Abu dhabi: AD Ports Group has announced the awarding of a contract to Baku Shipyard in Azerbaijan for the construction of two 780 TEUs container vessels dedicated to serving trade routes across the Caspian Sea. The contract was executed with the public legal entity ‘Azerbaijan Transport and Communication Holding’ (AZCON), representing ‘Baku Shipyard’.
According to Emirates News Agency, these shallow-draft vessels are designed for operations within the Caspian Sea and aim to enhance maritime connectivity, increase trade volumes, and strengthen the trans-Caspian logistics corridor. The new vessels are intended to meet the rising demand for containerized cargo capacity in the region, offering efficient, reliable, and sustainable transport solutions.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, stated, “This step aligns with the vision and directives of our wise leadership in the United Arab Emirates, reaffirming AD Ports Group’s commitment to supporting the growing trade needs of the Caspian region. Partnering with Baku Shipyard ensures that these new vessels will meet the highest international standards of quality and efficiency, enabling us to deliver greater capacity, improved service reliability, and contribute to the long-term growth of supply chains.”
The vessels are expected to be delivered by Q4 2027 and will be deployed on strategic routes to enhance connectivity between key trading hubs within the Caspian Sea. This initiative is part of AD Ports Group’s broader efforts and recent ventures in Central Asia to improve the efficient transportation of energy resources to global markets while fostering regional economic growth.
AD Ports Group’s strategic priorities include the development of the Tbilisi Intermodal Hub in Georgia, inaugurated in June 2025, which forms a critical logistics link in the Group’s Central Asian transport strategy. This hub connects the Caspian and Black seas, enhancing the Middle Corridor, the shortest trade route between Asia and Europe.
In July 2025, a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed between the UAE and Azerbaijan, marking a significant step in strengthening UAE’s economic presence in the Caucasus region and fostering partnerships with southern Caspian countries. The UAE, one of the largest foreign investors in Azerbaijan, has invested over $1 billion, underlining the robust economic ties between the two nations.
Azerbaijan’s strategic location and economic growth, including a 4.1% rise in 2024, with a notable 6.3% increase in its non-oil sector, present further opportunities for collaboration with the UAE. Bilateral non-oil trade between the countries surged by 43% to USD 2.24 billion in 2024, reflecting the strengthening economic relationship and advancing mutual trade and investment cooperation.