Author: Charles Tungwarara
As GCC ports come under growing pressure to decarbonise, digitalise, and demonstrate ESG leadership, the strategic decisions made today will define competitive positioning for decades to come.
Maritime transport supports approximately 80% of global trade by volume, making ports essential drivers of economic growth. In the GCC, ports play a central role in expanding trade, urban development, and national economic diversification. As climate challenges increase and societal expectations shift, ports are now evaluated not only on efficiency and capacity, but also on their commitment to sustainable operations.
Sustainability in maritime and port operations is now a strategic priority rather than a compliance issue. In this article, BDO UAE's sustainability advisory team explores why sustainability matters in the maritime sector, the regulatory and commercial forces driving change and the key sustainability trends that port operators, maritime businesses, and their leadership teams operating across the GCC need to understand and act upon.
According to the Global Maritime Forum, international shipping accounts for more than 80 per cent of global trade. This transport system contributes about 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The proximity of many GCC ports to rapidly growing cities intensifies the interaction between port activities and urban development, generating significant economic opportunities alongside notable social and environmental challenges. Addressing these challenges requires ports to implement sustainability strategies that balance operational efficiency, economic growth, community well-being, and environmental stewardship.
Ports are energy‑intensive environments. Cranes, yard equipment, lighting, cooling, data centres, and buildings all consume large amounts of power. Studies show that port operations can account for a significant portion of total port‑related emissions, excluding ships. Leading GCC ports are managing the related emissions from energy by:
Container ships at berth consume significant tonnes of fuel per day solely to power onboard systems. This results in emissions and air pollution close to urban areas. To mitigate these social and environmental impacts, ports are adopting the following measures:
Renewable energy and future business resilience
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has set a target to achieve net-zero shipping emissions by approximately 2050, with a goal of significant interim reductions by 2030 (IMO, 2023). According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global shipping will require nearly 300 million tonnes of alternative fuels annually by mid-century to meet these targets (IEA, 2021). In line with these targets, the GCC countries have invested substantially in renewable energy, including solar and hydrogen. These investments strategically position GCC ports to serve as vital hubs for alternative maritime fuels in the future. Major shipping companies in Asia have already begun investing in alternative fuels such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, and ammonia.
For example, Jebel Ali Port in the United Arab Emirates has implemented advanced waste-reception and processing facilities that handle both hazardous and non-hazardous ship-generated waste. A comprehensive waste management strategy ensures long-term sustainability and operational resilience of the organisational business.
Across the GCC, green ports are evolving from compliance‑driven projects into strategic infrastructure assets, closely linked to national net‑zero pathways, energy transition (LNG, hydrogen, electrification), and global shipping decarbonisation requirements. Al Dhannah Community Harbour is Abu Dhabi's first fully integrated solar-powered community port, inaugurated as a sustainable, modern maritime hub in the Al Dhafra Region.
Further, digitalisation enables more effective data collection and analytics, empowering decision-makers to monitor sustainability metrics and implement evidence-based interventions. As such, the integration of digital technologies permeates multiple facets of port operations, delivering efficiencies and benefits that collectively advance the sustainability agenda. Smart shipping in the GCC is characterised by automation and AI (ports, yards, gates, and traffic management), as well as digital integration across the supply chain.
This includes adopting clean energy and alternative fuels to decarbonise operations, implementing comprehensive waste management systems, investing in workforce development and safety, and integrating digital technologies to improve efficiency.
The organisations that will lead this transition are those that move beyond compliance and treat sustainability as a driver of long-term value. That requires a clear strategy, robust governance, and advisers who understand both the global regulatory landscape and the distinct dynamics of the GCC market.
BDO UAE works with port operators, maritime businesses, and government-linked entities across the region to develop sustainability strategies that are commercially grounded and practically deliverable — from net-zero roadmaps and ESG governance frameworks to digital transformation and green port advisory.
To discuss how BDO UAE's sustainability and strategy advisory team can support your organisation, contact us today.
SPEAK TO AN EXPERT
As GCC ports come under growing pressure to decarbonise, digitalise, and demonstrate ESG leadership, the strategic decisions made today will define competitive positioning for decades to come.
Maritime transport supports approximately 80% of global trade by volume, making ports essential drivers of economic growth. In the GCC, ports play a central role in expanding trade, urban development, and national economic diversification. As climate challenges increase and societal expectations shift, ports are now evaluated not only on efficiency and capacity, but also on their commitment to sustainable operations.
Sustainability in maritime and port operations is now a strategic priority rather than a compliance issue. In this article, BDO UAE's sustainability advisory team explores why sustainability matters in the maritime sector, the regulatory and commercial forces driving change and the key sustainability trends that port operators, maritime businesses, and their leadership teams operating across the GCC need to understand and act upon.
Why does sustainability matter in maritime & ports?
