DP World Expanding its Port Businesses to Sabah

Sabah Ports Sdn Bhd (SPSB), a wholly owned subsidiary of Suria Capital Holdings Berhad of which the State Government is a majority shareholder, and DP World (DPW), a Dubai-based global port terminal operator are collaborating in expanding the ports services in Sabah. The State Govt Government approved the collaboration with DPW on Jan 4, 2023 for the operation and management of Sapangar Bay Container Port (SBCP).

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said that the strategic collaboration between the two entities will further enhance Sabah as a key transhipment hub in the region. "I am happy that DP World has chosen Sabah to expand its business and I invite DP World to look into other potential economic areas in Sabah," Hajiji said during a meeting on 24 April 2024 in Kota Kinabalu with Sultan Ahmed Sulayem who is Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer of DPW. "The vision is to improve land and sea connectivity throughout the State, thereby reducing transit costs, and improving efficiency and performance standards across the State's entire supply chain."

Sulayem, who was ranked the 11th most powerful Arab business leader in 2023, said DP World is excited with the business collaboration with SPSB. He credited Hajiji for successfully initiating and pushing the project to fruition. "Sabah is a beautiful state and it is strategically located to be a logistic hub in this region," Sulayem said, adding that DP World chose Sabah because of its location; political and economic stability; and growth potential.

Sulayem said that he will use his connections at Fortune 500 to bring businesses to Sabah. DP World has a network of more than 60 ports and terminals with the capacity to handle over 90 million Twenty Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) a year. SPSB operates eight terminals, namely, — SBCP; Sapangar Bay Oil Terminal; Kota Kinabalu Port; Kudat Port; Sandakan Port; Tawau Port; Lahad Datu Port; and Kunak Port.