DP World to modernise Afghan border facilities

Dubai’s DP World has signed a deal with the government of Afghanistan to develop and operate the country’s land border facilities at Torkham and Hairatan.

The move aims to modernise Afghanistan’s trade gateways and strengthen its position as a strategic transit corridor linking Central and South Asia, the UAE’s state-owned news agency Wam reported.

Torkham and Hairatan are major trade arteries for Kabul’s commerce with neighbours Pakistan and Uzbekistan. 

Several billion dollars’ worth of goods move across Afghanistan’s borders each year, the DP World statement said, citing public data, with Pakistan alone accounting for more than $1.6 billion of bilateral trade in 2024. 

DP World will undertake a comprehensive technical and financial feasibility study ahead of finalising the concession through a public-private partnership model. 

The project is expected to include extensive infrastructure upgrades, advanced cargo-handling systems and the digitalisation of border processes to enhance the efficiency, safety and reliability of cross-border trade.

DP World chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem said Afghanistan is uniquely positioned to benefit from stronger links with its neighbours.

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These gateways already support significant trade flows, and modernising them will help unlock far greater potential across the region, he said. 

 The Afghan government will continue to provide sovereign border functions, including customs, immigration, security and regulatory oversight, the statement said.

In 2022, the Taliban administration signed the third and final major contract with the UAE’s GAAC Holding to run Afghanistan’s airports.