Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed Al Nahyan is overseeing a $300 billion sovereign wealth platform, L'imad Holding, which is targeting tens of billions of dollars in new port infrastructure located outside the Strait of Hormuz, according to Bloomberg and Moneycontrol reports citing people familiar with the matter.
The investment drive forms part of the United Arab Emirates' push toward a "Zero Hormuz" dependency model, aiming to secure permanent bypass trade routes following regional maritime disruptions. UAE officials have previously outlined plans to expand eastern terminals along the Gulf of Oman, including Khor Fakkan, Fujairah, and Dibba, alongside new pipeline and rail connections.
The initiative follows a proposal by L'imad in August 2026 to buy out minority shareholders in Abu Dhabi Ports Co. (AD Ports Group) in a cash deal valuing the firm at 31.8 billion dirhams ($8.66 billion). Taking the port operator private is intended to remove the constraints of public markets and give the government closer oversight over long-term logistics developments.
In May 2026, L'imad also entered a joint investment venture with Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC), Singapore's Temasek Holdings, and BlackRock unit Global Infrastructure Partners targeting $30 billion in energy transport, water, and logistics infrastructure assets.
Sources
- Moneycontrol.com · 2026-09-30
