Container port congestion across the Middle East has climbed to a record level, shipping consultancy Linerlytica reported in its weekly assessment, with vessels facing waits exceeding one week at the region’s key alternative gateways as the Strait of Hormuz disruption continues to redirect cargo flows . The congestion is concentrated at ports handling diverted traffic rather than uniformly across the Gulf, with Khorfakkan and Fujairah on the UAE’s east coast bearing the brunt of the operational strain.
New figures from Kuehne+Nagel, using data as of 30 October 2026, show average vessel waiting times at Khorfakkan reaching 7.25 days, while Fujairah recorded an average of 8.86 days over the preceding week . At Sharjah, vessels were waiting approximately three days for berths, though arrival and departure delays over the past 30 days exceeded four days . The delays extend beyond the quayside: container transfers from Khorfakkan and Fujairah to Jebel Ali, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, which previously took around five days, are now taking between 12 and 15 days .
The congestion reflects the structural transformation of Khorfakkan from a ship-to-ship transshipment hub into a primary landside gateway. Weekly road container volumes departing the terminal have risen from approximately 8,000 TEU at the start of 2026 to around 65,000 TEU during major rerouting periods, overwhelming road and yard infrastructure never designed for such flows . MSC has deployed vessels of approximately 24,000 TEU on an expanded Far East–Middle East service calling at Khorfakkan despite the mounting delays, compounding pressure on the terminal .
Regional spillover effects are evident at other gateways. Hapag-Lloyd’s operational advisory places yard density at Oman’s Salalah port at 84%, with berthing delays of up to 36 hours, while Sohar faces waits of two to three days . Jeddah’s container yards in Saudi Arabia are operating at approximately 76% density . These figures indicate that the pressure is spreading across the region’s alternative ports rather than remaining confined to the UAE’s east coast.
Carriers have begun adjusting their operations in response. Maersk announced temporary booking restrictions on 30 October covering Khorfakkan, Fujairah and selected Upper Gulf destinations, citing congestion and continuing regional disruption . New bookings will be accepted only according to available capacity, and existing bookings that cannot be loaded on their original vessel will not automatically roll to the next sailing . Some carriers are reducing allocations for Khorfakkan, Fujairah and Sharjah, though no widespread direct port omissions have yet been implemented .
The congestion is being compounded by the broader redrawing of Gulf logistics. With direct calls to upper Gulf ports constrained by the Hormuz disruption, cargo is being discharged at east coast ports and moved inland under customs-bonded transit arrangements. AD Ports and Dubai authorities have formalised contingency routings using truck convoys or rail shuttles to Khalifa Port and Jebel Ali, but these add handoffs, customs complexity and emergency freight surcharges of up to USD 3,800 per container. The result is that a container moving through Khorfakkan or Fujairah faces a multi-stage delay sequence: waiting at anchor for a berth, discharge under possible cargo-type restrictions, yard dwell while awaiting onward transport, and then an extended inland transfer window.
Linerlytica expects Middle Eastern trades to continue attracting additional vessel capacity despite softening freight rates elsewhere, potentially adding further pressure to overstretched terminals . For shippers and freight forwarders, the practical implication is that port congestion in the Middle East has become a structural feature of the current supply chain environment rather than a transient disruption. Kuehne+Nagel advises customers to plan for further routing adjustments and additional transit buffers, and suggests considering alternative gateways such as Salalah and Duqm in Oman, where truck capacity is currently more readily available . However, shifting to an alternative port introduces its own complications, including additional terminal handling, different customs procedures and revised haulage arrangements. The congestion is expected to persist for weeks, with strong Middle East demand and precautionary inventory building continuing to add pressure on available capacity .