Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region, has inaugurated the Al Dhannah Community Harbour following the completion of its comprehensive modernisation and expansion, making it Abu Dhabi's first fully integrated solar-powered community port (per the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office and AD Ports Group).
Inauguration and partners
The inauguration took place on April 30, 2026, with the project delivered through a partnership between the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) of Abu Dhabi Mobility, AD Ports Group and Abu Dhabi Maritime (per the Media Office). Sheikh Hamdan toured the harbour's new facilities and was briefed on the upgraded marine services and sustainability features.
Solar capacity and emissions cuts
The harbour hosts 168 photovoltaic panels mounted above its parking areas, generating enough clean electricity to cover about 80 per cent of the site's energy needs (per DredgeWire and Container News). Shore-power connections allow ferries to switch off their engines while berthed, and ferry operations from the harbour are expected to mitigate up to 500 tonnes of CO2 emissions every year. Fourteen on-site EV charging points encourage cleaner road transport for visitors and staff.
New facilities
The expanded harbour features a public marina with 16 berths, 99 dry-parking spaces, two boat maintenance workshops, a 15-metre slipway, 205 car-parking spaces and 10 RV bays (per Container News). A new 425-square-metre ferry terminal with 78 passenger seats now serves the existing Dalma Island route, replacing older temporary facilities (per Marina World).
Why it matters
Al Dhannah is the largest community in the Al Dhafra Region and a gateway to Sir Bani Yas, Delma and other western islands. AD Ports Group says the upgraded harbour is intended to support marine tourism, recreational boating and inter-island connectivity while aligning with the UAE's net-zero by 2050 commitments (per AD Ports Group).
Wider strategy
The opening adds to a string of green-port projects across the emirate, including solar-powered terminals at Khalifa Port and renewable-energy upgrades along the Dalma and Mugharraq routes. Trade Arabia notes that Abu Dhabi Maritime plans to roll out similar solar and shore-power integrations at additional community marinas across Abu Dhabi over the coming years.
