UAE Expands Red Sea Footprint Through Multi-Million Dollar Port Investments

The United Arab Emirates is expanding its maritime and geopolitical footprint across the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa, utilizing a combination of multi-million dollar port investments and diplomatic mediation to secure global trade routes. Abu Dhabi’s strategy centers on controlling key maritime chokepoints along the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a corridor essential for the 12% of global trade that passes through the Red Sea annually. Infrastructure and Port Logistics A primary driver of this regional influence is DP World, the Dubai-based logistics giant. The company has committed $442 million to develop and manage the Port of Berbera in Somaliland, creating a commercial gateway for landlocked Ethiopia. This facility operates alongside UAE-managed assets in Bosaso, Puntland, ensuring a diversified logistics network that bypasses traditional regional bottlenecks. These ports serve as critical nodes for UAE-linked supply chains, connecting African markets to the Middle East and Asia. Diplomatic Mediation and Security Beyond commercial infrastructure, the UAE has established itself as a regional power broker. In 2018, Abu Dhabi played a central role in brokering the historic peace…