Kuwait plans to approve budget for Mubarak Port Phase II
Kuwait plans to approve the budget for the second phase of the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project before the end of this year.
• The project is estimated to cost 990 million dinars ($3.2 billion) and will be built on an area of approximately 1,161 hectares.
• The project is expected to create thousands of jobs for Kuwaiti youth and contribute to the development of the northern part of the country.
Kuwait plans to approve the budget for the second phase of the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project before the end of this year. The project is estimated to cost 990 million dinars ($3.2 billion) and will be built on an area of approximately 1,161 hectares.
It is expected to create thousands of jobs for Kuwaiti youth and contribute to the development of the northern part of the country.
The first phase of the project, completed in 2014, cost $1.2 billion. It included site leveling, marina development, quay walls and pavements, a navigation station, and port buildings.
However, the port is currently out of operation because the first phase did not include vital equipment, such as cranes. The second phase will address this by installing the necessary equipment to begin operations.
Scope of the second phase
The full scope of the second phase of the project is expected to include:
- Construction of loading and unloading facilities
- Construction of quay walls and reclamation
- Construction of a container yard and back-of-port area
- Infrastructure works
- Construction of buildings
- Construction of a container terminal and associated facilities
- Installation of safety and security systems
Giant projects
A third phase of the project is also planned, which will eventually lead to the expansion of the port. The Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project is one of the largest and most important development projects in Kuwait.
The port has a capacity of 24 berths, making it a major hub for transit trade and regional transport.
One of the main objectives of building Mubarak Port is to link land and sea by multiple means of transport, such as highways and railways.
This will make Kuwaiti lands a major hub for transit trade and regional transport, contributing to transforming Kuwait into a regional trade center. Once completed, Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port will be an important step in reviving the Silk Road through the Kuwaiti gate.
Capital projects
Al Qabas recently revealed that 186 million dinars have been allocated to the Ministry of Public Works to complete the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project during the fiscal year 2024-2025. This allocation comes under the item of capital project expenditures.
According to the feasibility study for the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port development project, its cost is 990 million dinars, and it will be built on an area of approximately 1,161 hectares, with a container capacity of 8.1 million TEUs.
Maximizing investment size
The Mubarak Port project is a top developmental and economic priority for Kuwait. The project aims to maximize local investments and attract foreign companies and investors. Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port, one of the largest ports in the Middle East, targets Central and East Asia, reviving the Silk Road through the Kuwaiti gate.
This project will contribute to raising the efficiency of the state’s infrastructure and developing the northern part of the country, providing thousands of job opportunities for Kuwaiti youth. Additionally, it will develop and build Boubiyan Island to be a tourist destination.
Project implementation
In activation of the memorandum of understanding signed between Kuwait and China, technical and field discussions were held during a visit by a Chinese government delegation.
These discussions focused on the importance of documenting the technical, construction, and economic relations related to implementing large development projects in Kuwait.
The visit included field tours of several sites, including Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port, Doha Port, and Shuwaikh Port. This collaboration aims to achieve the ambitious goals of Kuwait’s supreme political leadership in establishing the future plan for the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project.
Local investment and infrastructure development
Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port aims to maximize the size of local investments from the Kuwaiti private sector and attract foreign companies and investors.
This initiative is expected to reflect positively on the development of the maritime transport operations sector, which has significant untapped investment opportunities.
The project will also contribute to raising the efficiency of infrastructure, aiding in the development of the northern part of the country and creating thousands of job opportunities for Kuwaiti youth.
