Operations at Both Ends of the Panama Canal are Being Explored by DP World
DP World is assessing a potential operational entry into Panama, targeting assets linked to the Panama Canal as the global ports group looks to anchor itself at one of shipping’s most strategic crossroads, according to an official account of a meeting held on January 21, 2026. DP World president Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem met Panama’s president José Raúl Mulino during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where the company set out its interest in establishing operations in the country.
Bin Sulayem said the group is, in principle, examining opportunities to operate at both ends of the Panama Canal, underscoring Panama’s role in global maritime trade. The Colón Free Zone was singled out as a key focus area under evaluation as part of this initial review. Mulino said the Panamanian government is open to supporting investments aimed at establishing operations in the country and pointed to additional locations that could be of interest, including the Panama-Pacific special area.
He also referred to ongoing projects overseen by the Panama Canal Authority, among them plans for two new megaports. DP World is a Dubai-headquartered group providing port, terminal and logistics services through a network of subsidiaries and long-term concessions, with activities spanning cargo handling, supply chain solutions and industrial logistics. The Panama Canal Authority is an autonomous Panamanian entity responsible for the administration, operation and development of the Panama Canal and associated infrastructure.
