The Freeport of Riga Authority and AD Ports Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Riga, establishing a framework for cooperation across port development, logistics, industrial projects and digital solutions.
The agreement was signed at the offices of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia in the presence of Latvian Economics Minister Viktors Valainis, AD Ports Group Regional CEO Abdulaziz Zayed Al Shamsi, and representatives from port companies, the UAE Embassy and both organisations’ management teams.
AD Ports Group, listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and operating in more than 50 countries, reported annual revenue of EUR 4.8 billion and total assets of approximately EUR 16 billion in 2025, reflecting the scale of investment capacity it brings to the partnership.
The company manages an integrated portfolio spanning ports, industrial zones, logistics networks and digital solutions.
The MOU identifies several specific development areas for joint work within the Port of Riga.
These include port infrastructure development and investment, promotion of a new RoRo and cruise passenger terminal, advancement of the Kundziņsala industrial zone and wind technology production complex, development of the Spilve Industrial Park, modernisation of the port’s digital systems including port community systems, single window implementation and digital customs solutions, and the identification of new investment projects through preliminary studies.
Abdulaziz Zayed Al Shamisi framed the Baltic region as a strategically important gateway to Northern Europe, describing Latvia’s maritime sector strength, industrial development ambitions and growing economic ties with the UAE as a solid foundation for long-term partnership.
Sandis Å teins, Chairman of the Freeport of Riga Board, highlighted AD Ports Group’s expertise in port management, logistics zone operations, digitalisation and the cruise segment as areas of significant potential for knowledge transfer and investment attraction.
Minister Valainis described the MOU as a direct result of diplomatic and commercial engagement with AD Ports Group leadership, noting that discussions initiated during his visit to the UAE had now progressed into a concrete cooperative framework.
