GT LINES expands China–UAE container services through new carrier partnerships
GT LINES, the container shipping division of Gulftainer Group, has announced expanded cooperation with four Chinese shipping companies across two container services connecting major Chinese ports with Khorfakkan in the United Arab Emirates.
The arrangements involve an upgraded Khorfakkan China Express (KCX 1) service operated in partnership with Zhong Gu, Sea Legend and Ningbo Ocean, alongside a separate collaboration with CULines on its CGX service, designated KCX 5.
The two partnerships are intended to strengthen shipping connectivity between China and the Middle East, with Khorfakkan serving as the principal UAE gateway. Gulftainer said the cooperation arrangements were scheduled to begin in early November 2026, although the first sailing date for the revised KCX 1 service has not been confirmed in its announcement.
KCX 1 to operate with five vessels
Under the upgraded KCX 1 service, GT LINES will contribute two vessels to a five-vessel consortium formed with Zhong Gu, Sea Legend and Ningbo Ocean.
The service will connect four Chinese ports directly with Khorfakkan, providing scheduled transit times of 22 days from Central China and 18 days from South China to the UAE port.
The announced rotation is:
Qingdao – Shanghai – Ningbo – Nansha – Khorfakkan
The revised arrangement represents a change in the service’s operating partnerships and is intended to provide additional shipping capacity and improved connectivity between China’s principal export gateways and the Middle East.
The KCX 1 service is planned around a ten-day sailing frequency, with the five-vessel deployment supporting the revised network structure.
Cooperation with CULines on KCX 5
GT LINES has also announced cooperation with Chinese carrier CULines on the CGX service, identified within the GT LINES network as KCX 5.
The service includes four Chinese ports, a call at Malaysia’s Port Klang and a direct connection to Khorfakkan.
Its announced rotation is:
Qingdao – Ningbo – Shekou – Nansha – Port Klang – Khorfakkan
The agreement establishes a separate operational arrangement between GT LINES and CULines, complementing the carrier’s revised KCX 1 partnership.
Gulftainer has not disclosed the number or capacity of vessels assigned to the KCX 5 cooperation, nor has it specified a sailing frequency or transit times for the service.
Khorfakkan strengthens its role in regional connectivity
The two arrangements reinforce Khorfakkan’s position as a container shipping gateway connecting Asian export markets with the UAE and the wider Middle East.
Khorfakkan’s location on the Gulf of Oman allows vessels to access the UAE’s eastern coastline without entering the Arabian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz.
The new cooperation is also relevant to regional cargo distribution, with shipments arriving at Khorfakkan able to connect with inland logistics and feeder services serving other markets.
The latest developments reflect GT LINES’ efforts to broaden its network through vessel-sharing and carrier cooperation agreements rather than relying exclusively on independently operated services.
While the operating arrangements were announced for early November, the actual commencement of individual revised sailings remains dependent on their published schedules.
