AE prefix plus three-character location code
A UAE UN/LOCODE follows the structure AE followed by three characters. The code identifies a recognised trade or transport location and should not be inferred solely from a city name.
Seaports in United Arab Emirates: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
United Arab Emirates has 29 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database and serves as a major Gulf gateway for container shipping, energy cargo, transshipment and regional distribution.
This country guide separates Ecer Freight's indexed-port coverage from published port-throughput statistics. Port availability, schedules and cargo handling are subject to carrier and terminal confirmation.
United Arab Emirates Port Overview
United Arab Emirates is a strategically located maritime and logistics hub between the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Gulf, East Africa, South Asia and Europe. Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port, Port Rashid and Fujairah are among the country’s widely recognised maritime gateways, while the indexed coverage shown below is a separate first-party database measure.
29
United Arab Emirates ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Oct 2026
—
National seaborne cargo volume, 2025; consolidated official figure and YoY change not published in the reviewed source set
UAE transport authorities · 2025 review
—
National container throughput, 2025; consolidated official figure and YoY change not published in the reviewed source set
UAE port disclosures · 2025 review
—
National commercial-berth total, 2025; comparable official total and YoY change not published in the reviewed source set
UAE maritime authorities · 2025 review
How many seaports does United Arab Emirates have?
United Arab Emirates has 29 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its Oct 2026 database snapshot. This is an indexed-coverage count, not a claim about every legally designated maritime facility in the country.
Which port is generally regarded as the largest container gateway?
Jebel Ali is generally regarded as the leading container gateway of United Arab Emirates and a major transshipment and distribution hub for the Gulf, South Asia, East Africa and Europe.
Which areas handle the main maritime freight flows?
The principal freight clusters are Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, covering container logistics, industrial cargo, project freight, bulk commodities, bunkering and oil-related maritime activity.
Leading United Arab Emirates Ports by Container and Freight Role
A validated UAE port-code sample was not supplied for this page: the supplied records carry the NZ prefix and identify New Zealand locations. To avoid assigning incorrect UN/LOCODEs, port-level ranking rows are withheld until the AE database extract is corrected. The league table below must not be interpreted as a national throughput ranking.
2025 container throughput comparison; validated AE records required
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No port-level row is published because the supplied sample contains NZ-prefixed records rather than validated AE records. | |||||
United Arab Emirates Port Regions
United Arab Emirates’ maritime network is commonly analysed through the Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah clusters. City, province and UN/LOCODE rows are withheld here because the supplied sample does not contain UAE records and contains only NZ-prefixed locations.
Dubai Maritime Cluster
Dubai is the principal container, free-zone, distribution and general-cargo cluster, led by the Jebel Ali logistics ecosystem.
Validated AE port records required for this regional table
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| No validated AE sample row available. | |||
Abu Dhabi Industrial Cluster
Abu Dhabi supports container, industrial, project and energy-related cargo through its integrated port and logistics infrastructure.
Validated AE port records required for this regional table
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| No validated AE sample row available. | |||
Fujairah and East-Coast Cluster
Fujairah provides an important Indian Ocean-facing location for bulk cargo, bunkering, oil-related logistics and vessels avoiding the Strait of Hormuz for selected operations.
Validated AE port records required for this regional table
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| No validated AE sample row available. | |||
United Arab Emirates Port Codes and UN/LOCODEs
UN/LOCODEs use a two-letter country prefix followed by a three-character location identifier. UAE locations use the AE prefix; the exact code should be checked against an authoritative location register and the carrier’s booking system.
City-level and terminal-level distinctions
A city-level location code may cover several facilities, while a terminal, depot or port operator may use a more specific operational reference. Shipping instructions should match the carrier booking, bill of lading and terminal appointment data.
How to verify a port code
Verify the location through the UNECE UN/LOCODE register and cross-check the result with the Ecer Freight port directory before preparing shipping documents.
Shipping from United Arab Emirates: Main Trade Lanes
United Arab Emirates supports regular container, less-than-container-load, bulk, project and energy-related movements. Transit times vary by service string, transshipment, equipment availability, customs clearance and seasonal operating conditions.
United Arab Emirates to Europe
Containerised consumer goods, machinery, chemicals and manufactured products commonly move from UAE gateways to Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and the United Kingdom.
United Arab Emirates to South Asia
Short-sea and regional services connect UAE distribution centres with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka for consumer, industrial and project cargo.
United Arab Emirates to East Africa
UAE ports serve as a consolidation and redistribution point for cargo moving to East African markets, including retail goods, machinery and construction materials.
United Arab Emirates to East Asia
Asia–Gulf services carry electronics, machinery, textiles, raw materials and consumer products between UAE distribution hubs and East Asian manufacturing centres.
Data Sources and Methodology
This page distinguishes first-party indexed coverage from official or operator-reported maritime statistics. Throughput league tables require a consistent 2025 port-level dataset and should not be reconstructed from unrelated terminal or national figures.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party database snapshot from Oct 2026, containing 29 indexed United Arab Emirates ports and terminals.
- UNECE UN/LOCODE — reference framework for country prefixes and recognised trade-location codes.
- DP World UAE — operator information for Dubai maritime and logistics facilities; operator figures are not automatically equivalent to national totals.
- AD Ports Group — official information for Abu Dhabi ports, terminals and logistics activity.
- Port of Fujairah — official information for Fujairah port operations and maritime services.
United Arab Emirates Port FAQ
How many seaports does United Arab Emirates have?
United Arab Emirates has 29 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Oct 2026 database snapshot. The number represents indexed coverage and is not necessarily the total number of maritime facilities recognised by every authority.
What is the largest container port in United Arab Emirates?
Jebel Ali is generally regarded as the largest container gateway in United Arab Emirates and is a major hub for transshipment, free-zone logistics and regional distribution.
What prefix is used for United Arab Emirates port codes?
United Arab Emirates uses the AE country prefix in UN/LOCODEs. The complete code should be confirmed through UNECE and the carrier or terminal booking system.
Which regions are most important for United Arab Emirates sea freight?
The main maritime clusters are Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah. Their cargo profiles include containers, general cargo, industrial freight, project cargo, bulk commodities, bunkering and energy-related movements.
Are the throughput figures on this page national totals?
No. Port operator, terminal, national and league-table statistics can use different scopes and reporting periods. A comparable 2025 national total was not published in the reviewed source set, so unsupported figures are not presented as fact.
How current is the United Arab Emirates port information?
The first-party indexed-port snapshot is dated Oct 2026. Operational schedules, port calls, equipment availability, charges and transit times remain subject to confirmation at the time of booking.
How can a shipper request a United Arab Emirates sea-freight quote?
Shippers can compare FCL sea-freight rates or LCL sea-freight rates after confirming origin, destination, cargo description, dimensions, weight, Incoterms and required equipment.
Editorial note: Ecer Freight combines its indexed port directory with public authority, port-operator and international trade-location references. First-party coverage is reviewed against database updates, while operational information and maritime statistics are refreshed or checked quarterly where authoritative source data is available.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in United Arab Emirates: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact