Abu Dhabi–based AD Ports Group has signed an agreement to integrate the 30-year concession held by Africa Ports Development (APD) at the Port of Douala. The deal covers the design, construction and operation of a new dry bulk terminal, the group said. AD Ports operates across trade, ports, logistics, economic zones and maritime services.
Under the agreement, AD Ports will develop Phase 1 of the terminal. This stage includes two berths spanning about 450 meters of quay, with an annual handling capacity of around 4 million tons of dry bulk, including clinker, gypsum, fertilizers and grain. The investment for this phase is estimated at €73.4 million, or CFA48.1 billion.
The Emirati group will hold 51% of the project’s capital, alongside two other UAE investors, bringing total Emirati participation to 60%. Africa Ports Development will retain a 40% stake.
APD previously signed a 30-year concession agreement with the Port Authority of Douala for the construction of a new bulk terminal featuring 900 linear meters of quay on a 36-hectare reclaimed site along the right bank of the Wouri River.
The broader concession, presented as part of the modernization drive at Douala’s port, carries a total investment cost of CFA282 billion. It is structured as a public-private partnership under a 25-year Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model.
Construction of the dry bulk terminal by AD Ports is scheduled between 2026 and 2028 and could generate up to 4,000 direct and indirect jobs. The group is already active in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Kenya, Tanzania, Angola and the Republic of Congo.
Ludovic Amara
