Djibouti, 1 October 2025 – Djibouti’s Presidency announced on Tuesday that the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) has dismissed a nearly $1 billion claim filed by Dubai-based DP World over the termination of the Doraleh Container Terminal concession in 2018.
According to the official statement, the tribunal confirmed that Port de Djibouti SA (PDSA), the entity targeted in the case, bore no responsibility since the termination of DP World’s contract was a sovereign decision taken by the Djiboutian state.
The dispute has seen a series of conflicting rulings across international courts in recent years. In 2019, a London court ordered Djibouti to pay $474 million, a ruling the government rejected. In February 2023, a U.S. court ruled in favor of DP World, but that decision was overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals in July 2024.
Djibouti’s Presidency described the latest ruling as a “significant legal victory,” adding: “This decision once again reaffirms the legal rights of the Republic of Djibouti and undermines DP World’s reliance on judicial maneuvers and media pressure.”
The government reiterated that the dispute can only be resolved through direct negotiations between Djibouti and DP World, stressing the importance of safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and strategic infrastructure.
The Doraleh Container Terminal, inaugurated in 2009, remains one of Djibouti’s most vital economic assets, with an annual handling capacity of up to 1.6 million containers.
The long-running dispute is seen as one of the most consequential port conflicts in the Horn of Africa.