Maersk Updates Middle East Operations with Emergency Rates and Routing Measures
The carrier's advisory covers landside booking pauses on Gulf corridors, an Emergency Freight Rate of USD 1,800-3,800 per container, and a Strait of Hormuz transit fee.
Maersk published Middle East Operational Update 53 on 6 November 2026, announcing operational changes affecting its Gulf services. The carrier has paused landside bookings between the UAE and Qatar and between Jeddah and Oman, and introduced an Emergency Freight Rate of USD 1,800-3,800 per container on affected corridors. A fee of USD 1,000 per container applies to transits through the Strait of Hormuz.
The advisory also covers documentation and equipment changes. Proof-of-delivery processing for Khor Fakkan is redirected to Jebel Ali, and the return of empty containers is restricted at designated depots, with the SAJAA dry port added to the arrangement on 6 November.
Maersk advised customers to review booking confirmations and applicable surcharges before tendering cargo on Gulf routes. Carriers operating in the region have issued successive operational updates amid security-related routing constraints, and the measures affect cost planning and documentation workflows for shippers and forwarders serving the corridor.