AD Ports Group secures 20-year agreement to operate and upgrade Angolan capital’s multipurpose port terminal

AD Ports Group has signed a deal with Unicargas and Multiparques to secure a 20-year concession agreement with Angola’s Luanda Port Authority. Announced on Tuesday and extendable for another 10 years, the arrangement covers the operation and upgrade of the existing multipurpose port terminal in the Central African nation’s capital.

The agreements with Unicargas and Multiparques - well established logistics and transport companies in Angola - sees AD Ports Group acquire an 81% stake in a joint venture that will operate the terminal, plus a 90% stake in another JV that will serve the facility and broader Angolan logistics market.

Investing in improvements

The move extends AD Ports Group’s presence along the important Asia to Southern and West Africa trade lane. The UAE company is also committing $251 million towards modernisation of the terminal and development of the logistics business over the next three years. Investment will potentially rise to $379 million over the concession term, in line with market demand.

The Port of Luanda serves as Angola’s dominant maritime gateway along the corridor and plays an important role in its domestic economy, handling more than 76% of container and general cargo volumes. It is well situated to capture anticipated growth in Angolan container volumes, projected to rise at an average annual rate of 3.3% during the next decade.

A strategic agreement

The port also serves as one of the main trans-shipment hubs for Central-West Africa by enabling maritime trade access to land-locked countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.

Ricardo Daniel Sandão Queirós Viegas de Abreu, Angola’s Minister of Transport, branded Luanda’s port “a critical hub for regional trade and economic vitality”.

He said: “Through our strategic partnership with AD Ports Group, part of a broader effort involving multiple first-class stakeholders, we will transform the port into a modern, multi-faceted facility that will significantly enhance our logistic capacities, and stimulate economic growth across Central-West Africa.” de Abreu said the collaboration marked a significant milestone in a mission to “modernise infrastructure and expand global trade access”.

Helping Angola to further prosper

Capt. Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, AD Ports Group Managing Director and Group CEO, said the multipurpose terminal would be modernised to “attract business from leading global shipping lines and offer the highest levels of service efficiency and quality”.

The redevelopment is expected to be completed in Q3 2026, ultimately boosting container handling volumes from 25,000 TEUs to 350,000 TEUs, and Ro-Ro volumes to more than 40,000 vehicles.

AD Ports Group is also exploring opportunities to support Angola’s offshore industry and other maritime sectors through its Maritime & Shipping Cluster, and deploy assets such as work accommodation vessels, passenger ferries, platform supply vessels, and other maritime craft and infrastructure.