CorridorsAnalysis
GT Lines expands UAE–China shipping with five-vessel service
Khorfakkan China Express adds capacity under vessel-sharing agreement with three Chinese carriers, with transit times from 18 days.
GT Lines, the container shipping division of Gulftainer Group, has expanded cooperation with Chinese shipping companies to strengthen connectivity between Asia and the Middle East. The arrangements are scheduled to begin in early November 2026, adding capacity and reducing transit times on routes serving Khorfakkan and Chinese ports.
Khorfakkan China Express adds three carriers#
The upgraded Khorfakkan China Express Service, KCX 1, will operate under a vessel-sharing agreement between GT Lines and three Chinese carriers: Zhong Gu, Sea Legend and Ningbo Ocean. The expanded consortium will deploy five vessels in total. The service will call at Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Nansha and Khorfakkan. Transit times are set at 22 days from Central China and 18 days from South China to Khorfakkan. The arrangement brings UAE and Chinese operators together on a shared rotation serving businesses and regional economies.
CULines cooperation on CGX service#
GT Lines has also entered cooperation with CULines on its CGX service, designated KCX 5. That service will rotate through Qingdao, Ningbo, Shekou, Nansha, Port Klang and Khorfakkan. The arrangement extends collaboration between UAE and Chinese vessel operators on routes connecting the Gulf with Asian manufacturing and consumer markets. Both services are scheduled to commence operations in early November 2026.
Gulftainer orders 1,000 trucks for Khorfakkan connectivity#
Gulftainer has signed an agreement with United Al Saqer Heavy Equipment for the acquisition of 1,000 trucks to strengthen distribution capacity from Khorfakkan to the UAE and the wider GCC region. Delivery of 450 trucks is scheduled before November 2026 ends, with the balance arriving in Q1 2027. The fleet addition will expand Gulftainer's distribution capacity and its logistics network from Khorfakkan across the UAE and GCC. Farid Belbouab, Group CEO of Gulftainer, said the partnership is about building the infrastructure behind the growth, adding that the company is developing a truck workshop on the East Coast and an automotive logistics park in Al Dhaid.
Workshop and automotive logistics park in Al Dhaid#
United Al Saqer Heavy Equipment will develop and operate a truck workshop in Al Dhaid within KAFEZ, the Khorfakkan Al Dhaid Free Economic Zone. The facility will offer maintenance, repair and fleet support for Gulftainer and other operators. Rest and service facilities for truck drivers will be included in the development. Gulftainer and United Al Saqer have also signed an investment agreement for a 100,000 square metre automotive logistics park within KAFEZ. The park will support Gulftainer's automotive logistics operations and distribution needs in the UAE and the region. Vehicles arriving through UAE East Coast ports, including Khorfakkan Port, will move directly to Al Dhaid for storage, handling and distribution within the free zone. Nader Al Quraan, CEO of United Al Saqer Heavy Equipment, said the partnership represents an expansion of the company's 40-year legacy in the UAE's automotive sector.
Sources2 sources across 2 domains
- container-news.comContainer NewsGT Lines vessel-sharing agreement with Chinese carriers, service details, transit times and November 2026 start date
- cbnme.comCBNMEGulftainer truck acquisition agreement, delivery schedule, workshop and automotive logistics park development in Al Dhaid
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