Gulf Shipping in Focus: Jebel Ali Rankings Collapse, Red Sea Normalisation in Sight, and ADNOC Expands LNG Fleet

## Gulf Shipping in Focus: Jebel Ali Rankings Collapse, Red Sea Normalisation in Sight, and ADNOC Expands LNG Fleet Three significant developments are converging to reshape the maritime landscape across the Middle East and global trade corridors, underscoring the region's outsized influence on international shipping. ### Jebel Ali Suffers Historic Rankings Collapse Dubai's Jebel Ali Port has experienced one of the most dramatic declines in modern container port history, tumbling from 10th to 32nd place in global throughput rankings in the space of just six months, according to new analysis from Alphaliner cited by Splash247. The collapse is directly attributed to the ongoing conflict with Iran, which has severely throttled commercial shipping transiting the Strait of Hormuz — the critical chokepoint through which a significant share of Jebel Ali's cargo flows. The port's fall from the global top 10, a position it had held for years as a cornerstone of DP World's international network, represents a stark illustration of how geopolitical conflict can rapidly redraw the competitive map of global port rankings. The longer the Hormuz disruption persists, the greater the risk of long-term cargo diversion to rival regional hubs. ### Red Sea Normalisation Could Arrive Before Year-End In a potentially significant counterpoint to ongoing regional disruption, prominent container shipping analyst Lars Jensen has argued that the container sector may be approaching a return to normalcy on the Suez Canal route before the end of 2026, according to Splash247. More than 1,000 days have elapsed since the seizure of the Galaxy Leader by Houthi forces triggered the Red Sea crisis, forcing carriers to reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope at considerable cost and schedule disruption. Jensen's assessment will be closely watched by carriers, shippers, and port operators alike. A sustained reopening of the Red Sea corridor would release significant effective vessel capacity back into the market, with material implications for freight rates, port call patterns, and the competitive positioning of Suez-adjacent transshipment hubs. ### ADNOC L&S Lifts LNG Newbuild Programme to 20 Ships Against this backdrop of disruption, Abu Dhabi's ADNOC Logistics & Services is pressing ahead with a major fleet expansion. The company has exercised options for two additional LNG carriers at China's Jiangnan Shipyard, adding approximately $444 million to its newbuilding commitments and bringing its total LNG newbuild programme to 20 vessels, Splash247 reports. The 175,000 cubic metre carriers are scheduled for delivery in 2029 and are expected to be placed on long-term charter employment. The move reflects Abu Dhabi's strategic ambition to capture a greater share of the global LNG value chain as the UAE expands its liquefied natural gas export capacity. Long-term charter backing for the vessels will provide revenue visibility and underpin the economics of the programme. Taken together, these developments paint a picture of a Gulf maritime sector navigating acute near-term disruption while simultaneously investing in long-term capacity — a dynamic that will continue to command close attention from industry stakeholders worldwide.