According to the Global Maritime Forum, international shipping accounts for more than 80 per cent of global trade. This transport system contributes about 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The proximity of many GCC ports to rapidly growing cities intensifies the interaction between port activities and urban development, generating significant economic opportunities alongside notable social and environmental challenges. Addressing these challenges requires ports to implement sustainability strategies that balance operational efficiency, economic growth, community well-being, and environmental stewardship.
Decarbonising energy emissions
Ports are energy‑intensive environments. Cranes, yard equipment, lighting, cooling, data centres, and buildings all consume large amounts of power. Studies show that port operations can account for a significant portion of total port‑related emissions, excluding ships. Leading GCC ports are managing the related emissions from energy by:
- Electrifying cargo-handling equipment
- Introducing automated and energy‑efficient terminals
- Deploying large-scale solar power
- Using smart energy management systems
- Investing in energy‑efficient buildings and terminals
Reducing emissions from ships at berth
Container ships at berth consume significant tonnes of fuel per day solely to power onboard systems. This results in emissions and air pollution close to urban areas. To mitigate these social and environmental impacts, ports are adopting the following measures:
- Shore power (cold ironing) systems — a technological system that allows docked ships to shut down their diesel-powered auxiliary engines and connect directly to the local electricity grid.
- Faster vessel turnaround times —optimising port call processes to reduce the duration ships spend waiting and loading or unloading at port, thereby minimising fuel consumption, lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
- Incentives for low-emission vessels —providing incentives to operators of vessels with lower emissions, thereby encouraging further emissions reductions.
Renewable energy and future business resilience
Waste management
The marine sector generates significant waste and is increasingly adopting circular economy principles to reduce it, promote recycling and reuse, and ultimately reduce its environmental footprint. Modern ports are investing in integrated ship waste management and treatment systems to manage ship-generated waste safely. Advancements such as port reception facilities, digital tracking, green port initiatives, and circular-economy practices demonstrate how regulatory frameworks and industry innovation together drive progress.For example, Jebel Ali Port in the United Arab Emirates has implemented advanced waste-reception and processing facilities that handle both hazardous and non-hazardous ship-generated waste. A comprehensive waste management strategy ensures long-term sustainability and operational resilience of the organisational business.
Development of green ports
Ports play a key role in global trade and are therefore critical to advancing sustainability in the marine sector. They have a significant influence over shipping emissions, energy consumption, and coastal environmental health. In response, the development of green ports has become a global trend. Green ports aim to minimise environmental impact through a combination of energy efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainable operations. Key initiatives include electrification of port equipment, shore power (cold ironing) to reduce vessel emissions at berth, increased use of renewable energy such as solar and wind, smart energy management systems, and stricter controls on air and water pollution.Across the GCC, green ports are evolving from compliance‑driven projects into strategic infrastructure assets, closely linked to national net‑zero pathways, energy transition (LNG, hydrogen, electrification), and global shipping decarbonisation requirements. Al Dhannah Community Harbour is Abu Dhabi's first fully integrated solar-powered community port, inaugurated as a sustainable, modern maritime hub in the Al Dhafra Region.
Digitalisation: A cross-cutting enabler of sustainability
Digitalisation serves as a cross-cutting enabler for sustainability objectives across environmental, social, and operational domains. For example, smart port systems enhance environmental sustainability by enabling precise vessel scheduling to minimise waiting times and reduce fuel consumption, thereby lowering emissions.Further, digitalisation enables more effective data collection and analytics, empowering decision-makers to monitor sustainability metrics and implement evidence-based interventions. As such, the integration of digital technologies permeates multiple facets of port operations, delivering efficiencies and benefits that collectively advance the sustainability agenda. Smart shipping in the GCC is characterised by automation and AI (ports, yards, gates, and traffic management), as well as digital integration across the supply chain.
Governance and leadership: turning ambition into action
Achieving sustainability in ports and operations necessitates strong leadership at the board level. Many maritime and port companies now regard sustainability as a strategic priority rather than merely a reporting or compliance obligation. Leading practices to ensure sustainability are prioritised at the highest organisational level, including:- Board or executive oversight on sustainability
- Clear accountability for delivery on sustainability projects
- Integration of sustainability into capital investment decisions
Conclusion
Sustainability in maritime and port operations represents both a commercial imperative and a regulatory reality for businesses across the GCC. Advancing sustainability in maritime and port sectors requires a multifaceted approach that integrates key strategies across environmental, social, and governance domains.This includes adopting clean energy and alternative fuels to decarbonise operations, implementing comprehensive waste management systems, investing in workforce development and safety, and integrating digital technologies to improve efficiency.
The organisations that will lead this transition are those that move beyond compliance and treat sustainability as a driver of long-term value. That requires a clear strategy, robust governance, and advisers who understand both the global regulatory landscape and the distinct dynamics of the GCC market.
BDO UAE works with port operators, maritime businesses, and government-linked entities across the region to develop sustainability strategies that are commercially grounded and practically deliverable — from net-zero roadmaps and ESG governance frameworks to digital transformation and green port advisory.
To discuss how BDO UAE's sustainability and strategy advisory team can support your organisation, contact us today.
SPEAK TO AN EXPERT