Mubarak Al Kabeer Port

Mubarak Al Kabeer Port
Location
Country	Kuwait
Location	Bubiyan Island
Coordinates	29°53′27″N 48°16′31″E / 29.89083°N 48.27528°E / 29.89083; 48.27528
Details
Operated by	2016

Mubarak Al Kabeer Port is a controversial project under construction in the largest island in the Kuwaiti coastal island chain, Bubiyan Island. The port is intended to overlook the Persian Gulf.^[1][2] The port is scheduled to be done and completely operational by 2016.

Mubarak Port Dispute

The port caused an uproar in Iraq.^[2][3] A research carried out by an Iraqi economist, Riyadh Jawad, claims that a 60 per cent drop in Umm Qasr traffic was likely and the viability of the new port challenged. Another Iraqi ports expert, Faleh Kadhim, said the Kuwaiti port plans are in reaction to Iraq’s attempts to compete with the Red Sea route currently used for most goods traveling from East Asia to Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, through the construction of Al Faw Grand Port, together with a new railway system.^[4]

The implications of the port's construction are expected to severely impact the already-strained Iraq-Kuwait relationship, as the move is seen as provocative and unnecessary by many Iraqis and the Iraqi government.^[3] There were calls to resort to the United Nations to resolve the conflict. ^[5]

As of 8 September 2011 Iraq’s foreign minister has said that the dispute over Mubarak al Kabir port project has been resolved.^[6] In another statement the Iraqi minister added a report by the technical team, submitted following their visit to Kuwait, dismissed all fears about the port.^[7]

References

1. ^ al Sayegh, Hadeel. "Kuwait go-ahead on Mubarak port infuriates Iraq". The National. http://www.thenational.ae/business/aviation/kuwait-go-ahead-on-mubarak-port-infuriates-iraq. Retrieved 21 August 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Saleh, A (August, 2011). "Iraqis stage demos on border against port". Kuwait Times. http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MjMzOTU0Mzk4Nw==. Retrieved 21 August 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "New Kuwaiti Port Risks Affecting Iraq’s Faw Grand Port Project". Iraq Daily Times. http://iraqdailytimes.com/new-kuwaiti-port-risks-affecting-iraq%E2%80%99s-faw-grand-port-project/. Retrieved 21 August 2011. 
4. ^ "Economists: Kuwait port will cut Umm Qasr traffic by 60%". aknews. http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/2/239425/. Retrieved 17 September 2011. 
5. ^ "Iraqi minister ‘reiterates’ calls to suspend Kuwait port project". Arab Times. http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/172675/reftab/36/Default.aspx. Retrieved 21 August 2011. 
6. ^ "Mubarak port dispute resolved". Worldcargo News. http://www.worldcargonews.com/htm/w20110908.044654.htm. Retrieved 17 September 2011. 
7. ^ "GCC Affirms Support For Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port". Arab Times. September 17, 2011. http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/173725/reftab/73/t/GCC-affirms-support-for-Mubarak-Al-Kabeer-port/Default.aspx. Retrieved September 17, 2011.