DUBAI: DP World has set a new automotive record in 2024, handling 1.3 million vehicles across its terminals—a massive 53.6% surge from the previous year. This achievement marks the highest vehicle volume in the company’s history.
Jebel Ali Port, DP World’s flagship facility, handled nearly 960,000 units, reinforcing its status as the region’s top automotive hub. The remaining volume was managed at Mina Al Hamriya and Mina Rashid.
China emerged as the leading trade partner, contributing nearly 25% of vehicle imports, followed by Japan, Korea, and India. This surge reflects the global shift towards electric vehicles (EVs), with EV sales projected to overtake internal combustion engine vehicles by 2036. Given that China produces over half of the world’s EVs, supply chains are rapidly evolving to support sustainable mobility.
Abdulla bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World GCC, highlighted Dubai’s growing role in the global automotive sector. “Dubai’s emergence as an automotive hub unlocks vast opportunities for Asia and Europe, benefiting our local economy. The industry drives job creation, foreign investment, and business growth,” he said.
DP World is expanding infrastructure to sustain this momentum. Jebel Ali Port, with a capacity of one million car equivalent units, and Jafza’s 930 automotive-related businesses play a vital role in global supply chains. Additionally, the world’s largest car market, spanning 20 million square feet, is under development, alongside the expansion of Mina Al Hamriya.
These efforts align with projections of passenger vehicle sales rising from 94.7 million in 2024 to 109 million by 2030, reinforcing Dubai’s D33 Economic Agenda to double the economy’s size.
