Hamad Port - New Port Project

The New Port will be a center for Qatar's Maritime security. A new base for the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces will be built offshore of the New Port, providing berthing for Qatar's Navy and visiting naval vessels from around the world. The Base will offer technical support, comprehensive logistic facilities, material support accommodation and recreational services.

The Port Basin and Access Channel were flooded in March 2015 by China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd and Middle East Dredging Company (Q.S.C.). Middle East Dredging Company (Q.S.C.) also completed the dredging operations in August 2015. With the completion of the marine access to Hamad Port, Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries, the world’s largest STS cranes manufacturer, were able to commence the delivery of the 12 Ship to Shore Cranes and 38 Yard Cranes for the port’s container terminal. The first shipment of cranes arrived at Hamad Port on 19 July 2015 and the second shipment of cranes on 13 August 2015. The final shipment of 12 RTG cranes arrived on 4 October 2015.

On 19 June 2007 His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, issued Emiri Decree No. 37, setting forth the creation of one of the world's largest greenfield port developments. Strategically located south of Doha, the QAR 27 Billion (USD 7.4 Billion) megaproject, which includes a new port, a new base for the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces and the Qatar Economic Zone 3, will span a 26.5 square kilometer area.

In the coming years Qatar will see significant growth in the importation of raw materials and goods, underscoring the need for a new advanced commercial port facility. The New Port, strategically located outside the capital city of Doha, will be a world-class facility, a leader in state-of-the-art technologies and a vital component of Qatar's economic infrastructure.

As Qatar heads toward hosting the World Cup in 2022, the New Port Project continues its path toward operational readiness by 2016; reflecting the country's ambitious expansion plans envisaged in the Qatar National Vision 2030. In turn, master planning for the New Port is closely aligned with the Qatar National Vision 2030 pillars of environmental, economic, human and social development.

Balancing development with protection of the environment is a key concern for the New Port and construction is taking place with environmental preservation paramount; multiple simulation studies, physical modeling, geotechnical and metoceanic analysis and in-depth environmental studies have been undertaken in order to facilitate a responsible implementation of the project.

As a major gateway to Qatar, and a significant investment in the country's future, the New Port will serve the expanding trade needs of Qatar, supporting key objectives set forward in the Qatar National Vision 2030 and acting as a catalyst for export industry development. Developed in multiple phases, the New Port will comprise three container terminals with an eventual combined annual capacity in excess of six million containers.

The New Port Project (NPP) Steering Committee and AlJaber Engineering (JEC) signed a contract for designing and constructing food security facilities and warehouses at Hamad Port at a cost of QAR 1.6billion. HE Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti, Minister of Transport and Communications and Chairman of the NPP Steering Committee witnessed the signing ceremony, held at the Ministry headquarters today. The facilities of the project will be developed and constructed on an area of approximately 53 hectares (about 530,000 square meters). The project consists of specialized facilities for the processing, manufacturing and refining of rice, raw sugar and edible oils. These products will be available for local, regional and global use.

The New Port Project celebrated the flooding of the Port Basin at a ceremony 26 February 2015 on site where Deputy Emir HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani unveiled the name of the New Port as ‘Hamad Port’. Dignitaries in attendance at the ceremony included the Prime Minister and Interior Minister HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Minister of Transport and Chairman of the NPP Steering Committee, HE Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, and a number of other Ministers and Ambassadors.

01 December 2016 marked the start of full operations at Hamad Port. An opening reception was attended by the Prime Minister and Interior Minister HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Minister of Transport and Communications HE Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, Cabinet Ministers, NPP Steering Committee members and NPP Management, to witness the arrival of the Container Vessel MSC Esthi.