Abu Dhabi Ports acquires Germany’s MBS Logistics in AED 300m deal, expands global terminal projects
Abu Dhabi Ports buys Germany’s MBS Logistics for AED 300m and awards AED 735m in contracts for Pointe Noire terminal, boosting its global logistics footprint.
Abu Dhabi Ports announced the acquisition of Germany-based MBS Logistics for an enterprise value of AED 300 million, marking a major expansion of the group’s international logistics capabilities. The deal gives Abu Dhabi Ports full ownership of MBS Logistics’ core operations while excluding existing joint-venture projects. The transaction and parallel contract awards underpin the group’s strategy to capture larger cargo volumes and deepen its end-to-end logistics offering.
Acquisition terms and scope
The purchase secures 100 percent ownership of MBS Logistics’ principal business activities, with joint ventures carved out of the transaction. Abu Dhabi Ports reported the AED 300 million figure as the enterprise value for the deal, signalling a full integration of MBS’s core assets into the group’s logistics portfolio. The acquisition is positioned to enhance the group’s ability to provide integrated supply-chain services across Europe and beyond.
Operational profile of MBS Logistics
MBS Logistics is headquartered in Germany and specialises in comprehensive logistics services for international trade, including freight forwarding, warehousing and value-added supply-chain solutions. The business adds European operational reach and technical know-how to Abu Dhabi Ports’ existing logistics arm, enabling closer ties with shippers and manufacturers across key corridors. Retaining established local teams and facilities is expected to smooth the integration and sustain service continuity for MBS clients.
Executive perspective and strategic rationale
Abu Dhabi Ports’ logistics chief, Jochen Theus, described the acquisition as a timely strategic move that strengthens connectivity and resilience amid shifting global trade patterns. Company leaders said integrating MBS Logistics will allow Abu Dhabi Ports to manage larger cargo flows and offer combined port-to-door solutions. The group emphasised the transaction aligns with its long-term plan to expand logistics capabilities beyond traditional terminal operations and capture higher-value services along the supply chain.
Contracts awarded for Pointe Noire container terminal
In a separate development, Abu Dhabi Ports awarded three principal contracts valued at approximately AED 735 million (around USD 200 million) to support the construction and equipping of a new container terminal at Pointe Noire in the Republic of Congo. The contracts cover design and construction of the terminal infrastructure and the supply of container cranes, forming part of a broader concession agreement for terminal operations. The works are being developed by a joint venture in which Abu Dhabi Ports holds the majority stake alongside CMA CGM through its subsidiary CMA Terminals.
Concession terms and project ambitions
The Pointe Noire terminal development is governed by a 30‑year concession, with an option to extend for an additional 20 years, giving Abu Dhabi Ports and its partners a long horizon to recoup investment and scale operations. Muhammad Aida al-Menhali, the group’s regional CEO, said the contracts represent a significant step toward delivering a future-ready facility at Pointe Noire. The terminal is expected to increase handling capacity for the region and create stronger maritime links between Central Africa and international shipping networks.
Financial and operational implications
Collectively, the MBS Logistics purchase and the Pointe Noire contracts signal a dual pathway for Abu Dhabi Ports: build logistical depth through acquisitions while expanding terminal infrastructure through targeted capital projects. The AED 300 million acquisition is complementary to the AED 735 million capital spend for Pointe Noire, reflecting a balanced approach between asset acquisition and greenfield development. Economies of scale from combined logistics and port services could improve margins and increase the group’s competitiveness in integrated logistics markets.
Regional trade impact and strategic positioning
For the UAE and Abu Dhabi’s maritime sector, the moves reinforce the emirate’s role as a global logistics hub and investor in strategic port assets overseas. By adding a European logistics platform and advancing a high-capacity African terminal, Abu Dhabi Ports is diversifying geographic risk and creating new trade gateways for regional exporters and importers. Observers say the combined strategy could attract additional shipping lines and logistics partners seeking integrated port-and-logistics solutions.
The integration of MBS Logistics into Abu Dhabi Ports and the commencement of Pointe Noire works together mark a new phase in the group’s international expansion, positioning it to capture higher-value segments of global trade while strengthening service continuity across its growing network.