The Abu Dhabi Ports Company, or ADPC, and Parsons International have signed a consultancy contract for the first-phase development of Marfa Port in Abu Dhabi to support fishing and marine recreational activities.

Under directives from the Government of Abu Dhabi, the ADPC tendered a contract for specialised consultants to develop Marfa Port. Parsons was selected to provide support to design Marfa Port so that it can accommodate more than 200 boats. The new contract embodies the ADPC’s continuing commitment to ensuring the development of Western Region ports.

The town of Marfa is 95km west of the UAE capital. With an estimated population of 14,500, Marfa has a unique coastal topography in the emirate featuring a rock hilltop spine running parallel to the coast. It also has a developed seaside corniche and accessible public beach fronts.

The natural landscape and strategic location of Marfa offer excellent opportunities for development in residential, tourism and commercial sectors. In addition, Marfa is supported by a large power and desalination plant. The city serves as a major fishing centre in the Western Region, also attracting tourists and water activities enthusiasts. However, the existing condition of the port is inadequate for the fishing industry and requires upgrading and additional service buildings.

“As we gear up for the official launch of phase one of Khalifa Port and Kizad [Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi], we remain committed to the development of smaller ports in Abu Dhabi, particularly in the Western Region,” ADPC chief executive Tony Douglas said.

“We are confident that our agreement with Parsons will serve the purposes in hand and provide the expertise needed to deliver a much more developed port. Al Marfa Port in Abu Dhabi is an essential one as it has been serving as a fishing harbour for so long and needs to be redeveloped to match the high-class infrastructure projects taking place in Abu Dhabi currently.”

“We are delighted to be partnering with ADPC in the project of developing Al Marfa Port,” Parsons Mena president Joseph A. Mehula said.

“We at Parsons enjoy extensive experience in marine projects and are proud to be part of the development of one of the essential ports of Abu Dhabi. We look forward to working closely with ADPC and to deliver a project that ought to be one of the most interesting ones we have worked on,”