UAE’s AD Ports Forms JV with Pakistan’s CEI, Takes Majority Control

UAE-based AD Ports Group has announced the formation of a new joint venture with Pakistan’s CEI Supply Chain Private Limited to develop an asset-light network delivery system in the country. According to a statement, AD Ports Group will acquire a 51 percent majority stake in the new company, strengthening its footprint in Pakistan, which it considers a key South Asian market and an important gateway to its Central Asia trade corridor. The new venture will use CEI’s existing operations in major cities, including Karachi, Lahore, Sialkot and Islamabad. These local capabilities will be combined with AD Ports Group’s global logistics network to target high-growth sectors such as automotive, retail, fast-moving consumer goods and energy. The joint venture will be consolidated into AD Ports Group’s financials from the first quarter of 2026. Commenting on the development, Abdulaziz Zayed Al Shamsi, Regional Chief Executive Officer of AD Ports Group, said Pakistan is a vital trade gateway for the region and the agreement marks a natural expansion of the group’s presence. He said that after securing port infrastructure and starting capacity upgrades, the group is now moving inland to offer fully integrated logistics solutions. Sohail Yasin Suleman, Group Chairman of World Wide Group, said the partnership is a major step for CEI and will help strengthen Pakistan’s logistics sector. He added that combining CEI’s local networks and client base with AD Ports Group’s international experience would help improve service standards and support end-to-end logistics solutions in the country. The joint venture follows a year of expansion by AD Ports Group in Pakistan. The group has already emerged as a major investor at the Port of Karachi. So far, AD Ports Group has committed $295 million for the development and upgrade of its Karachi terminals. In addition, it has recently signed a long-term agreement with Louis Dreyfus Company to develop a clean bulk storage facility at Karachi Port, further increasing its investment in Pakistan.