Ship chandlers & ship supply at Mina Khalifa/Abu Dhabi AEKHL

Khalifa Port sits at Taweelah, halfway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and began operations in September 2012. AD Ports Group gives it 18.5 m alongside, 10,795 m of quay across 36 berths, 33 ship-to-shore cranes, 7.8 million TEU of container capacity and 37 million freight tonnes of general-cargo capacity, next to the KEZAD economic zone.^[2,1]

—Abu Dhabi Terminals (ADT), in a 30-year partnership with MSC since May 2018: 2,095 m of quay, 6 berths at 18.5 m, 22 STS cranes, 5.3 million TEU.^[3]

—CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal, a joint venture with COSCO SHIPPING Ports inaugurated in 2018: 1,200 m of quay, 3 berths at 18.5 m, 11 STS cranes, 2.5 million TEU, built for 20,000+ TEU ships.^[4]

—CMA Terminals Khalifa Port, a joint venture with CMA CGM: 800 m of quay at 18.5 m and 1.8 million TEU at launch.^[5]

—Autoterminal Khalifa Port (with Autoterminal Barcelona) for ro-ro: 600 m of quay, 2 berths at 18.5 m, 320,000 m² and capacity for 15,000 vehicles. The South Quay offers 18.5 m draft on a 3 km wall; the Khalifa Port Logistics quay runs 8–16 m.^[6,1]

At opening the port described its approach as a channel 11.5 km long and 250 m wide at 16.5 m draft. Movements inside the port limits are governed by the Khalifa Port Pilotage Directions (Version 3.0), published by the Harbour Master.^[2,7]

—Pilotage is compulsory for every vessel of 40 m LOA or more, for vessels of 24 m or more carrying hazardous goods in bulk, for passenger vessels of 24 m or more carrying more than 12 passengers, and for tug-and-tow combinations of 80 m or more. Warships and UAE government vessels are exempt; masters unfamiliar with the port are strongly advised to take a pilot anyway.^[7]

—Two boarding grounds: Alpha, the outer deep-water ground centred on 24°57.00′N 054°33.40′E, usable by any ship including maximum-draught vessels, with channel entry between the KP1 and KP2 buoys; and Bravo, the inner ground centred on 24°54.00′N 054°38.20′E, for certain ships depending on type, draught, length, weather and tide. Khalifa Port VTS assigns the ground and may change it; boarding speed should not exceed 5 knots.^[7]

—The secondary channel corridor between buoys KP8 and KP10 (280 m wide) takes inbound ships up to 11.0 m draught and under 240 m LOA at any time, day or night; 11.0–12.0 m draught only in a tidal window with UKC and weather conditions. Outbound ships of any length up to 11.0 m draught may use it at any time.^[7]

—ETA notices: vessels needing a pilot notify Khalifa Port VTS 48, 24 and 12 hours ahead with ETA, maximum draft and destination, then update by VHF no later than 3 hours before reaching the boarding point. Departures and shifts need 12 and 3 hours’ notice, confirmed at least 1 hour before. A late or missing notice can mean waiting for a pilot.^[7]

—Pilotage Exemption Certificates are open to masters of vessels up to 200 m LOA working regularly in the port, after 8 inward and 8 outward qualifying trips within six months (at least 3 inward and 2 outward in darkness). Tankers and gas or dangerous-bulk carriers are excluded, but licensed bunker barges up to 120 m may apply, subject to Harbour Master approval.^[7]

—Anchorage: a permit from Abu Dhabi Maritime to anchor or moor in a designated anchorage area, applied for by the shipping agent or the master. Anchoring at an undesignated location needs a separate permit applied for at least 3 working days ahead.^[8]

—Digital filing: vessel management and marine-service requests run through ATLP, Abu Dhabi’s trade single window run by Maqta Gateway (AD Ports Group). Its port community system started with Khalifa Port’s seaside processes before extending to all of Abu Dhabi’s commercial ports.^[9]

—Bunkers: AD Ports Group says it offers VLSFO, MGO and HSFO across its commercial ports. Khalifa Port handled its first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering in April 2025, when the Green Zeebrugge (supplier Monjasa) fuelled the MSC Thais at Abu Dhabi Terminals during cargo work. In June 2026 AD Ports signed an MoU with IRH Global Trading to explore further bunkering and alternative-fuel services at the port. Companies supplying fuel from floating platforms need an annual Abu Dhabi Maritime permit.^[10,11,8]

—Provisions, stores, spares and fresh water are arranged commercially through your agent and licensed suppliers. Post a requirement and suppliers serving Khalifa Port answer with sealed bids; suppliers never see the vessel’s name until award. If you serve the Taweelah terminals, activate Khalifa Port.

—This page (AEKHL, directory position 24°50′N 054°40′E) covers Khalifa Port at Taweelah; its pilot boarding grounds lie just north-west of that position. Zayed Port, the city harbour, and the wider Abu Dhabi picture are on the Abu Dhabi guide.^[7]

—Not to be confused with Khalifa Bin Salman Port in Bahrain, which has its own port guide.