Due to disruptions in maritime operations caused by the conflict in the Middle East, the significance of the Hambantota Port as an alternative transshipment gateway for vehicles destined for the Gulf market has come to the fore.
In light of this situation, it is reported that the Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) and Al-Futtaim Logistics have held discussions regarding the further strengthening of their business relationship.
These discussions took place during a recent official visit to the Hambantota International Port (HIP) by a delegation led by the Vice Chairman of the Al-Futtaim Group. The delegation also expressed interest in investment opportunities within the port; in response, officials from the Hambantota International Port provided a detailed explanation regarding the investment potential associated with port operations and the industrial park.
It is reported that significant attention was focused on expanding commercial ties, including the role played by the ‘CASCADIA RoRo Feeder Service’ (a vehicle transport service) in connecting the Hambantota Port with markets in the Gulf region.
These details are highlighted in a white paper titled “Resilience in Motion,” published by the Al-Futtaim Group. The report identifies the Hambantota Port as one of the three alternative routes utilized to maintain the continuity of regional automotive supply chains following disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz in March 2026. In addition, ‘Port Sultan Qaboos’ in Muscat and ‘Port Khor Fakkan’ in the Gulf of Oman were also included among these alternative routes.

According to the ‘Al-Futtaim’ group, over 25,000 vehicles have been transported to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia via these three routes.
The company states that this enabled the continuous supply of vehicles to dealerships and allowed manufacturers to resume production at full capacity. This figure represents the total number of vehicles transported across all three routes, rather than the volume handled exclusively through the Port of Hambantota.
The ‘CASCADIA RoRo Feeder Service,’ which commenced on June 9, 2026, is also part of this connectivity network. This is managed by ‘Al-Futtaim Logistics’ part of the Dubai-headquartered ‘Al-Futtaim Group’ which provides integrated logistics solutions across sectors including automotive, aviation, retail, and food and beverages.
Its service network extends to over 150 countries through partner organizations.
It is also noted that the emergence of Hambantota as a reliable alternative stopover for cargo bound for the Gulf region at a time when the stability of global trade routes is declining could prove to be a long-term advantage for this southern Sri Lankan port.