# Port of Bosaso (Dekada Boosaaso)

> The Port of Bosaso in facts: the 2017 P&O Ports concession, the 2022 upgrade contract, livestock exports, shipping costs, Puntland's revenue, the 2026 disputes, and where sources differ.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/economy/port-of-bosaso/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## The short version

[Bosaso](/en/regions/bari/) is the commercial city of [Puntland](/en/states/puntland/), on the [Gulf of Aden](/en/relations/yemen/), and its port is Puntland's main gateway for trade ([Dawan Africa, 19 July 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/puntland-traders-and-dp-world-reach-agreement-to-end-bosaso-port-dispute)). The federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry names Bosaso as one of Somalia's four main ports, with Mogadishu, Berbera and Kismayo, and says all four face "capacity limitations and outdated facilities" ([Ministry of Commerce and Industry, National Export Development and Promotion Strategy](https://moci.gov.so/en//wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NATIONAL-EXPORT-DEVELOPMENT-AND-PROMOTION-STRATEGY-FOR-SOMALIA_Final-Report.pdf)). For all four ports, see [Somalia's seaports](/en/economy/ports/).

## The P&O Ports concession

- **April 2017:** Puntland's president, [Abdiweli Mohamed Ali](/en/people/abdiweli-gaas/) "Gaas", signed a 30-year concession in Dubai with **P&O Ports**, part of DP World, reported to be worth **$336 million** ([Garowe Online, 12 October 2017](https://garoweonline.com/index.php/en/news/puntland/somalia-puntland-hands-over-bosaso-port-to-po-ports)). The investment was split into **$136 million** for a first phase and **$200 million** for a second ([Seatrade Maritime](https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ports-logistics/p-o-ports-inks-concession-to-develop-336m-port-in-somalia)).
- **Plans:** a 450-metre quay, a 5-hectare back-up area, and dredging to 12 metres. Local traders said sand on the shore was keeping large container ships out of the narrow channel ([Garowe Online, 12 October 2017](https://garoweonline.com/index.php/en/news/puntland/somalia-puntland-hands-over-bosaso-port-to-po-ports)).
- **12 October 2017:** Puntland handed the port over to P&O Ports at a ceremony in Bosaso (same source).
- **4 February 2019:** Paul Anthony Fermosa, head of P&O Ports at Bosaso, was shot dead near the port. [Al-Shabaab](/en/history/al-shabaab/) said it carried out the attack ([Garowe Online, 4 February 2019](https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/puntland/somalia-al-shabaab-kills-head-of-po-ports-at-puntlands-bosaso-port)).

## The 2022 upgrade contract

On 9 December 2022 DP World and the Puntland government signed a construction agreement for a new pier of about 150 metres (500 feet), repairs to the existing quay of about 215 metres (700 feet), a container yard of about 3,000 square metres and a container stripping yard of about 4,000 square metres. The work was planned to take 12 months from early 2023 ([Maritime Executive, 9 December 2022](https://maritime-executive.com/article/dp-world-to-modernize-somalia-s-bosaso-port-as-it-expands-african-ops)). Bloomberg reported in August 2023 that DP World expected to finish the expansion by the end of that year ([Bloomberg, 17 August 2023](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-08-17/dp-world-expansion-of-somali-port-will-finish-end-of-year)).

## Livestock and shipping costs

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry says Berbera and Bosaso are "the primary live animal export points", with livestock yards and loading equipment, but that their expansion has not kept pace with export growth ([National Export Development and Promotion Strategy](https://moci.gov.so/en//wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NATIONAL-EXPORT-DEVELOPMENT-AND-PROMOTION-STRATEGY-FOR-SOMALIA_Final-Report.pdf)). See [Livestock exports](/en/economy/livestock-exports/).

The same strategy lists shipping prices quoted by Maersk:

| Route | 20-foot container | 40-foot container | Days at sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bosaso to Jebel Ali (UAE) | $1,500 | $5,000 | 6 to 8 |
| Bosaso to Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) | $750 | $1,000 | 2 to 3 |
| Mogadishu to Jebel Ali (UAE) | $1,000 | $1,500 | 8 to 9 |

## Puntland's revenue

In 2025 Puntland had total revenue and grants of **$119 million**, the highest of the federal member states. Of this, **$100 million** was its own revenue, $83 million of it from taxes, and $19 million came from external grants ([Central Bank of Somalia, Annual Report 2025](https://centralbank.gov.so/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Annual-Report_2025.pdf)). The Central Bank collects trade data by product for the ports of Mogadishu, Bosaso and Kismayo every quarter (same source). See [Money of the federal member states](/en/economy/member-states-money/).

## The 2026 disputes

- **January:** the federal government cancelled all its agreements with the [United Arab Emirates](/en/relations/uae/), including port arrangements at Bosaso ([Al Jazeera, 12 January 2026](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/12/somalia-cancels-all-agreements-with-uae-over-alleged-sovereignty-violations)). Puntland, with [Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/) and [Jubaland](/en/states/jubaland/), rejected the decision ([The New Arab, 13 January 2026](https://www.newarab.com/news/somali-regions-dismiss-government-decision-sever-uae-ties)).
- **July:** traders objected to new service charges at the port, saying they would raise import costs. On 18 July 2026 the Puntland government, business representatives and DP World announced an agreement to end the dispute. The terms were not published ([Dawan Africa, 19 July 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/puntland-traders-and-dp-world-reach-agreement-to-end-bosaso-port-dispute)).

## Sources disagree

- **Cost of the expansion.** The 2017 concession was reported at $336 million ([Garowe Online](https://garoweonline.com/index.php/en/news/puntland/somalia-puntland-hands-over-bosaso-port-to-po-ports)); Bloomberg's 2023 report gave **$366 million** ([Bloomberg](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-08-17/dp-world-expansion-of-somali-port-will-finish-end-of-year)).
- **Who ran the port in 2019.** [Garowe Online](/en/economy/somali-media-companies/) described Paul Anthony Fermosa both as head of P&O Ports and as director of DP World at Bosaso ([Garowe Online, 4 February 2019](https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/puntland/somalia-al-shabaab-kills-head-of-po-ports-at-puntlands-bosaso-port)). P&O Ports is part of DP World.
- **Completion.** No report found as of 12 November 2026 confirms when the 2022 to 2023 works were finished.

For the trade route from Bosaso south to Galkayo, see [Galkayo and the Bosaso trade corridor](/en/economy/galkayo-and-the-bosaso-trade-corridor/).

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