Port Rashid guide for shippersPort Rashid, then and now.
Port Rashid, also called Mina Rashid, was Dubai's first modern commercial port, opened in 1972 near the mouth of Dubai Creek. Container cargo moved to Jebel Ali Port long ago, and Port Rashid is now known for its cruise terminal and marina. Airlift Logistics, a Dubai freight forwarder, explains what that means for shippers and where to book containers instead.
Port Rashid at a glance
A historic port in central Dubai, now mainly for cruise ships, yachts and waterfront living.
- Also called
- Mina Rashid
- Opened
- 1972
- Location
- Bur Dubai, near the mouth of Dubai Creek
- Former role
- Dubai's main commercial and container port
- Today
- Cruise terminal, marina and waterfront development
- Container cargo
- Handled at Jebel Ali Port (AEJEA) instead
- Customs
- Dubai Customs controlled area
What shippers should know
If an old document or contact still names Port Rashid, these points will save time.
- 01
Use Jebel Ali (AEJEA) for FCL and LCL sea freight to Dubai.
- 02
Check old paperwork
Older contracts and forms may still name the old port. Confirm the real port with the carrier.
- 03
The cruise terminal handles passenger ships and their supplies.
- 04
Boats and yachts can be shipped via specialist carriers; ask us for the right port.
- 05
It opened in 1972; Jebel Ali followed in 1979 and took over containers.
- 06
Central location
Its city-centre site is why heavy cargo moved to Jebel Ali.
Where Dubai cargo goes today
Where each type of cargo for Dubai is handled today.
| Movement | What happens |
|---|---|
| Containers (FCL and LCL) | Jebel Ali Port, AEJEA |
| Cargo for Abu Dhabi | Khalifa Port, AEKHL |
| Air cargo | Dubai International (DXB) or Al Maktoum (DWC) |
| Cruise passengers and supplies | The cruise terminal in Bur Dubai |
Ask us before booking anything to the old port; we confirm the right port for your cargo.
From busy port to cruise terminal
How Dubai's cargo moved from the creek to Jebel Ali.
| Period | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1972 | Mina Rashid opens as Dubai's first modern deep-water port |
| 1979 | Jebel Ali Port opens south-west of the city |
| 1980s to 2000s | Container lines move their calls to Jebel Ali |
| 2000s | A cruise terminal is developed at Mina Rashid |
| Today | Cruise ships, marina and waterfront homes; containers go to Jebel Ali |
No, it no longer handles container cargo. Dubai's container traffic moved to Jebel Ali Port, which opened in 1979 and grew into the region's main container port. The port is now mainly a cruise terminal and marina, with waterfront homes being developed around it.
- Book containers to Jebel Ali.
- Its port code is not used for boxes.
Yes, Mina Rashid and Port Rashid are the same place. Mina means port in Arabic. The port is in Bur Dubai, near the mouth of Dubai Creek, and is named after Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. Both names appear on maps, signs and older shipping documents.
- It opened in 1972.
- Today it hosts cruise ships.
Ship containers to Jebel Ali Port, code AEJEA. Almost every deep-sea container service to Dubai calls there, and Jebel Ali Free Zone sits next to it. For deliveries in Abu Dhabi, Khalifa Port can be an option. We confirm the right port when you send your shipment details.
- Air cargo uses DXB or DWC.
- Older forms may still name the old port.
Yacht shipping depends on the carrier and vessel type. Large yachts usually move on specialist yacht carriers or deck cargo services, which choose their own loading ports. Small boats can travel in a container or on a flat rack through Jebel Ali. Tell us the boat's size and weight for options.
- Ownership papers are needed.
- Cradles and lashing add cost.