AD Ports Group has finalized a deal to acquire a majority stake in the Tbilisi Dry Port in Georgia. The agreement with Inveco, in partnership with Wilhelmsen, will result in the Abu Dhabi-based ports and logistics company owning 60% of the logistics hub located in the capital city of Georgia, expected to start operations later this year.
Situated along the Middle Corridor, a key route connecting manufacturing centers in Western Asia to consumer markets in Eastern Europe, Tbilisi Dry Port offers direct railway links to Turkey, as well as the Georgian ports of Poti and Batumi, which further connect to European Black Sea ports in Bulgaria and Romania. Additionally, it connects to ports along the Caspian Sea via a railway corridor to Azerbaijan.
Noatum Logistics, a part of the AD Ports Group, will oversee the operations and management of the facilities, including a container freight station, warehouses, and a car storage park. The project will be completed in three phases, with an expected handling capacity of 96,500 teu, 10,000 sq m of warehouse space, and a car storage yard in the initial phase. The final phase aims to have a handling capacity of 286,000 teu, 100,000 sqm of warehouse space, and an expanded car storage yard. AD Ports has also secured an additional 88,000 sqm of land for potential future growth.
The Middle Corridor, with the potential to handle 1.9m teu by 2040, is considered the shortest trade route between Asia and Europe, covering around 7,000 km and taking 10 to 15 days for transportation. In comparison, the Northern Corridor covers about 10,000 km and takes 15 to 20 days, while the Southern Ocean Route spans approximately 20,000 km and requires a sea voyage of 45 to 60 days.
“By investing in and operating new strategic infrastructure and logistics hubs along the Caspian Sea – Black Sea Corridor, AD Ports Group is aligning with our strategy to enhance global supply chains,” said managing director and CEO of AD Ports Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi. He added that Georgia’s location at the center of the Caucasus and along the Black Sea makes it a crucial link to the company’s assets in Central Asia and Turkey, enabling them to provide efficient cargo flows and capture future trade volumes.
Last October, the UAE and Georgia signed an agreement to boost bilateral non-oil trade to $1.5bn in five years. “AD Ports Group’s investment in the Tbilisi Dry Port supports this goal, strengthening trade and investment ties, developing global trade routes, and creating opportunities for businesses in the UAE and Georgia,” stated Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh, UAE minister of state.
