ABU DHABI, Jan 6 (Reuters) – Container volumes rose by 32 % at Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Port in 2015 buoyed by industrial and infrastructure improvement within the emirate, operator Abu Dhabi Ports mentioned on Wednesday.

Built on a man-made island, Khalifa Port dealt with 1.50 million TEUs (twenty-foot equal unit containers), up from 1.13 million a yr earlier, it mentioned in a press release.

Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, is investing billions in business, infrastructure and tourism because it diversifies its financial system away from oil.

“Imports and exports due to the huge infrastructure and industrial projects contributed to the growth in container volumes,” mentioned Mohamed Juma al Shamisi, chief government of Abu Dhabi Ports.

Improved shipyard and terminal services and providers additionally helped, he mentioned.

The port started operations in late 2012, taking up container site visitors from Mina Zayed port.

Over 20 transport traces function to Khalifa Port presently and serve greater than 50 locations.

Abu Dhabi’s new cruise terminal at Zayed port posted 16 % development in 2015 with 170,360 cruise passengers visiting the emirate in comparison with 146,997 passengers in 2014, the corporate mentioned. (Reporting by Stanley Carvalho; enhancing by Jason Neely)

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