A joint venture headed up by Dubai’s AD Ports Group this week started operating the new Noatum Unicargas Logistics multipurpose cargo terminal and logistics business at Angola’s Port of Luanda.

AD Ports has an 81% stake in the terminal with JV partners Unicargas and Multiparques and a 90% stake in the logistics venture with Unicargas. It has also committed to investing USD250 million through to 2026 modernising the terminal as part of a 20-year concession agreement with the Luanda Port Authority signed in April 2024. 

The Port of Luanda handles some 76% of Angola’s container and general cargo volumes and provides maritime access for landlocked neighbours the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia. 

AD Ports says Noatum Unicargas Logistics is making a significant investment in new trucks and systems and will be fully integrated with the Noatum Logistics global network to strengthen Angola’s access to international markets and drive investment-led growth in the Angolan economy.
 
Mohamed Eidha Al Menhali, regional CEO of AD Ports Group, says the investment in the new terminal and logistics business places it in a strong position to capitalise on the growth in Angola’s container volumes which are predicted to increase 3.3% annually for the next decade.

Angolan Transport Minister, Ricardo Daniel Sandão Queirós Viegas de Abreu, says Luanda Port is the main maritime gateway to Angola and is a “critical hub for regional trade”.

“Our strategic partnership with AD Ports Group, part of a broader effort involving multiple stakeholders, will transform the Port of Luanda into an efficient, high-performance multipurpose facility that transforms our logistical capabilities and drives economic growth across central west Africa,” he adds. 

“This collaboration is a significant milestone in our mission to modernise infrastructure and expand access to global trade, while delivering a prosperous future to Angola and its partners.”