30 October 2026
Sharjah plans to raise the annual container capacity of Khor Fakkan Port on the UAE east coast from about 3.5 million to 5 million, with a longer-term target of 10 million. Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, chairman of the Sharjah Department of Government Relations, said in an interview with The National published on 30 October 2026 that investors interested in building logistics infrastructure in the emirate have been calling every week for the last six months. In parallel, Sharjah Airport is expected to reach annual passenger capacity of about 25 million in 2027, and an Etihad Rail passenger station near University City is scheduled to open on 30 March 2027.
What Sharjah announced for Khor Fakkan Port
Khor Fakkan Port sits on the Gulf of Oman, outside the Strait of Hormuz. According to The National, the port has drawn increased attention as an alternative route for goods entering the UAE during disruption linked to the US and Iran conflict. Sharjah now aims to more than double its container capacity in two steps:
- from about 3.5 million to 5 million containers a year in the current phase;
- to 10 million containers a year as the longer-term ambition.
Sheikh Fahim said the port already serves as a key artery for the country and that a future rail connection is expected to strengthen its role. He added that the Sharjah government is working to ensure that land, infrastructure and investment opportunities are available to support the growth of the logistics sector around the port.
The figures match the plan the port operator presented earlier in the year. In July 2026 Gulftainer, which runs the Khor Fakkan terminal, announced a USD 2 billion (about AED 7.3 billion) strategy and a phased increase of terminal capacity to 5 million, then 7 million and 10 million TEU over 36 months. Gulftainer also reported that weekly throughput grew from about 8,000 TEU before the disruption to about 65,000 TEU. We covered that announcement in detail in our earlier report on the Khorfakkan Port expansion to 10 million TEU.
Investor demand for logistics infrastructure
The most notable part of the interview concerns private capital. Sheikh Fahim told The National that his phone has been ringing every week for the last six months with investors interested in building logistics infrastructure to serve the country and the region. The inland part of that network is already taking shape: according to Gulftainer, the Al Dhaid and Sajaa logistics parks will together provide about 2.3 million TEU of annual inland logistics capacity.
Sharjah also has a geographic argument. It is the only emirate that borders all six other emirates, which Sheikh Fahim described as a large economic opportunity and a national responsibility to provide the infrastructure needed. For a cargo owner, this means that goods landed on the east coast can move west to Sharjah, Dubai and the northern emirates through Sharjah territory.
Rail: a station near University City in March 2027
The national rail network is part of Sharjah’s infrastructure plans. A passenger station near Sharjah University City is scheduled to open on 30 March 2027. About 45,000 students attend institutions in the area, and Sheikh Fahim said he hopes the train will become their main way to travel between emirates. The rail connection also reaches Al Dhaid, the location of one of the inland logistics parks.
For freight, a working example of rail from the east coast already exists in a neighbouring emirate: we described it in our report on the direct rail freight service from Fujairah to ICAD in Abu Dhabi.
Sharjah Airport: about 25 million passengers in 2027
Sharjah Airport is another major infrastructure project. Its annual passenger capacity is expected to reach about 25 million in 2027. Sheikh Fahim said the expansion is not only about a larger terminal: longer-range aircraft allow Air Arabia to serve destinations previously beyond its network. He highlighted the airline’s Airbus A321 long-range aircraft, its flights to London Gatwick launched earlier this year and its service to Bergamo in Italy.
Growth beyond Sharjah city
Sheikh Fahim also chairs Sharjah’s Supreme Committee for Economic Integration. He said development is being directed beyond Sharjah city to Al Dhaid, Al Madam, Dibba Al Hisn, Khor Fakkan and Kalba, including food processing centres on the east coast and tourism projects. The emirate’s population has grown from 1.4 million to 2.1 million since 2014. He also pointed to the emirate’s three-year rent freeze programme and to residential communities such as Aljada, Masaar and Al Mamsha.
What this means for trading and logistics companies
The interview does not change any customs rule, tariff or licensing procedure. It is a statement of capacity plans and investor interest. For a company that imports, exports or re-exports goods through the UAE, it is a reason to review the supply chain:
- which port your goods enter through today, and whether an east coast route through Khor Fakkan or Fujairah reduces risk for your cargo;
- where your company is licensed: mainland or a free zone, and whether the licence covers the trading activities and the emirates where you hold stock;
- whether you have an importer or exporter code with customs and a warehouse arrangement close to the port of entry;
- how inland transport from the east coast to your customers in Dubai, Sharjah or Abu Dhabi will be organised, by road now and by rail later;
- whether your bank account and trade documents (invoices, certificates of origin, letters of credit) are ready for a change of port.
The choice between a mainland licence and a free zone licence matters most for trading companies, because it determines where you can sell, how goods move through customs and which authority licenses your activity. Our guide to mainland vs free zone companies in the UAE compares both options.
How Atlant Capital can help
We support trading and logistics businesses with the corporate side of operating in the UAE. We register mainland and free zone companies with the right trading activities through our company setup service, prepare the documents for corporate accounts with bank account opening support, and arrange visas for founders and staff. We do not act as a freight forwarder or customs broker and do not advise on specific shipping routes.
Conclusion
Sharjah plans to take Khor Fakkan Port from about 3.5 million to 5 million containers a year and later to 10 million. Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi says investors in logistics infrastructure have been calling every week for six months. Sharjah’s plans also include Sharjah Airport at about 25 million passengers in 2027 and an Etihad Rail station near University City opening on 30 March 2027.
Source: The National, The National, Gulftainer announcement of 7 July 2026.
FAQ
What is the planned capacity of Khor Fakkan Port?
Sharjah plans to raise the annual container capacity of Khor Fakkan Port from about 3.5 million to 5 million, with a longer-term target of 10 million. The terminal operator Gulftainer announced in July 2026 a USD 2 billion (about AED 7.3 billion) strategy to reach 10 million TEU over 36 months.
Why is Khor Fakkan Port important for UAE trade?
Khor Fakkan Port lies on the Gulf of Oman, outside the Strait of Hormuz. During the recent regional disruption it became an alternative route for goods entering the UAE, and Gulftainer reported weekly throughput rising from about 8,000 TEU to about 65,000 TEU.
When will the Etihad Rail station in Sharjah University City open?
The Etihad Rail passenger station near Sharjah University City is scheduled to open on 30 March 2027. About 45,000 students attend institutions in the area, according to Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi.
What is the passenger capacity of Sharjah Airport after expansion?
Sharjah Airport’s annual passenger capacity is expected to reach about 25 million in 2027. Air Arabia uses Airbus A321 long-range aircraft and launched flights to London Gatwick in 2026.
