On August 17, L’IMAD Holding – a company based in Abu Dhabi – announced its intention to acquire, through ADQ, the remaining shares of AD Ports Group. At that time, ADQ held 75.42 percent of the company. The offer was 6.25 dirhams per share, which was 23 percent higher than the closing price on August 14. The AD Ports management board recommended that shareholders accept the offer.
The significance of this information is different now than it was in August. The acquisition process is coming to completion, and AD Ports remains one of the tools Abu Dhabi is using to build its global position in trade, logistics, and port infrastructure. The group currently manages 38 terminals, and its operations include ports, logistics, shipping, and industrial infrastructure.
L’IMAD Holding is expanding its operations in Africa
Egypt, Angola, and Tanzania – these are the countries where AD Ports is expanding its operations.
In Safaga, Egypt, on the Red Sea, a multifunctional terminal is under development, with an estimated investment value of $200 million. The company also holds stakes in terminal operators in Alexandria and Dekheila.
In Angola, AD Ports holds an 81 percent share in the multifunctional terminal in Luanda. The facility is currently undergoing modernization, with the first phase expected to cost $250 million. Once the work is completed, the terminal’s container throughput is expected to rise from 25,000 to 350,000 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit).
In Tanzania, AD Ports holds a 30 percent share in the container terminal in Dar es Salaam. The facility has a target capacity of approximately 1 million TEU.
These investments point to a long-term growth strategy focused on building a stronger position in key African trade corridors. Abu Dhabi is moving toward greater involvement in the handling of Africa’s imports and exports.
What does this mean for these countries?
For Egypt, AD Ports’ presence means, above all, additional capital and infrastructure development along the Red Sea. Safaga is expected to become a new hub for trade between Egypt, other African countries, and Asian markets. For Angola, the modernization of the Luanda terminal could mean greater capacity, more efficient imports and exports, and an improved position for the country as a regional logistics hub. In Tanzania, the importance of Dar es Salaam extends beyond the country itself – the port is a vital gateway to the sea for the economies of East Africa.
L’IMAD Holding’s investments strengthen its control over african trade routes
However, it’s important to look at the whole issue from a broader perspective. In recent years, L’IMAD Holding has been systematically expanding its operations in Africa. The group itself reports over $800 million in planned investments in the port, logistics, and maritime sectors in Egypt, Tanzania, Angola, and the Republic of the Congo. In 2026, it also joined a terminal project at the Port of Douala in Cameroon.
L’IMAD’s acquisition of AD Ports should be viewed not as a single port transaction, but as a consolidation of control over Abu Dhabi’s global logistics platform.
For Africa, this could mean a continued inflow of Gulf capital into infrastructure, but also a greater presence of foreign operators at strategic trade hubs. The benefits could include investments, new technologies, and more efficient trade operations. At the same time, the role of external entities in managing the infrastructure on which national supply chains depend is expanding.
The August decision marked the beginning of this process. The coming months will reveal how Abu Dhabi will capitalize on its growing business influence along African trade routes.
