Maritime trade is central to the movement of goods through the United Arab Emirates, yet emirate-level analysis is needed to understand how cargo patterns change across individual port systems. This study examines the growth and changing patterns of maritime trade in Sharjah through published secondary data on cargo handled at Port Khalid, Hamriyah Port and Khorfakkan Port. It proposes a descriptive analysis of general cargo volumes, imports and other consistently reported cargo indicators. The analysis will compare equivalent reporting periods, calculate percentage changes and examine differences between cargo categories and ports where disaggregated figures are available. An official Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority publication provides an initial basis for the study. It reports that general cargo handled across Sharjah’s three main ports rose from 1,507,397 tonnes in the first half of 2024 to 2,080,090 tonnes in the first half of 2025, an increase of approximately 38%. Reported imports rose from 1,351,790 tonnes to 1,813,984 tonnes over the same periods. These figures establish growth in the indicators reported, but do not by themselves demonstrate a lasting change in cargo composition or the performance of each port.

The proposed study will therefore distinguish changes in total volume from changes in the relative shares of imports, exports and cargo types. It will use only figures with clear definitions and matching time periods, and will identify gaps where port-specific data are unavailable. Statistics for 2025–26 and 2026–27 will be incorporated only after their reporting periods are complete and comparable official publications are available. The study is expected to provide a documented account of Sharjah’s maritime cargo trends and a practical basis for further research on port planning and logistics demand. Its conclusions will be limited to the indicators and periods supported by the published data, without treating projected figures as actual trade outcomes.

 

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