AD Ports Group has signed a Joint Venture and Shareholders Agreement with France-based CMA CGM Group to acquire a 20% stake in the Latakia International Container Terminal (LICT) for AED 81 million (USD 22 million). The agreement strengthens their long-standing partnership and marks a significant step in expanding AD Ports Group’s footprint in the Eastern Mediterranean.
LICT, Syria’s primary maritime gateway, handles more than 95% of the country’s container volumes, particularly agricultural and industrial goods. The signing took place in Abu Dhabi in the presence of Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, and Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of CMA CGM Group.
Captain Al Shamisi said: “This strategic agreement reflects growing international collaboration and reinforces AD Ports Group’s role as a global enabler of trade and logistics. Through strong alliances like this, we continue to expand our international operations and connectivity.”
The partnership aims to modernise terminal infrastructure, digital systems, and operations, restoring Latakia’s role as a key trade hub for Syria and the wider Eastern Mediterranean. CMA Terminals, which has operated LICT since 2009, plans to increase its capacity from 250,000 to 625,000 TEUs by 2026 under a renewed 30-year concession.
The new venture builds on successful collaborations, including the joint operation of CMA Terminals Khalifa Port and future projects in the Republic of the Congo, further strengthening regional and global trade links.
