UAE Port Congestion Worsens: 7+ Day Delays at Khor Fakkan

Port congestion across the UAE has reached critical levels as of late October 2026, with Khor Fakkan, Fujairah and Sharjah experiencing unprecedented operational strain. Vessel waiting times have extended to 7-9 days, while terminal transfer times from regional ports to inland hubs have nearly tripled from 5 days to 12-15 days, creating cascading delays throughout the logistics network. The root causes are multifaceted: cargo restrictions on foreign goods and dangerous items are limiting berth utilization, diversion of cargo from alternative regional hubs is overwhelming local terminal capacity, and exceptional Middle East demand paired with precautionary inventory building has created supply chain congestion that extends far beyond the quay.

Carriers are responding by reducing allocations to affected ports, though no widespread omissions or carrier gateway switches have yet been implemented. This situation carries significant implications for supply chain professionals. The combination of restricted discharge policies, constrained yard capacity and extended inland dwell times demands immediate replanning of shipment strategies.

Companies relying solely on traditional UAE gateway routing should urgently evaluate alternative ports in Oman (Salalah and Duqm) or implement Kuehne+Nagel's Landbridge solutions to maintain schedule reliability and avoid cascading delays to downstream markets.