DP World has launched a new 36-hour maritime service, linking Dubai’s Mina Rashid and Iraq’s Umm Qasr Port, providing a faster alternative to overland trucking and accommodating up to 145 accompanied trailers per sailing.
The Dubai-Iraq sea link was inaugurated at Mina Rashid with the official welcome of DP World Express, the dedicated RoRo vessel operating the new route. The vessel has recently undergone upgrades at Drydocks World and is scheduled to begin operations in December 2025.
The vessel will transport non-containerized, full trailer units with drivers travelling on board, providing customers a direct and secure door-to-door solution between the UAE and Iraq. It will also facilitate onward transit to neighboring countries, improve reliability and reduce cross-border complexities.
The launching ceremony was attended by senior UAE and Iraqi officials, including Dr Muzaffar Mustafa Al-Jubouri, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, Dr Abdulla Busenad, Director General of Dubai Customs, Brigadier Nabil Mohammed Algergawi, Assistant Director General for Sea and Land Ports Affairs at GDRFA, Dr Emad Ali Al-Azzawi, Acting Consul General of the Republic of Iraq, Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World GCC, and Shahab Al Jassmi, Chief Commercial Officer for Ports and Terminals at DP World GCC.
The new service meets rising demand for faster, more controlled trailer movements, cutting handling needs and simplifying planning for key trading sectors. It enhances access to Iraq’s main commercial centers and extends connectivity into Jordan and Syria via established inland routes, boosting regional trade.
On the return leg, DP World Express will carry export cargo back to the UAE, supporting two-way trade and improving supply chain efficiency across the region.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem Group Chairman & CEO – DP World
“Our new Dubai-Iraq service will establish a faster and more efficient maritime bridge between Iraq and the UAE to help trade flow across the Middle East. This service gives customers a predictable route that reduces time, cost and complexity and supports long-term economic opportunity on both sides of the corridor.”
Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director, DP World GCC, said that, “The shift to accompanied trailers reflects clear customer demand for faster, more reliable cross-border movement. By offering a direct maritime solution from Mina Rashid, we are enabling businesses to plan with confidence, respond quickly to market needs and streamline how goods move across the region.”
The new service strengthens DP World’s integrated logistics network and increases direct maritime connectivity for non-containerized cargo. It also offers sustainability gains by cutting CO₂ emissions compared with other transport and logistics methods.
