AD Ports acquires 20% stake in Latakia Container Terminal
AD Ports Group has strategically expanded its global reach with the acquisition of a 20% stake in the Latakia International Container Terminal (LICT) in Syria. This significant deal, valued at AED 81 million (USD 22 million), was finalized with the CMA CGM Group.
LICT stands as Syria’s primary maritime gateway, a vital hub for the nation’s trade, processing over 95% of its containerized cargo, with a particular focus on agricultural and industrial goods. The terminal, currently managing 250,000 TEUs, has ambitious plans for expansion, aiming to increase its capacity to 625,000 TEUs by 2026.
The agreement was formally signed in Abu Dhabi, with key figures including Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of AD Ports, and Rodolphe Saadé, CEO of CMA CGM, in attendance.
Captain Al Shamisi expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “This deal deepens our collaboration with CMA CGM. It not only broadens AD Ports’ international presence but also reinforces our crucial role in global trade, logistics, and industrial development.”
This collaboration is set to usher in a new era for LICT, focusing on modernizing terminal infrastructure, enhancing digital systems, and optimizing operational efficiency. The overarching goal is to re-establish Latakia as a pivotal trade gateway for Syria and the wider Eastern Mediterranean region.
CMA Terminals has been instrumental in the operation of LICT since 2009, having secured a 30-year concession in May 2025. Further strengthening the synergy, AD Ports’ feeder shipping arm, GFS, is preparing to introduce services to the port of Latakia.
This acquisition builds upon a history of successful joint ventures between AD Ports Group and the CMA CGM Group, including the CMA Terminals Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi and the New East Mole terminal in Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo. Demonstrating its commitment to integrated logistics, AD Ports also inaugurated the Al Faya Dry Port in February 2025, designed to seamlessly connect inland operations with Khalifa Port.