Dubai, July 25th,2007 (WAM) -- DP World-UAE has announced the completion of construction work in the first phase of stage 1 of itsMega Max container terminal in Jebel Ali Port and the start of work onthe rest of the project.

The new terminal has a quay of 1,200 meters long, with a handlingcapacity of 2.5 million TEU?s. The work also involved deepening of thechannel up to 17 meters, enabling Jebel Ali Port to receive mega-sizenew generation vessels The ships will start to call at the new terminal from the first weekof August.

The terminal is part of DP World?s ambitious plan to develop a megacontainer terminal that will eventually have a 40-kilometer quay and aport area spread over 2,300 hectares. The development of this super project will be carried out in 15 stages between now and 2030.

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai World and DP World, who visited the new terminal today, said:?Jebel Ali Port is pivotalto the operations of DP World and our long-term expansion plans reflectthis adequately. We also consider it as a very important base for groomingour future management talent.

?It is with this strategic goal in mind that we are pleased to announceour decision to establish a Marine Academy under the supervision of specialistsin all fields of the industry, so as to keep pace with the giant expansionswe are undertaking in different parts of the world.

?We are determined to close the gap between supply and demand in our humanassets requirement. The management graduates of this Academy will be crucialto our operations in DP World?s 42 terminals spread across 22 countries.?Stage 1 (which consists of phases A and B) of the Mega Max terminal coversan area of 180 hectares (110 hectares for phase A and 70 for phase B),while the total quay length will be 2,600 meters (1,200 meters under partA and 1,400 meters under part B).

The terminal?s total handling capacity will be 5.5 million TEU?s per yearwhen fully completed.

Mohammed Al Muallem, the Managing Director, DP World-UAE, said:?The new Mega Max container terminal provides Jebel Ali Port with thestrength required to take on fierce regional and global competition, andremain the hub and the port of choice in the region. The Port?s long-termexpansion project, which will be executed in 15 stages, will enable usto accommodate the biggest of new generation mega container ships capableof carrying up to 13,000 TEU?s and which other ports in the region maynot be able to service.?DP World-UAE has embarked on its expansion project in anticipation ofthe introduction of ultra-large container vessels by the main shippinglines in the coming years. The overall development of the port will bepaced out according to market requirements dictated by the industry.

Mr Al Muallem said:?The new terminal, which will receive ships in thefirst week of August, will keep us ahead of our competitors. Investingin ports is a long term decision, and that is why we have adopted a proactivestrategy, aimed at keeping pace with developments in the global sea shippingindustry.?The new terminal is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and machinery,including a mega crane capable of lifting two 40-foot containers or four20-foot containers in one move from ship to quay or quay to ship. In addition,it has modern yard gantry cranes on rails.

The advanced Navis Sparks 3.6 operational system will be used in the terminal,which will be equipped with an automated gate access system developedby an American-based company, in addition to introducing the most sophisticatedsecurity system in the world, to enhance the security capabilities withinthe port facilities.