The London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) has issued its final award in the dispute between DP World and Djibouti’s Port de Djibouti SA (PDSA).
The Tribunal confirmed Djibouti’s 2018 seizure of the Doraleh Container Terminal (DCT) was unlawful. It declined, however, to award damages against PDSA, finding the Government of Djibouti—not PDSA—liable.
DP World’s $1 billion claims against the Government and China Merchants Port Holdings remain active.
DP World’s existing LCIA awards totalling approximately $685 million remain valid and enforceable.
Djibouti continues to ignore these binding decisions, disregarding international legal norms.
The Tribunal also upheld the validity of DP World’s 50-year DCT concession, ruling its termination unlawful, though the Government still blocks DP World from exercising its rights.
PDSA was awarded procedural costs in this case, but prior rulings found its termination attempts unlawful and confirmed it remains financially liable to DP World.
While this decision concludes LCIA proceedings, the broader dispute is unresolved. DP World will continue legal efforts to enforce its rights and seek full compensation.
Recent statements by Djibouti’s leadership misrepresent the ruling. The Tribunal did not dismiss DP World’s claims in full—only the claim against PDSA.
The $685 million in awards remain unpaid, and the DCT seizure has been repeatedly found unlawful by independent tribunals.
A DP World spokesperson noted the Government’s actions undermine investor confidence and violate fundamental principles of contract and international law.
Recently, DP World signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global commerce platform PayPal to launch a pioneering digital payments initiative aimed at simplifying and accelerating cross-border trade.