Global logistics networks are being forced to rethink their dependence on major maritime chokepoints. In response, DP World plans to increase its regional truck fleet from around 700 to 1,000 trucks, a roughly 40% expansion, while developing new overland routes connecting Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
 

The move comes as disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz continue to affect shipping flows. DP World has been building alternatives that combine road, sea and rail, giving cargo owners additional ways to move goods when traditional maritime routes become unreliable.
 

🌍 New land routes are gaining importance
 

DP World launched a road freight service linking Western Europe to the Gulf through Turkey shortly after the Strait of Hormuz was closed. The service currently handles up to 50 trucks per week, with demand including automotive parts and consumer goods. The company has also introduced hybrid sea-and-road services for cargo moving from Asia and the US through Turkey.

​

Another route under development would move cargo overland from Europe to Iraq, followed by sea transport across the Gulf to the UAE. Discussions with authorities in Baghdad are reportedly underway to establish a permanent service.

​

🚚 Building a land bridge around disruption
 

DP World's existing trucking network connects the GCC with alternative ports including Fujairah in the UAE, Salalah in Oman and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. The company has also reported moving 500,000 TEUs across its GCC overland network, which now supports around 3,000 truck movements per day.

​

The strategy is not limited to trucks. DP World is also developing additional port capacity outside the Strait of Hormuz, including two planned deep-water terminals on the UAE's east coast at Fujairah.

​

💰 Flexibility comes at a cost
 

Alternative routes can provide resilience, but they are more expensive. DP World estimates that moving cargo between Europe and the Gulf by land can cost three to four times more than sea freight.

​

That creates an important trade-off for shippers: higher transportation costs versus greater reliability and route flexibility.

​

📦 What this means for logistics

​

The DP World expansion reflects a broader shift in supply-chain strategy.

​

Companies are increasingly looking beyond a single transport mode or route and building multimodal networks with multiple fallback options.

​

For freight forwarders and logistics operators, this means route planning will increasingly involve comparing cost, transit time, risk, capacity and geopolitical exposure rather than simply selecting the cheapest available ocean route.

​

The lesson is clear: supply-chain resilience is becoming less about finding one perfect route and more about having multiple routes ready when the unexpected happens.