Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has signed an agreement with ports operator Gulftainer to expand aluminium exports routed through the UAE's East Coast, the companies confirmed this week. Under the deal, EGA will ship up to 250,000 tonnes of aluminium through the route in the first year, rising to 300,000 tonnes in year two, with further increases planned in subsequent years.
The agreement fits into a wider UAE push to diversify export routes away from the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that has faced heightened uncertainty amid regional tensions and reports of attacks on commercial shipping. Aluminium is the UAE's largest made-in-the-country export after oil and gas, making the reliability of its outbound logistics a strategic priority for Abu Dhabi-based EGA, one of the world's biggest aluminium producers outside China.
As part of the arrangement, Gulftainer said it would nearly triple handling capacity at its Khor Fakkan terminal, lifting it from 3.5 million TEUs to 10 million TEUs, backed by a $2 billion investment programme. The expansion is expected to turn Khor Fakkan into one of the busiest logistics hubs on the UAE's eastern seaboard, offering shippers an alternative to routes that pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Industry analysts say the move reflects a broader trend among Gulf exporters to build redundancy into their supply chains rather than relying on a single maritime corridor. For EGA, the East Coast route offers a shorter, more predictable path to international markets, reducing exposure to disruptions elsewhere in the region. Once fully operational, the expanded route is expected to meaningfully lift the volume of UAE aluminium reaching global buyers over the next two years, reinforcing the country's position as a leading aluminium exporter.