AD Ports Group secures 81% stake in Global Feeder Shipping

Abu Dhabi-based AD Ports Group has announced a significant expansion of its maritime portfolio, acquiring an additional 30% equity stake in Global Feeder Shipping (GFS).

Valued at AED 1.1 billion (USD 300 million), this strategic transaction increases the Group’s total ownership in the Dubai-based company to 81%.

The foundation for this expansion was laid in February 2024, when AD Ports Group secured a 51% stake in GFS, the fourth-largest container feeder shipping line globally by capacity. The Group secured a call option to increase its ownership by December 2026. By exercising this option now, the Group has capitalised on the same total Enterprise Value of AED 3.67 billion (USD 1 billion) established in 2024. The acquisition will be funded through a combination of debt and asset monetisation.

The container feeder shipping sector, involving the transport of goods using small and medium-sized vessels between major transit hubs and smaller ports, has experienced rapid growth since AD Ports Group launched its dedicated business in 2020. Within this framework, GFS has emerged as a strategically vital asset. Throughout recent periods of global maritime disruption, GFS maintained and expanded critical trade connectivity. While other operators withdrew from volatile markets, GFS ensured the uninterrupted flow of cargo for customers throughout the GCC region. Furthermore, it served vital routes across the Indian Subcontinent, the Red Sea, the Far East, the Mediterranean, and Africa.

This increased ownership fortifies the Group’s cash flow generation whilst providing enhanced operational control. Consequently, this enables deeper integration with the Group’s wider network of ports, economic cities, and logistics operations.

Discussing the transaction, Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director & Group CEO of AD Ports Group, said: “Through the acquisition of an additional 30% stake in Global Feeder Shipping, AD Ports Group is reaffirming its commitment to investing in one of the most important and high-performing assets within our integrated business portfolio. GFS has expanded our reach into new markets and brought us closer to our customers, connecting our ports to more economies across the Red Sea and the Gulf at a time when reliable trade connectivity matters most. Our increased ownership in GFS allows us to deepen its integration within the Group’s portfolio and enables further growth across our shipping business. We will now be in a stronger position to accelerate our journey to enable trade for our stakeholders, in line with the vision of our wise leadership.”

Amir Maghami, CEO of Global Feeder Shipping, said: “Today marks an important step for GFS as we become more closely integrated into AD Ports Group, reinforcing the strength of our partnership. While the shipping industry continues to adapt to volatile market conditions, AD Ports Group’s support has enabled us to steadily expand our services and grow our fleet. Staying flexible and keeping customers at the centre of what we do has always been our priority, and I am excited to build on this momentum as we broaden our network and deliver even greater value in the months and years ahead.”

The operational statistics for GFS highlight its scale. In 2025, the company transported 2.8 million TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) and completed more than 700 voyages, calling at 89 ports across 54 countries. Since the original stake was acquired, GFS has generated cumulative EBITDA exceeding AED 1.8 billion (USD 500 million).

Alongside SAFEEN Feeders and Transmar, GFS forms the core of the Group’s container feeder operations. In 2025, feeder shipping revenue rose 17% year-on-year. The broader Maritime & Shipping Cluster enjoyed substantial growth, with total revenue jumping 33% to AED 10.7 billion and EBITDA rising 25% year-on-year to AED 2.5 billion. This means the cluster generated 51% of AD Ports Group’s total revenue and 45% of its overall EBITDA.