The Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras (APBA) participated last Friday in an online technical conference organized by Andalucía TRADE on logistical alternatives for the United Arab Emirates and the Arabian Gulf, a meeting aimed at analyzing the new transportation dynamics affecting the region and the available options to ensure the access of Andalusian companies to these strategic markets in a context marked by the conflict with Iran and restrictions on maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
The United Arab Emirates and the set of Gulf countries continue to be one of the main logistical and commercial nodes of international trade, connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa directly. However, the current geopolitical scenario, with growing tensions and difficulties in sea routes, is forcing companies to rethink their operations, seek alternatives, and ensure the continuity of their supply chains.
The session, attended by 42 Andalusian firms with a total of 69 professionals, was inaugurated by the general director of Andalucía TRADE, Antonio Castro, who emphasized the importance of the Andalusian business fabric maintaining an updated view of the situation in the region. Next, the director of the Andalucía TRADE Office in Dubai, Rosario Millán, provided an analysis of the current situation at the destination and its implications for Spanish exports.
The meeting also included an intervention by the economic and commercial counselor of Spain in the United Arab Emirates, Christian Garma, who addressed the economic impact derived from the conflict in the area, as well as the participation of Lander Marco, commercial director of the importing company Taste of Spain, who outlined the operational difficulties currently faced by companies trading with the region.
Nicolás Martínez Andión, head of the Business Development Department of the APBA, presented the perspective from the origin and detailed solutions and alternative routes that could help maintain the fluidity of trade towards the Gulf from southern Spain. The intervention by the Port Authority highlighted the role that the Port of Algeciras plays as a connection point between Europe and the Middle East, and the possibilities offered by its geographical position and maritime connection network to channel Andalusian trade with the region at a time of reconfiguration of international routes.
Participating experts in the conference agreed in pointing out the high resilience capacity of the United Arab Emirates in the face of crisis scenarios. Despite the initial impact generated by the escalation of conflict with Iran, the speakers indicated that there is a widespread perception that the country is solidly prepared, thanks to its rapid response capacity and the strength of its institutional and operational systems.
Although both countries have traditionally maintained significant economic and social ties, the current situation has directly affected sectors such as tourism and has fostered a climate of uncertainty. There has been a temporary departure of residents and a notable contraction of activity. Nonetheless, both the authorities and the business community maintain confidence that the United Arab Emirates will overcome the crisis.
In the geoeconomic sphere, the meeting highlighted the profound impact derived from the control of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic passage for global energy and raw materials trade. Restrictions on maritime traffic, alongside potential tolls and increased military tension, are reducing the flow of ships and increasing logistical costs, with implications for inflation and global growth. While the country has alternatives through pipelines and land routes, sectors such as tourism, real estate, and investment already show some signs of deterioration, while the financial system remains stable in the short term, awaiting the evolution of the conflict.
Faced with these limitations, the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf countries have activated various logistical alternatives to maintain the continuity of regional trade. Among them are the intensive use of pipelines that allow the export of hydrocarbons without depending on maritime transit, the reconfiguration of routes through ports located in Saudi Arabia and Oman—from where the export of goods to the Indian Ocean is channeled—and the development of new logistical corridors through agreements to expedite administrative procedures. The use of air transport has also increased, despite its higher costs. These measures help mitigate the immediate impact, although they do not fully replace the strategic capacity of the Strait of Hormuz.
The conference concluded with an open colloquium in which attending companies were able to raise questions, share experiences, and analyze possible strategies for their presence in a market that continues to offer significant opportunities for Andalusian businesses.
The 42 participating firms came from the eight Andalusian provinces, representing sectors such as agri-food, logistics, consulting, industry, and technology. Among the participating Cádiz companies were, in addition to the APBA, Huerta de Albalá, Proex Producers & Exporters, Operinter Logistics Andalucía, Alfaship, the Chamber of Commerce of the Campo de Gibraltar, Totallogistic, and UCC Logistics Spain. Companies from Almería, Córdoba, Granada, Jaén, Málaga, and Sevilla also participated, including MSC, Ángel Camacho Alimentación, Grupo Inerco, Hutesa, and Ubago.