Djibouti Capital: Forum of Horn Vision,
Date: April 9, 2026,
Republic of Djibouti has opened a giant ship repair facility, a first aimed at supporting the strategic position of its maritime hub overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the world’s busiest and most vital shipping route.
President Ismail Omar Guelleh inaugurated the ( DSRY ) basin for ships repair by cutting the project’s ribbon and reviewing its most important details, expressing his material and moral support for this large project as a reflection of his country’s progress towards development and prosperity, and enhancing Djibouti’s geostrategic position at the entrance to Bab Al-Mandab.
During the inauguration, President Ismail Guelleh stated: “The DSRY project has always been a dream and a national priority, and its importance lies in Djibouti’s strategic location,” noting Djibouti’s prominent role in providing transit ship services at the regional level.
For his part, Hassan Hamed, Minister of Infrastructure, stated that the shipyard represents a strategic national asset in strengthening the competitiveness of ports, and a tributary of the country’s blue economy.
In the same context, Abubaker Omar Hadi, Chairman of the Ports and Free Zones Authority of Djibouti, stated that this project falls within the framework of expanding regional maritime influence within the comprehensive development vision of the Republic of Djibouti until 2035.
At the opening ceremony, Arnott Damen, CEO of Damen, confirmed that the company would provide the necessary support for the successful construction of the shipyard.
During the opening ceremony also, the Djiboutian authorities explained that the construction of a maritime project of this size is “the largest of its kind in the Red Sea and East Africa” as it contains a floating dock 217 meters long, with a lifting capacity of 20,100 tons, and can serve a wide range of ships at once.
Experts also revealed the nature of the marine basin’s work, particularly the provision of preventive and corrective maintenance services through specialized and experienced personnel, noting that this project has Its importance lies in the economic growth benefits accruing to the country, in addition to creating job opportunities for the Djiboutian workforce.
Through the project’s feasibility study, experts reported its ability to absorb an operational workforce of 350 jobs, in addition to creating 1,400 jobs indirectly, not to mention providing training opportunities for young professionals in technical aspects.
Djibouti is currently developing the Ship Repair Yard ( DSRY ) in partnership with the Dutch Damen Group, which specializes in the defense, shipbuilding and engineering sectors, along with funding from Invest International with an investment of US$116.5 million.
It is worth noting that Djibouti already possesses major international ports and logistical infrastructure in a sensitive maritime geopolitical location. Consequently, it has an urgent need to develop its maritime sector and services, and seek to achieve major investment value through the movement of ships and maritime navigation services through the Red Sea route, especially in light of the current regional crisis represented by the military conflict between most of the countries of the Middle East region, and the disruption of maritime routes with the closure of most of the ports near it. Therefore, it was imperative for the State of Djibouti to invest positively in the current crisis by developing the capacity of its seaports and turning them into a more effective national resource.
