DP World unveils 36-hour maritime link to Iraq

DP World launched a 36-hour maritime service connecting Dubai’s Mina Rashid with Iraq’s Umm Qasr Port, offering a faster alternative to overland trucking and accommodating up to 145 accompanied trailers per sailing.

DP World unveils 36-hour maritime link to Iraq

The service was inaugurated at Mina Rashid with DP World Express, the dedicated RoRo vessel operating the route.

The vessel, recently upgraded at Drydocks World, began operations in December 2025.

The vessel carries non-containerised, full trailer units with drivers on board, providing customers a direct and secure door-to-door solution between the UAE and Iraq.

It also facilitates onward transit to neighbouring countries, improves reliability, and reduces cross-border complexities.

H.E. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem said: “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.”

The introduction of the service reflects strong market demand for faster, more controlled trailer movements, reducing handling requirements and simplifying planning across key trading sectors.

The corridor strengthens access into Iraq’s main commercial centres and supports wider connectivity into Jordan and Syria through established inland routes.

On the return journey, DP World Express will carry export cargo from Iraq back to the UAE, supporting two-way trade and increasing efficiency across the region’s supply chains.

Abdulla Bin Damithan stated: “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 service enhances DP World’s integrated logistics capabilities, expands direct maritime connectivity for non-containerised cargo, and delivers sustainability benefits by reducing CO2 emissions compared with alternative transport options.

Recently, DP World consolidated its Marine Services brands — Unifeeder, P&O Ferrymasters and P&O Maritime Logistics — into a single DP World identity, sharpening its position as an end-to-end global logistics provider.