British retailer Marks & Spencer announced plans for a major new GBP 200 million distribution center at DP World London Gateway, on the River Thames, Essex, England, on Monday, June 10, 2013. (DP World London)

London, Asharq Al-Awsat—British prime minister David Cameron has visited the site of the London Gateway, a port development owned by the UAE’s DP World.

In a speech during Monday’s visit to the project site in the Tilbury area of Essex, Cameron said: “This is a site larger than the Olympic park, with cranes taller than the London Eye…. This whole development is an emblem of ambition.” He stressed that it is “one of our largest projects.”

Chairman of the board of directors of DP World, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, his deputy, the UAE ambassador to the UK and a number of officials, attended the visit by Cameron and British business minister Michael Fallon.

Bin Salim told Asharq Al-Awsat that “this project is very important because of its proximity to the British market, especially London, which is one of the most important markets. It is worth noting that the company which owns the port is an Arab country, the UAE, and the engineers who designed it are in Dubai,” adding that “we own the project and manage it, and we own the land 100% freehold. This port is one of the largest logistical projects in Europe.”

The UAE ambassador, Abdul Rahman Ghanem Al Mutaiwee, speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, said: “The container port project is the largest and most modern in Europe … and gives the UK momentum in international trade,” putting it back on the map alongside the Dutch, who led the world with the Port of Rotterdam.

He added that “the port includes a logistics park used by international companies distributing many products, with Marks & Spencer’s taking up one of the logistics sites.” He said the project will strengthen the political and economic relations between the UAE and the UK.

The deputy head of DP World told Asharq Al-Awsat that “what distinguishes this project is that it is next to a logistics and storage park that is larger than any other port in Europe, and therefore we think it is going to be a success.”

The London Gateway port is due to open in the last quarter of this year and will be the largest port in Britain and the largest logistics park in Europe.

DP World has more than 65 ports around the world and is currently working on a number of ports in Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.