Direct Dubai-Umm Qasr Ro-Ro Shipping Launched

The General Company for Ports of Iraq (GCPI) has launched a new direct international Ro-Ro shipping line linking Port Rashid in the United Arab Emirates with Umm Qasr port, with the arrival of the first shipment of TIR trucks.

The service, inaugurated on 25 December 2025, operates with a transit time of up to 36 hours and a capacity of 145 accompanied trucks per voyage. It is designed to provide a faster maritime option for moving goods while reducing reliance on overland transport.

According to the company, the route is not limited to the Iraqi market and is intended to serve as a logistics corridor connecting Iraq with neighbouring countries, including Jordan, Syria and Turkey, through existing road networks.

Operational and technical preparations at Umm Qasr have been completed to handle Ro-Ro cargo, and the new line is expected to support bilateral trade between Iraq and the UAE while improving regional supply chain efficiency.