Garacad port to pass to a UAE company, President Deni confirms

WardheerNews reported on 4 July 2025 that Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni confirmed Garacad port would be handed over to a United Arab Emirates-based company, in what the outlet described as an investment deal to expand regional trade and infrastructure. The report placed the statement in Bacaadweyne city, Mudug region, and said the talks were technical negotiations between the Somali company Wadagsan and an Emirati firm.

What the source records

According to WardheerNews, Deni said the discussions were solely between Wadagsan and the Emirati company, that the government stayed out of them, that all technical aspects had been finalised and that he expected the agreement to be implemented soon. He also announced a new highway linking Garacad port to the Tuuri-Dibi customs checkpoint in Galdogob district, intended to move goods toward Ethiopia. WardheerNews added that the deal is expected to attract investment and may serve as a model for public-private partnerships, and that local stakeholders and opposition figures have raised transparency and oversight concerns.

What it means on site

A handover of this kind can change who controls port access, berth and storage arrangements, and the procedure for clearing goods through Garacad. For a contractor, haulier or importer, the point to watch is the party that issues instructions and receipts, and whether the road to Tuuri-Dibi is built by the port operator, the government or a separate contractor. The source does not say. Treat both the handover and the road as planned, not built, and confirm the responsible office in writing before you mobilise plant, order materials or book haulage.

What the source does not establish

The UAE company is not named, and no agreement text, terms or road design has been published. A confirmed intention to hand over is not a completed transfer, and the announcement of a highway is a scope, not a finished carriageway. The source is dated 4 July 2025, so it cannot describe the present condition of the port, the negotiations or the road. A signed agreement, a concession document or a statement from the parties would confirm the current position. The source does not state who is responsible for the transparency concerns it reports.

What to do next

Ask the Puntland ministry responsible for ports, or the Garacad port authority, which company holds the concession and from what date, and request the document in writing. Ask separately whether a design or tender exists for the Garacad to Tuuri-Dibi road.