk terminal at the Port of Douala in Cameroon, expanding its presence in West and Central Africa.

The Abu Dhabi-based company is collaborating with Africa Ports Development (APD) on the project, which involves constructing a new terminal at Cameroon’s primary seaport. Douala handles approximately 80% of the country’s bulk cargo and about 85% of total trade volumes, while also acting as a key transit hub for several landlocked nations in Central Africa.

Under the partnership structure, AD Ports Group and two additional UAE investors will collectively hold a 60% stake in the operating company, with APD retaining the remaining 40%. This gives AD Ports an effective economic interest of 51%.

The first phase of development is expected to require an investment of around AED320m, or $87m. This stage will include building two berths and approximately 450 meters of quay wall. The terminal’s initial capacity is projected at roughly 4 million tonnes annually, with plans to handle cargoes such as clinker, gypsum, fertilizer, and grain.

Construction is scheduled to take place between 2026 and 2028, in coordination with the Port Authority of Douala, which is pursuing a broader modernization and specialization program at the port.

Once operational, the facility is anticipated to create up to 4,000 direct and indirect jobs, supporting port activities as well as related logistics and industrial sectors.

For AD Ports, the concession adds to a growing portfolio of African assets, which already includes operations in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Kenya, Tanzania, Angola, and the Republic of the Congo. The group has been steadily expanding across the continent through concessions, joint ventures, and logistics investments.

The Douala initiative also reflects sustained investor interest in African bulk infrastructure, particularly in markets where increasing imports of construction materials, agricultural products, and food commodities are driving demand for dedicated terminal capacity. When completed, the new terminal is expected to reduce congestion, improve vessel turnaround times, and reinforce Douala’s role as a strategic gateway for Central Africa.