Invest Berbera

Somaliland's gateway to global trade.

Berbera is widely regarded as the economic gateway of Somaliland — a historic coastal city positioned at the heart of one of the world's most strategic shipping lanes.

500K

TEU annual capacity

$442M

Port expansion investment

1,200km

Trade corridor to Ethiopia

30°C

Average annual temperature

Why Berbera

Six reasons global investors are choosing Berbera.

Strategic Location

On the Gulf of Aden — one of the world's busiest maritime routes connecting Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

The Berbera Corridor

Direct trade and logistics corridor to Hargeisa and onward to Ethiopia — one of East Africa's most important.

Port & Logistics

Modern investments in port infrastructure, container handling, and special economic zones.

Livestock Hub

Millions of livestock pass through Berbera annually — the leading export centre of the Horn of Africa.

Tourism Potential

Coral-rich waters, warm climate, and Somaliland's most beautiful beaches — a coastal tourism frontier.

Business-Friendly

Streamlined municipal licensing, SEZ incentives, and a one-stop investor desk.

Vision 2040

A leading logistics hub. A smart coastal city.

Vision 2040 sets out Berbera's ambition: a clean and sustainable municipality, a centre for investment, and a gateway connecting Africa and the Middle East.

Port & LogisticsLivestock TradeFisheriesTourismIndustry & ManufacturingRenewable Energy

Discover Berbera

A city written by the sea.

For hundreds of years Berbera hosted one of the region's largest trading fairs, attracting merchants from Ethiopia, Arabia, and beyond. Today the city carries that legacy forward — with turquoise waters, coral reefs, Ottoman- and British-era heritage architecture, and a warm community that welcomes the world.

History & heritage, culture, beaches, business and a working port — Berbera is written by the sea, and is now writing its next chapter.

Invest in Sahil

Six sectors. One coastline. Endless opportunity.

Sahil Region is open for business. Whether you're a global logistics company, a regional manufacturer, or a first-time investor in the Horn of Africa — Berbera offers the infrastructure, the incentives and the institutional support to make your project succeed.

SEZ Benefits

100% foreign ownership permitted
Long-term land lease (up to 50 years)
Tax holidays on corporate income
Duty-free import of capital equipment
Repatriation of profits guaranteed
One-stop investor desk at Berbera Municipality

Investor Guide Talk to the Investment Desk

Port-adjacent Logistics

Warehousing, container freight, cold-chain and bonded storage inside the Berbera SEZ.

Light Manufacturing

Tax-incentivised assembly, packaging and processing for the East African market.

Fisheries & Seafood

Untapped Gulf of Aden waters — tuna, lobster, shark; processing & export ready.

Renewable Energy

Year-round sun and wind; opportunity for utility-scale solar and port electrification.

Tourism & Hospitality

Beach resorts, heritage hotels in Old Berbera, eco-lodges in the Sheikh highlands.

Transport & Trucking

Fleet operations along the 250km Berbera Corridor to Ethiopia — predictable, fast-growing demand.

The Berbera Corridor

One corridor. A continent of opportunity.

The Berbera Corridor is the modernised trade artery linking the Port of Berbera, through Hargeisa, to the Tog Wajaale border crossing and onward into the Ethiopian highlands — opening a faster, safer alternative route for one of Africa's largest landlocked economies.

Berbera Port

Deep-water gateway — 500K TEU container terminal

Berbera SEZ

12.2 km² industrial zone — manufacturing, warehousing, processing

Berbera Airport

4,200m runway — international cargo & passenger hub

Corridor Highway

250+ km modernised road to Hargeisa & Ethiopia border

Wajaale Border Post

One-stop customs to landlocked Ethiopia (120M+ market)

Ethiopian Hinterland

Inland trade reaching Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa & beyond

Bi-directional Trade Flows

Stream	Inbound to Berbera	Outbound via Berbera
Trade Flow	Manufactured goods, fuel, machinery, food imports	Livestock, frankincense, hides, agricultural exports
Transit Cargo	Cement, fertiliser, vehicles for Ethiopia	Coffee, sesame, leather from Ethiopian highlands
Value-add	Foreign direct investment & SEZ capital	Processed goods, packaging, fisheries exports

Corridor Impact

120M+

Ethiopian consumers served via the corridor

$442M

DP World concession investment in the port

30%

Projected reduction in transit time vs alternative routes

2M TEU

Long-term container capacity target

Trusted by Global Partners

The investors and partners already building Berbera.

From world-class port operators to multilateral development banks — Berbera is one of the most-backed infrastructure stories on the African coast.

United Arab Emirates

DP World

Port Concessionaire & SEZ Developer

Operating the Berbera Multi-Purpose Port under a 30-year concession since 2017. Delivered a new 400m container quay, 500K TEU capacity, and the Berbera SEZ master plan.

Commitment$442M (Phase I + II)

Hargeisa

Government of Somaliland

Public Partner & Regulator

Retains 65% of the port operating company and leads corridor policy. Has prioritised Berbera in every national development plan since 2017.

CommitmentLand, regulatory framework

Addis Ababa

Government of Ethiopia

Trade & Logistics Partner

Major user of the corridor for landlocked import/export flows. Signed cooperation agreements to diversify Ethiopian foreign trade through Berbera.

CommitmentStrategic offtake agreements

Abu Dhabi

UAE Government

Infrastructure Partner

Funded the upgrade of Berbera International Airport's 4,200m runway and contributed to the Berbera–Wajaale corridor highway upgrade.

CommitmentCorridor & airport funding

Brussels · London

European Union & UK FCDO

Development Finance

Co-financed the Berbera Corridor road rehabilitation, customs modernisation at Wajaale, and SME finance programmes around the port.

Commitment€85M+ programmes

Washington D.C.

World Bank Group

Urban & Infrastructure

Supports Berbera municipal infrastructure, drainage, urban planning and the wider Horn of Africa Initiative connecting regional ports.

CommitmentMulti-sector lending

National Voices on Berbera

What Somaliland's leaders are saying about Berbera & Sahil.

"Berbera is not just a port — it is the artery of Somaliland's economy and the cornerstone of our nation's place in the wider region. Strengthening Berbera means strengthening Somaliland."

H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro)

President of the Republic of Somaliland

"The development of Berbera Port is one of the most important national projects in the history of Somaliland — a gateway for the Horn of Africa to the world."

H.E. Muse Bihi Abdi

Former President of Somaliland

"Our duty as a Municipality is to build a coastal city worthy of Berbera's thousand-year history — and ready for the next thousand years."

Hon. Abdishakur Mahamud Edin

Mayor of Berbera · Governor of Sahil Region

Ready to build with Berbera?

The Berbera Investment Desk welcomes serious enquiries from port operators, logistics firms, manufacturers, hospitality groups and impact investors.

Explore Opportunities Contact the Mayor's Office