Assessing the Motivations of DP World and Abu Dhabi Ports in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

This thesis investigates the motivations behind DP World and Abu Dhabi Ports’ investments in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) since 2015. English-language literature and discourse often frame such investments as geopolitical tools of the UAE’s foreign policy, aimed at asserting influence across critical maritime infrastructure in the region. This study challenges that dominant narrative by asking: Are these investments primarily financially motivated, or do they serve as instruments of state power?

Using a qualitative methodology that includes seven semi-structured interviews with senior personnel from both port operators and a comparative engagement with academic literature, this thesis finds that financial motivations, such as long-term profitability, market access, and shareholder returns, are the primary drivers behind UAE port investments in SSA. While alignment with national economic visions exists, particularly in the case of Abu Dhabi Ports, no interviewee described direct political instruction as guiding investment decisions. Instead, findings point to commercial pragmatism, institutional mandates, and global expansion strategies as key factors.

The research draws on Jack Behrman’s framework for categorizing multinational enterprise activity and incorporates Huo et al.’s four-modality typology to analyze investment models. It finds that while both DP World and AD Ports prefer concession-based models, they differ in risk tolerance, partnership structures, and speed of expansion. Additionally, the study reveals how UAE-based firms navigate regional volatility, local political resistance, and English-language mischaracterizations of their actions.

Ultimately, this thesis contributes to a more evidence-based and nuanced understanding of Gulf commercial engagement in the Global South, rejecting the reductive framing of port operators as mere agents of statecraft.

Date of Award	Jun 2025
Original language	American English
Supervisor	Brendon Cannon (Supervisor)