DP WORLD marked Monday its 10-year public listing on Nasdaq Dubai with a ceremonial event at the Dubai Financial Market (DFM), attended by Sultan Bin Sulayem, chairman and CEO of DP World, Essa Kazim, governor of the DIFC and chairman of DFM, and Hamed Ali, CEO of Nasdaq Dubai. Sulayem, said: “The listing on Nasdaq Dubai has been instrumental to our growth history. It has given us access to the top global and regional institutional investor base and the retail community. We have grown from 42 terminals in 22 countries before the listing to almost double with 78 terminals in 40 countries within a decade, while profits have risen from $440 million to over $1bn during this period. “We ended the year as the largest listed company in Dubai with a market capitalisation of $21 billion and are also the largest listed global port operator worldwide. DP World was also the first UAE-based listed company on Nasdaq Dubai and continues to set new benchmarks to develop regional capital markets and to position Dubai as the capital of the Islamic economy globally. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Nasdaq Dubai and our shareholders for their support and continued commitment in our growing success.” The DP World share price reached $25 at the end of 2017, a 10-year high having risen 43% in the year on the back of strong container volume growth. This makes DP World the best performing Large-Cap stock in the UAE, significantly outperforming local indices. Chairman of Nasdaq Dubai Abdul Wahed Al Fahim, said: “Nasdaq Dubai is delighted to have hosted DP World throughout its impressive growth and development during its 10 years as a listed entity, with more than $11 billion in share trading by UAE, regional and international investors. “As the region’s international exchange providing high global visibility, we look forward to further strengthening our relationship with DP World as one of Dubai’s flagship companies to support the continuing expansion of its activities. DP World’s integration with the UAE’s capital markets framework underlines Dubai’s success in achieving fruitful collaboration across industry sectors.” DP World is a leading enabler of global trade and an integral part of the supply chain. It operates multiple yet related businesses — from marine and inland terminals, maritime services, logistics and ancillary services to technology-driven trade solutions. It has a portfolio of 78 operating marine and inland terminals supported by over 50 related businesses in 40 countries across six continents with a significant presence in both high-growth and mature markets. We aim to be essential to the bright future of global trade, ensuring everything we do has a long-lasting positive impact on economies and society. Its dedicated team of over 36,500 employees from 103 countries cultivates long-standing relationships with governments, shipping lines, importers and exporters, communities, and many other important constituents of the global supply chain, to add value and provide quality services today and tomorrow. Container handling is the company’s core business and generates more than three quarters of its revenue. In 2016, DP World handled 64 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) across our portfolio. With its committed pipeline of developments and expansions, the current gross capacity of 84.6 million TEU is expected to rise to more than 100 million TEU by 2020, in line with market demand. — SG