DP World has introduced a new 36-hour maritime service connecting Dubai’s Mina Rashid with Iraq’s Umm Qasr Port, offering a faster alternative to overland trucking and capable of carrying up to 145 accompanied trailers per voyage.
The service was inaugurated at Mina Rashid with the official launch of DP World Express, the dedicated RoRo vessel assigned to the route. The vessel recently underwent upgrades at Drydocks World and is scheduled to begin operations in December 2025.
The ceremony brought together senior UAE and Iraqi officials including Dr. Muzaffar Mustafa Al-Jubouri, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq; Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman & CEO, DP World; Dr. Abdulla Busenad, Director General of Dubai Customs; Brigadier Nabil Mohammed Algergawi, Assistant Director General – Sea & Land Ports Affairs, GDRFA; Dr. Emad Ali Al-Azzawi, Acting Consul General of the Republic of Iraq; Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO & Managing Director, DP World GCC; and Shahab Al Jassmi, Chief Commercial Officer – Ports & Terminals, DP World GCC.
The vessel is designed to transport non-containerised, full trailer units with drivers on board, offering a direct, secure, door-to-door solution between the UAE and Iraq. It also supports onward transit to neighbouring countries, improving reliability and reducing cross-border complexities.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World, said, “Our new Dubai-Iraq service will establish a faster and more efficient maritime bridge between Iraq and the UAE to help trade flow across the Middle East. This service gives customers a predictable route that reduces time, cost and complexity and supports long-term economic opportunity on both sides of the corridor.”
The launch responds to growing market demand for quicker and more controlled trailer movements, reducing handling requirements and simplifying planning for key trading sectors.
The corridor strengthens access to Iraq’s main commercial centres and enhances connectivity into Jordan and Syria via established inland routes, boosting regional trade. On the return journey, DP World Express will transport export cargo from Iraq to the UAE, supporting two-way trade and improving efficiency across the region’s supply chains.
Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO & Managing Director, DP World GCC, added, “The shift to accompanied trailers reflects clear customer demand for faster, more reliable cross-border movement. By offering a direct maritime solution from Mina Rashid, we are enabling businesses to plan with confidence, respond quickly to market needs and streamline how goods move across the region.”
The service further strengthens DP World’s integrated logistics capabilities, expands direct maritime connectivity for non-containerised cargo, and offers sustainability benefits by lowering CO2 emissions compared to alternative transport options.
(Inputs from WAM)
