Infrastructure
DP World Signs on to Upgrade Afghanistan Border Crossings as Trade Routes Shift
Plan seeks to improve processing at country's principal land borders, where congestion, closures and weak regulation hinder freight
The Friendship Bridge at Hairatan connects Afghanistan to Uzbekistan’s rail network and serves as a major northern freight gateway. Planned upgrades under the DP World agreement could modernize cargo handling and improve access to Central Asia.
DP World, the Dubai-based global ports and logistics firm, signed an agreement with Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government to upgrade land border facilities at the Torkham crossing on the country’s eastern border with Pakistan and Hairatan on the northern border with Uzbekistan.
The deal, announced Dec. 7 by the United Arab Emirates’ state news agency WAM, could modernize freight movement along corridors that have faced chronic congestion and repeated security disruptions, the company said in its announcement. DP World described the agreement as a “landmark partnership” to develop and operate Afghanistan’s most important land border facilities, according to a company statement sent to ENR.
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Structured as a public–private partnership, the agreement requires DP World to conduct a comprehensive technical and financial feasibility study before finalizing the concession, with expected upgrades including expanded infrastructure, advanced cargo-handling systems and digitalized border processes.
DP World Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem said in a statement reported by Arabian Business that “efficient trade corridors are fundamental to economic resilience, and Afghanistan is uniquely positioned to benefit from stronger links with its neighbors.” Modernizing the crossings, he added, “will help unlock far greater potential across the region,” creating “pathways to stability and opportunity.” Financial terms and a project timeline were not disclosed.
The agreement was signed in Kabul by Alhaj Mufti Abdul Mateen Saeed, Afghanistan’s deputy minister for revenue and customs, and Nasser Al Neyadi, executive vice president at DP World.
At the ceremony, Abdullah Azzam, chief of staff to the Taliban’s deputy chief minister for economic affairs, said the framework “allows both sides to assess investment options,” adding that expanded border management would use “advanced equipment” and conform to “international standards,” as reported by Afghan outlet Amu TV.
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DP World noted that the project will prioritize local employment and skills development, with the Afghan government "retaining sovereign functions such as customs, immigration, security and regulatory oversight" during and after modernization.
Upgrades Target Congested Facilities and Shifting Trade Routes
An aerial view of the Hairatan crossing shows the rail and road links connecting Afghanistan to Uzbekistan across the Amu Darya,
a key corridor targeted for DP World’s upgrades.
Image courtesy of sunmaya1/Flickr
Existing conditions at both crossings illustrate the scope of potential work. Humanitarian and border-monitoring reports describe Torkham’s facilities as frequently congested, with narrow access roads, limited sheltered inspection space and mostly manual processing, which can lead to multi-hour delays during normal operations. Hairatan, which links directly to Uzbekistan Railways and the wider Central Asia network, operates aging freight yards and constrained storage capacity, complicating the handling of fuel and food imports.
Trade through the two gateways remains substantial. Arabian Business reported that Afghanistan-Pakistan trade exceeded $1.6 billion in 2024, most of it routed through Torkham. DP World noted that several billion dollars' worth of goods move across Afghanistan’s borders each year, underscoring the importance of Torkham and Hairatan as essential commercial arteries.
A November 2025 Reuters dispatch noted that Afghanistan has been increasingly relying on Iranian routes when Pakistan shutdowns disrupt traffic, highlighting the vulnerability of the eastern corridor and emphasizing the strategic need for better infrastructure at both crossings.
With nominal GDP estimated at about $17.15 billion in 2023, according to the World Bank, Afghanistan’s economy remains significantly smaller and more fragile than before the 2021 political transition following the withdrawal of U.S. and Allied soldiers.
The U.S. Institute of Peace reports that the country's GDP experienced a contraction of more than 25% between 2021 and 2022, with modest growth in 2024 driven mainly by agriculture. This economic backdrop shapes both the urgency for more reliable trade infrastructure and the constraints surrounding large-scale investment.
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Security and Regulatory Gaps Pose Delivery Risks
Security and governance conditions present a central challenge for any long-term development. A 2025 assessment by the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute characterizes Afghanistan’s security landscape as volatile, citing extremist-group activity and weak administrative capacity in border areas.
Reuters reported that Pakistani and Afghan forces exchanged fire at Torkham on March 3, forcing a temporary closure. A UN refugee agency border report covering January through May 2025 noted sustained irregular crossings and pressure on nearby towns during periods of heightened tension.
Regulatory procedures at the crossings operate under Taliban administrative directives rather than codified permitting or environmental frameworks, creating uncertainty for foreign engineering and construction firms around standards, workforce protocols and site-security requirements. DP World has not detailed how approvals will be coordinated.
DP World has experience modernizing gateway facilities in complex environments, including the redevelopment of Syria’s Port of Tartus. The company is positioning the Afghanistan project within its broader portfolio of inland and border logistics developments across the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Afghan officials have promoted deeper commercial links with Central Asia to reduce reliance on Pakistan, and local media reports indicate the feasibility phase will first examine upgrades at Hairatan, followed by Torkham. The sequence aligns with Kabul’s broader strategy to diversify trade routes through northern rail connections and regional road corridors.
DP World stated that the feasibility study will assess how upgraded facilities and digital customs systems could reduce processing times and support anticipated growth in traffic. The company emphasized that modernized, well-managed border facilities are vital to enhancing efficiency, safety and reliability across Afghanistan’s trade corridors.
Bryan Gottlieb is the online editor at Engineering News-Record (ENR).
Gottlieb is a five-time Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism award winner with more than a decade of experience covering business, construction and community issues, including finance, law and real estate. He has reported for Adweek and the San Diego Daily Transcript and led a community newsroom in Santa Monica, Calif. He served as editor-in-chief of the Detroit Metro Times and as managing editor at Roofing Contractor, where he helped shape national industry coverage. At Engineering News-Record, Gottlieb covers breaking news, large-scale infrastructure and megaprojects, regulatory developments and business trends across the U.S. and global construction sectors.
email: gottliebb@enr.com | office: (248) 786-1591
