ISLAMABAD: AD Ports Group announced on Thursday that it had formed a strategic joint venture (JV) with a Pakistan-based freight-forwarder and logistics provider, as the UAE-based group eyes expanding its footprint in the South Asian country. 

AD Ports said in a press release that it has entered into a JV with CEI Supply Chain Private Limited, a premier logistics service provider in Pakistan. The venture will develop a robust and asset-light network delivering door-to-door solutions across the region. 

The agreement was signed by both parties in Pakistan’s commercial hub Karachi in the presence of UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Salem Mohammed Al Zaabi and UAE Consul General in Karachi Dr. Bakheet Ateeq Alremeithi on Thursday, AD Ports said. 

“Under terms of the agreement, AD Ports Group will acquire a 51 percent majority shareholding in the new entity, further solidifying its presence in Pakistan, a key South Asian market and gateway to the Group’s Central Asia corridor,” the press release said. 

AD Ports said its strategic partnership with CEI Supply Chain represents a “significant step” in the company’s plans to directly link its port infrastructure with inland logistics networks. 

It said the new venture will leverage CEI’s operational footprint in Pakistan, which includes key offices in major Pakistani urban centers of Karachi, Lahore, Sialkot and Islamabad. 

“By integrating these local capabilities with AD Ports Group’s global reach, the joint venture aims to capture a significant share of the market, particularly in high-growth verticals such as automotive, retail, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), and energy,” it added. 

AD Ports said its new partnership will provide the JV with access to clients across the country and a solid base for market penetration. 

The new venture will be consolidated into AD Ports Group starting in the first quarter of 2026, the UAE-based company said. 

Abdulaziz Zayed Al Shamsi, regional CEO of AD Ports Group, described Pakistan as a “vital trade gateway” for the region, adding that the agreement was “a natural evolution of our presence.”

“This joint venture with CEI allows us to bridge the gap between port and final consumer, driving efficiency for our customers, and supporting our vision of developing Pakistan as a regional hub for the Middle Corridor and Central Asian markets,” he said. 

AD PORTS’ PAKISTAN EXPANSION

The joint venture agreement caps a year of expansion for AD Ports in Pakistan, where the group has established itself as a major investor in the port of Karachi. In August 2025, the group inaugurated its first office in Islamabad to deepen government engagement and accelerate infrastructure initiatives.

AD Ports Group entered Pakistan in 2022 with a landmark 50-year concession to develop and operate container berths 6–10 at Karachi Port’s East Wharf in partnership with Kaheel Terminals. This was followed by a second 50-year agreement in 2023 to manage berths 11–17 for general and bulk cargo.

In July 2024, the group also signed an agreement to invest $250 million over the next decade in Pakistan with plans to develop a state-of-the-art port facility in the coastal city of Karachi.

AD Ports expansion coincides with Pakistan’s efforts to attract international investment, particularly from Gulf countries, with a focus on strategic sectors such as ports and shipping, aviation and logistics to drive sustainable economic growth.