AD Ports and Zhejiang Seaport to Build Car Shipping Route from China to the Middle East
AD Ports Group has made an early agreement with Zhejiang Seaport Group to create a new shipping route for cars. This new route will help Chinese carmakers send their vehicles to the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa.
New Trade Link Between China and the Middle East
The agreement was signed by Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of AD Ports Group, and Tao Chengbo, Chairman of Zhejiang Seaport Group.
The plan is to build special terminals for car shipping at Ningbo Zhoushan Port in China and at AD Ports’ locations in the region. These terminals will handle more cars, support bigger ships, and make shipping faster due to the growing demand for Chinese cars abroad.
The announcement came during a ceremony celebrating the first trip of the UGR Zakher, a ship powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas). It is operated by United Global Ro-Ro (UGR), a company jointly owned by AD Ports and Erkport.
UGR will be the main shipping company for this project, using its special car and truck ships and its current routes that connect China with the Middle East, Asia, and the Mediterranean.
The deal also includes plans to use smart digital systems for better tracking, planning, and coordination of car shipments.
Both companies will look into using combined sea and rail transport through Central Asia to Europe. This supports China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims to improve trade routes.
Belt and Road Boosts Middle East Construction
In 2024, China increased its construction projects in the Middle East more than any other region. These projects grew by 102% to reach about $39 billion. That’s more than in Africa, which saw $29.2 billion in Chinese projects.
Saudi Arabia received the most construction support from China at $18.9 billion, followed by Iraq ($9 billion), the UAE ($3.1 billion), and Liberia ($3 billion). For Chinese investments, Indonesia led with $9.3 billion, followed by Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan.
Chinese construction grew in most regions except South Asia, where it dropped sharply. In the Pacific region, construction deals grew by 228%, but with low investment. Latin America had the lowest Chinese involvement in almost 10 years.
Energy projects were the biggest part of China’s Belt and Road work in 2024, making up 33% of the total. These projects were worth nearly $40 billion. Green energy projects like solar, wind, and waste-to-energy made up about $11.8 billion of that total, with hydropower adding $639 million.
Published: 4th July 2025
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