Ports

Gemini Service Restart Strains Khor Fakkan as Carriers Reroute from Jebel Ali

The relaunched Gemini service connecting Far East and Middle East markets is expected to intensify congestion pressures at Khor Fakkan following its diversion from Jebel Ali due to the US-Iran war. Hapag-Lloyd's AGX and Maersk's FM1 services will operate under revised rotations routing traffic through the UAE port instead. Kuehne+Nagel reports that Khor Fakkan and Fujairah have become primary pressure points after absorbing volumes displaced from the Strait of Hormuz region in recent months. Maersk acknowledged vessel congestion and limited berth availability at Khor Fakkan, citing high yard utilization and extended truck waiting times affecting cargo clearance. Analysts expect the port to remain under significant strain in coming weeks. However, some carriers suggest broader market redistribution toward alternative gateways including Jeddah, Aqaba and Salalah may eventually relieve regional bottlenecks.