Prime Highlights:
- AD Ports Group acquires 19.3% of Alexandria Container & Cargo Handling Company (ALCN), strengthening its presence in Egypt.
- The deal boosts AD Ports’ role along key trade routes connecting Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
Key Facts:
- ALCN operates container terminals in Alexandria and El-Dekheilla with a combined capacity of 1.5 million TEUs and a 71% utilisation rate.
- The transaction is valued at over AED 1 billion (USD 272 million) and allows SEIC to reallocate capital while keeping ALCN aligned with Egypt’s port development plans.
Background:
AD Ports Group has acquired a 19.3% share in Alexandria Container & Cargo Handling Company (ALCN) from the Saudi Egyptian Investment Company (SEIC) for more than AED 1 billion (USD 272 million). The deal increases AD Ports’ presence in Egypt and its role on major trade routes between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
ALCN operates container terminals at Alexandria and El-Dekheilla ports with a combined handling capacity of around 1.5 million TEUs and a utilisation rate of 71%. The company reported EGP 8.37 billion in revenue and EGP 6.09 billion in adjusted EBITDA for the 2025 financial year. AD Ports said the acquisition was financed through a mix of cash and debt.
SEIC noted that the sale aligns with its ongoing portfolio strategy. Since its investment in 2022, ALCN’s operating revenue has climbed by 194%, reflecting strong performance and increased demand at Egypt’s northern gateways.
Executives from both sides said the deal supports wider economic diversification plans in the UAE and Egypt while advancing trade-development goals across the region. For Egypt, the entry of well-capitalised foreign operators is seen as an important step toward modernising port infrastructure and improving efficiency at older terminals.
The transaction also adds to a wave of Gulf investments in Egypt’s logistics and port sectors as Cairo seeks fresh capital to stabilise the economy and scale up capacity along the Mediterranean. AD Ports has been on an active expansion drive, with recent acquisitions and partnerships in Jordan, Pakistan, and locations across the Red Sea, aimed at building an integrated network of regional terminals to serve rising container volumes.
ALCN remains one of Egypt’s most strategically located port operators, handling a substantial portion of the country’s containerised trade. The partial sale allows SEIC to free up capital while keeping ALCN part of Egypt’s port development and reform plans.
