DP World welcomes eco-friendly car carrier to Jebel Ali

DP World has marked a major milestone in sustainable shipping by welcoming the MV Höegh Sunrise, the world’s largest and most environmentally friendly car carrier, to Jebel Ali Port for the first time.

The Aurora-class vessel is the first in the automotive shipping sector designed with a zero-carbon ready framework, capable of running on future fuels such as ammonia and methanol. With a capacity to transport 9,100 cars, it reduces carbon emissions per vehicle by 58% compared to the current industry standard. On its maiden voyage from Europe, the vessel carried 1,200 cars to Dubai.

A plaque ceremony at Jebel Ali commemorated the occasion, attended by Ahmed Badri, Vice President General Cargo & RoRo at DP World GCC, and Atanu Maiti, Regional Head of Commercial Operations at Höegh Autoliners for the Middle East, Africa, India and Europe.

Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director, DP World GCC, said, “The Höegh Sunrise is a leader in sustainable shipping, and her arrival reinforces Dubai’s role as a global hub for the automotive industry. By handling the largest and most advanced car carriers, we are enabling the transition to greener supply chains while supporting more than 940 automotive companies based in Jafza.”

Andreas Enger, CEO of Höegh Autoliners, added, “The Aurora-class is designed to accelerate the transition to sustainable shipping. Partnering with leading hubs like Jebel Ali is essential to deliver on that ambition, ensuring our carbon conscious customers can move their cargo reliably while reducing their carbon footprint."

DP World handled a record 1.3mn vehicles in Dubai in 2024, representing a 53.6% year-on-year increase. To meet rising demand, it launched a new 2.6mn sq ft vehicle storage yard at Terminal 4 in August and is also developing the world’s largest auto market, spanning 20mn sq ft, further cementing Dubai’s role in global automotive trade.