Gulf region ports to discuss sector growth and capacity at Doha conference

The Gulf region’s ports are witnessing rapid growth, and leaders from various port interests are coming together to collaborate on how to best handle that growth.

To answer those challenges, the Middle East’s chapter of the International Quality and Productivity Center (IQPC) is organizing a conference of various stakeholders and experts called the Port Development Week.

Various infrastructure mega-projects are popping up in the GCC, which have raised many questions as to how these projects can best be delivered. The conference will bring together representatives from ten large-scale regional and international port operators and authorities to the table.

Gulf countries are allocating an estimated $36 billion to develop port infrastructure, with the intent to handle bigger capacity ships. That’s an important step as the shipping industry prepares for the arrival of the latest mega vessels.

To handle those massive container ships, port operators are now looking for solutions for increasing operational performance to ensure the region’s ports have the ability to service the new breed of mega-ships.

Basma Dawwas, IQPC Middle East’s conference director, said striving for those roles has tipped off something of a competitive race to become the major shipping lines’ go-to port.

"The industry is witnessing an intensifying competition between ports in the region that are vying to become the port of choice for trade routes,” Dawwas said. “Therefore, we have organized the Port Development Week conference ... to encourage discussion around this topic."

Coming to the table for the conference are delegates from Abu Dhabi Ports, DP World, SOHAR Port, Port of Salalah, Port of Los Angeles, Aqaba Development Corporation, AECOM and more.

The representatives will gather Sept. 6 to 9 at the InterContinental in Doha. Topics will include port security, operations, expansion strategies and engineering innovations.