The Iraqi General Company for Ports announced on Thursday the opening of a new maritime route with the United Arab Emirates, marked by the arrival of the first vessel from Rashid Port.

In a statement received by Karbala Now Agency, the company said that a direct international maritime route connecting Rashid Port in the UAE with Umm Qasr Port was officially inaugurated with the arrival of the first shipment. The move aims to enhance trade activity and reduce maritime transit times.

The statement noted that the inauguration took place in the presence of Abdul Sada Khalaf, Deputy Director General for Technical Affairs at the Iraqi General Company for Ports, representing the company’s Director General, Farhan Al-Fartousi, along with several department managers and representatives from relevant supporting ministries and authorities.

According to the statement, Khalaf explained that the new route operates with a transit time of no more than 36 hours and has the capacity to transport up to 145 accompanied trailers per trip.

He added that the arrival of the first shipment via this route marks the beginning of a new phase in the development of maritime transport services at Umm Qasr Port, offering a direct and efficient option for transporting goods with accompanying drivers and reducing reliance on land transport. He further noted that the route is not limited to serving the Iraqi market, but also opens a logistical corridor linking Iraq to neighboring countries, including Jordan, Syria, and Turkey, through existing land transport networks—thereby strengthening Iraq’s position as a regional transit hub.