AD Ports Group has strengthened its European expansion drive with the acquisition of Spain’s Balenciaga Astilleros Shipyard, adding advanced shipbuilding capacity as the UAE ports and logistics operator scales up its offshore wind and maritime services business.
The company said its subsidiary Safeen Drydocks, part of Noatum Maritime, acquired 100 per cent ownership of the Basque-based facility for €11.2 million, reinforcing the group’s growing footprint in Spain and the wider Mediterranean region.
Balenciaga Shipyard brings nearly a century of shipbuilding expertise and specialised infrastructure, including two drydocks, a 105-metre slipway and automated fabrication facilities spanning more than 22,000 square metres. The yard is among the few in Spain capable of building Service Operation Vessels used as floating bases for offshore wind farms, alongside research vessels, offshore support ships and specialised tugs.
The acquisition comes as AD Ports Group continues to deliver strong operational growth at home and abroad. Khalifa Port has recorded steady increases in container throughput, supported by new shipping services, expanded terminal capacity and rising transshipment volumes. At the group level, AD Ports has posted double-digit revenue growth in recent reporting periods, driven by expansion across its ports, maritime, logistics and economic cities clusters.
Over the past three years, the company has accelerated international investments across Europe, Africa and Central Asia, including the acquisition of Spain-based Noatum, new port concessions, logistics platforms and inland terminals that strengthen trade corridors linking Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
Captain Ammar Al Shaiba, chief executive of the Maritime and Shipping Cluster at AD Ports Group, said the Balenciaga deal supports targeted portfolio diversification and clean energy ambitions, enabling technology transfer and operational synergies across Safeen Drydocks and the group’s global maritime network.
The move also reinforces AD Ports Group’s entry into the offshore wind value chain, complementing its partnership with Masdar on offshore wind development. With European renewable capacity expanding rapidly this decade, demand for specialised vessels is expected to rise sharply.
Balenciaga’s proximity to major offshore wind clusters in Northern Europe positions AD Ports Group to capture this growth while supporting fleet expansion and specialised vessel orders for international clients.
