Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Port container terminal will be expanded to accommodate more of the world’s largest ships, reported The National.

Abu Dhabi Ports company, which operates $7 billion projects, has announced that it will be expanding the port’s quay wall to allow for more cargo capacity, as well as deepening the port by two meters.

The company issued a statement revealing that it plans to build 1,000 additional meters of quay wall, which will add 600,000 square meters of space for cargo handling, and deepen the main channel to 18 meters.

The expansion will be undertaken in collaboration with the National Marine Dredging Company (NMDC), to start initial work on dredging the channels and building a new quay well and a yard behind it. All construction work is scheduled to be completed in 2018, with 250 workers on staff.

CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi stated that the expansion is important to ensure Abu Dhabi remains in the global trade investment sector, and also to support local industries, according to Trade Arabia.

The new industrial zone will contribute to 15% of Abu Dhabi’s non-oil GDP amid the project completion.