November 2025: Development Agreement Signed

December 2025: Contract Awarded for FEED and EPC

December 2031: Start-up and commissioning of LNG terminal

December 2033: Start-up and commissioning of LPG terminal

The project scope involves the development of the UAE’s first private-sector Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) terminal hubs that can accommodate large, long-haul gas carriers at Khalifa Port.

Under the agreements, AD Ports Group has committed to invest up to AED 1.3 billion ($354 million) to develop the required infrastructure (primarily dredging and development of jetties), while Nimex Terminals will invest up to AED 2.6 billion ($700 million) in advanced LNG and LPG storage tanks and other superstructure construction, including regasification facilities, pipelines with instrumentation controls, loading arms, flare structures, and firefighting systems.

The two facilities will be developed in phases over a 5-year period with the associated investments spread over the same timeframe.

The Phase I of the new LPG terminal hub will see the development of two full?containment refrigerated storage tanks of 50,000 and 67,000 cu m for propane and butane respectively, together with four mounded LPG bullet tanks with an aggregate capacity of 21,000 cu m for mixed LPG products.

A similar expansion is planned under Phase 2, bringing total terminal capacity to approximately 280,000 cu m.

The project also includes the construction of dedicated LPG jetties with a 16?m depth, enabling efficient berthing and handling of large?scale LPG carriers and supporting seamless maritime trade flows, said the statement.

Phase 1 is expected to be commissioned within 36 months from the commencement of construction.

The LNG terminal, spanning an area of 130,000 sq m, will feature cryogenic storage facilities with a total capacity of 400,000 cubic metres. The LPG facility, occupying 90,000 m², will ultimately offer a total capacity of 280,000 cubic metres. Both terminals will serve as hubs for import, export, and transshipment operations, primarily catering to the growing demand from Asian markets.