# International Firms to Oversee DP World's Berbera Port Management Contract

> Somaliland Sun reported on 16 July 2016 that the government contracted EY, Simmons & Simmons, and NIRAS to oversee the DP World Berbera port agreement.

- By: Editorial Team, Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com/about)
- Published: 30 September 2026
- Format: News story (reported from one named public source)
- Publication: Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com)
- Subject: Business and Costs
- Tags: procurement, contractor-selection
- Web version: https://somaliconstructionreview.com/blog/international-firms-oversee-dp-world-berbera-port-management

## Key points

- Somaliland Sun reported on 16 July 2016 that the government had contracted three European firms to review the DP World agreement for managing and developing Berbera port.
- The firms were named as EY (financial), Simmons & Simmons (legal), and NIRAS (recommendations for citizens' benefits), according to a Hargeisa statement cited by the publication.
- The report does not establish what has happened since that date regarding the firms' work or contract implementation.

On 16 July 2016, Somaliland Sun reported, in an article bylined to Yusuf M Hasan, that the government of Somaliland had contracted three international firms to oversee the agreement between Somaliland and the United Arab Emirates for the management and development of Berbera port by DP World.

The publication, citing a statement released in Hargeisa, named the firms: EY, a UK-based firm, was mandated to oversee all financial aspects of the agreement; Simmons & Simmons, another UK firm, was assigned the legal aspects; and NIRAS, a Danish consultancy, was to review the contract and make recommendations. The statement did not specify the duration of the firms' services or their fee figures.

According to Somaliland Sun's report, DP World was to manage and develop Berbera port for 30 years and commit over $400m toward modernising infrastructure and completing the Berbera corridor, which the publication said connects the port to neighbouring Ethiopia.

The article described the DP World contract as the largest signed by Somaliland with an international firm in the 25 years since 1991. It stated that the port of Berbera is owned by the Government of Somaliland.

The report does not establish what has happened since 16 July 2016. No information is provided on whether the three firms began or completed their reviews, whether the DP World contract proceeded as described, or whether any of the reported plans were implemented.

## Questions

### Which firms were reported to oversee the DP World Berbera port contract?

Somaliland Sun reported on 16 July 2016 that the Somaliland government had contracted EY for financial oversight, Simmons & Simmons for legal aspects, and NIRAS for contract review and recommendations, according to a Hargeisa statement cited by the publication.

## Sources

- [Somaliland: Specialized International Firms to Oversee DP World Contract to Manage Berbera Port](https://somalilandsun.com/somaliland-specialized-international-firms-to-oversee-dp-world-contract-to-manage-berbera-port/) — Somaliland Sun, 2016-07-16