Hambantota port in talks to expand vehicle exports to Gulf markets

With sea transport disrupted in the Middle East, the port of Hambantota is serving as an alternative gateway for vehicle exports to Gulf countries. Hambantota International Port Group and Al-Futtaim Logistics have now held talks on further expanding their business relationship.

The discussions took place during a goodwill visit to Hambantota International Port by a delegation led by the vice-chairman of the Al-Futtaim Group. The two sides focused on the role of the CASCADIA RoRo feeder service, which carries vehicles, in linking Hambantota with Gulf markets.

After the Arab delegates expressed interest in investing in the port, officials briefed them on investment opportunities in port operations and its industrial park.

In a report titled Resilience in Motion released by Al-Futtaim before the visit, Hambantota was named as one of three alternative gateways used to sustain the regional motor-vehicle distribution chain after disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz in March 2026. The other two are Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat and Port Khor Fakkan on the Gulf of Oman.

Together, the three routes carried more than 25,000 finished vehicles to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, the report said. It noted that the figure reflects the combined contribution of all three routes, not the volume handled by Hambantota alone.