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In a statement released on August 18, 2026, DP World detailed the arrival of three mobile harbour cranes at the Port of Tartous in Syria. The equipment is set to expand the port’s cargo-handling capacity by around 40 percent according to the company. This enhancement will facilitate quicker vessel turnaround while improving efficiency for containerised, bulk and breakbulk goods. The cranes mark an initial step in a broader effort to strengthen Syria’s trade networks.
The development falls under a 30-year concession agreement that DP World signed with Syria’s General Authority for Land and Sea Ports in July 2025. Reuters reported at the time that the pact includes an $800 million investment to modernise infrastructure and boost logistical services across the port. The agreement came months after Syrian authorities canceled a previous deal with a Russian company for failing to deliver on promised investments as detailed by Middle East Eye.
Fahad Al Banna, chief executive officer of DP World Tartous, commented on the significance of the delivery in the company’s statement. “This milestone represents much more than the delivery of new equipment. It reflects our long-term commitment to supporting Syria’s economic recovery by rebuilding critical trade infrastructure. A modern port reduces the cost of doing business, attracts investment and creates skilled jobs.” Mohammad Shihab, executive vice president at DP World for Egypt and the Levant, pointed to the port’s regional role in the announcement.
Shihab added that the strategically located port on Syria’s Mediterranean coast holds potential as a vital trade gateway. “Strategically located on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, the Port of Tartous has the potential to become a vital trade and logistics gateway, connecting Syria with key regional markets including Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Türkiye, while strengthening trade flows across the Eastern Mediterranean, the Gulf, Europe and North Africa.” The company’s investment seeks to reduce supply chain bottlenecks and improve business access to markets while aiding growth in manufacturing, agriculture and commerce sectors according to the statement.
Future phases of the DP World programme will see additional equipment deployed before the close of 2026 including forklift trucks and reach stackers. Nine additional light-duty mobile harbour cranes will follow during 2027 and early 2028 with a new quay crane scheduled for delivery in 2028 the company indicated. Dredging operations to deepen the harbour are due to commence shortly and the refurbishment of quay walls is slated for completion by the end of 2027. These steps will enable the port to accommodate larger vessels while raising overall safety and operational efficiency.
The Syrian Arab News Agency has reported that the Port of Tartous recorded a total cargo volume of 8,707,794 tons in a recent period with imports accounting for 7,072,345 tons of that figure. This activity underscores the port’s growing importance as a maritime hub supporting national economic needs the agency noted. DP World which maintains operations in more than 80 countries and handles around 10 percent of global container traffic according to its own figures brings extensive experience to the Syrian project. The modernisation aligns with Syria’s efforts to restore key trade corridors in the wake of the earlier contract annulment.
