By: The maritime standard

A new shipping service with a 9-day sailing frequency, connecting Jebel Ali Port in the UAE with Berbera Port in Somaliland has been launched with the support of DP World.

The Jebel Ali – Berbera service will strengthen trade links between the Gulf and East Africa, offering a faster maritime route into Somaliland. With scheduled stops at Aden and Djibouti, the service provides additional connectivity to key port cities, supporting greater access to markets across the Horn of Africa. From Berbera, cargo shipments can connect onwards to inland destinations such as Ethiopia, providing an alternative to traditional logistics chains that rely on Djibouti port and long-haul overland trucking. The new route also supports more predictable transit times and reduces exposure to regional bottlenecks.

Since DP World began operations in Berbera in 2017, the port has undergone a significant transformation. Vessel productivity has increased by 450%, with container volumes rising by 30% and general cargo throughput growing by 90%. Today, Berbera handles over 14 container vessels per month and has an annual container capacity of 500,000 TEU, with expansion plans to quadruple this capacity to 2 million TEU.