Kuwait has just taken a major step in its maritime strategy with the validation of an agreement estimated at $4.1 billion to finalize the construction of the Mubarak Al-Kabeer port. The project, entrusted to China Communications Construction Company, aims to accelerate the country’s rise as a regional logistics hub and strengthen its role in global supply chains.
Beyond pure infrastructure, the project is part of a geo-economic repositioning strategy: improving port capacity, increasing efficiency, and attracting value-added activities around the port (maritime services, warehouses, processing, integrated logistics). According to the published information, Phase 1 includes the construction of a 1,200-meter container terminal, with an announced annual capacity of 2.7 million TEU.
The next steps must expand the port’s footprint: 14 additional berths are planned for phases 2 and 3, with a total capacity mentioned beyond 8 million TEU. In a context of reconfiguration of trade corridors, the bet is clear: transform Mubarak Al-Kabeer into a strategic hub capable of capturing more volumes and streamlining regional distribution.
For freight forwarders and multimodal operators, this type of investment is a strong signal: more capacity, more routing options, and increased competition among Gulf hubs to attract shipping lines, feeder services, and consolidation platforms.
