Gulf Ports Strain Under Rising Container Traffic as Summer Peak Builds

By Maria Kalamatas | July 23, 2025

Section: International / Maritime & Port Operations

Dubai, July 23 — Container terminals across the Gulf are working at full stretch as inbound and transshipment volumes climb sharply, forcing ports to extend operating hours and adjust schedules to avoid gridlock.

“Every yard is busy, every crane is in use, and we’re still watching vessel queues build,” said Rami Al-Sayed, operations chief at a major United Arab Emirates port. “This is shaping up to be our busiest July in years.”

Retail demand and re-export surge

The traffic spike is being driven by retailers stocking early for the autumn sales period, alongside growing re-export flows bound for Africa and southern Europe. Terminal operators say throughput is already tracking more than 15 percent above last summer’s pace.

“Ships are arriving back-to-back, and most of the cargo is time-sensitive,” Al-Sayed explained. “Delays ripple quickly through supply chains, so we’re focused on moving boxes out as fast as they arrive.”

Strain on carriers and forwarders

Logistics providers confirm that berthing windows are tighter and yard dwell times longer, prompting some carriers to reroute vessels to secondary Gulf gateways to maintain service reliability.

“For many exporters, it’s not about the specific port anymore — it’s about keeping their cargo moving,” said Sara Haddad, a Dubai-based logistics analyst. “Diversions add cost, but stalled shipments cost even more.”

Emergency measures in place

Ports have set up temporary storage zones, redeployed handling equipment, and fast-tracked customs clearance to ease the bottlenecks. Crews are working night shifts to keep yard space turning over.

“These steps buy us breathing room,” Al-Sayed noted. “But if volumes keep rising into August, we’ll need longer-term fixes.”

Looking ahead

Analysts predict sustained congestion over the next month as pre-holiday inventory flows build, warning that without additional handling capacity, Gulf hubs could face cascading delays through early autumn.

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